Microsoft Edge Privacy: Review the Browser Separately
Windows privacy switches do not replace browser privacy controls. Review Edge tracking prevention and site permissions in Edge, then test the websites you rely on.
On this page
Choose a tracking-prevention level
Open Edge Settings → Privacy, search, and services and review tracking prevention. Microsoft describes Basic, Balanced, and Strict levels. Stronger restrictions can change website behavior, so test sign-in, video playback, and checkout rather than assuming that the strictest choice has no tradeoffs.
Review a website problem narrowly
- Identify whether the failure is login, embedded video, a permission prompt, or another specific feature.
- Check the permissions and blocked trackers for that website.
- Change only the relevant site permission or temporary exception while diagnosing it.
- Remove an unnecessary exception afterward; do not turn off browser protection for all sites to fix one service.
Keep other data categories separate
Account synchronization, saved passwords, browsing history, cookies, microphone access, and tracking prevention are related but distinct. Decide which category you intend to change and preserve access to information you still need. Private browsing is also not a promise that a website or network cannot observe the connection.
Questions and answers
Does disabling the Windows advertising ID clear browser cookies?
No. Use the browser’s own controls for website storage and cookies.
Why can Strict tracking prevention break a website?
Blocking components used for tracking can also affect a site’s sign-in or embedded features; Microsoft documents this tradeoff.