For most people, the best starting point is Tracking prevention: Balanced, with Enhance your security on the web: Balanced, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, and Secure DNS enabled. Move to Strict when reducing cross-site tracking and browser attack surface matters more than seamless site compatibility. Keep exceptions narrow: an exception gives the selected site access to all trackers, including potentially harmful ones.
What each Edge control actually does
Microsoft Edge has several privacy and security controls that can look similar but solve different problems. Tracking prevention limits trackers that follow activity across sites. Enhanced security hardens browser execution against some exploit techniques. Cookie controls determine whether sites can store and read data. InPrivate limits what Edge retains locally after a session. SmartScreen and Secure DNS help identify dangerous destinations or protect DNS lookups.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
These controls can be combined, but they are not interchangeable. Turning on InPrivate does not block trackers, and Do Not Track does not force a website to stop collecting data. Conversely, a strict tracker setting cannot substitute for phishing protection or careful download decisions.
Recommended Free Tools
Menu names can vary by Edge version, operating system, language, and organizational policy. If a setting is missing or locked, the browser may be managed by an administrator. The paths below describe the current Microsoft Edge desktop layout documented by Microsoft; Windows 10 and Windows 11 support pages use the same general locations.
#1 Best Overall
- [Ultra-Lightweight Ear Buds Designed for Small Ears] Each earbud weighs only 3.7g and features a compact, ergonomic in-ear design made especially for small ears. Secure, low-profile, and comfortable for workouts, all-day wear or overnight sleeping.The ultra-slim profile sits flush in your ear with no hard edges poking or rubbing, so you can even sleep on your side without discomfort.
- [Immersive Stereo Sound with TOZO OrigX Technology] TOZO OrigX tuning delivers clear vocals, balanced mids, and natural stereo sound for music, podcasts, and videos.
- [Long Battery Life for Daily Use] Get up to 7 hours of playtime on a single charge, with up to 32 hours total using the charging case—ideal for workdays, commuting, and extended listening sessions.
- [Bluetooth 5.3 & Stable Connection] Bluetooth 5.3 provides fast pairing, stable wireless performance, and reduced dropouts as you move around home or office.
- [Deep Bass with Clear Vocals] High-performance drivers produce punchy bass while keeping vocals clean and detailed for everyday listening.
Set Tracking prevention to the level you can live with
Open the Tracking prevention page
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select Settings and more (the three-dot button in the upper-right corner), then choose Settings.
- Open Privacy, search, and services.
- Scroll to Tracking prevention and turn the feature on.
- Select Basic, Balanced, or Strict.
Edge can show a tracker count and details for the current site in the address-bar site information panel. Use that panel when you need to understand why a page behaves differently after changing the level.
Basic: compatibility first
Basic blocks potentially harmful trackers while allowing most other trackers, including trackers used to personalize advertising and content. It is the least disruptive choice for sites that depend heavily on embedded services, personalized recommendations, advertising systems, or cross-site sign-in components.
Choose Basic when a site repeatedly fails under Balanced, when you use specialized business portals with many embedded components, or when preserving personalization is more important than reducing routine cross-site tracking. Basic still provides a layer against trackers Edge identifies as potentially harmful, but it is not a privacy-maximizing configuration.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Balanced: the practical default
Balanced blocks potentially harmful trackers and trackers from sites you have not visited. Microsoft labels it “Balanced (Recommended)” and says sites should generally work as expected. You may see less personalized advertising and content because some cross-site profiling systems no longer receive the same tracking data.
Balanced is usually the right first setting because it protects against common cross-site tracking without treating every third-party component as hostile. Leave it enabled for normal browsing, then investigate individual compatibility problems rather than lowering protection globally.
Strict: maximum built-in tracker blocking
Strict blocks potentially harmful trackers and most trackers across sites. It minimizes personalization, but some sites can malfunction. Microsoft specifically warns that features such as video playback or sign-in may stop working when the required third-party components are blocked.
Rank #2
- 【IP68 Waterproof Multifunctinal Smart Watch】Torjalph fitness activity tracker smart watch is IP68 waterproof technology ,you can wear it when swimming,handwashing,it's rain-proof which means that you perform multiple exercise modes outside without worrying about sweat or rain corroding your fitness smart watch,and this watch equipped with a 230 mAh large capacity battery magnetic charging ,and this sports activity tracker watch can be used 5-7 days If fully charged.
- 【Larger 1.83'' Full Screen Watch & Multi-dial Selection】1.83 inch full HD color touch screen smart watch for men / women provides excellent 240*284 resolution image quality ,This Bluetooth smart watch offers a better touch experience and remarkable immersion and ,more than 200 watch faces for you to choose from App"Da Fit ", you can change the dial style according to your mood to wear keeping the world on your wrist
- 【Accurate Activity Tracker Smart Watch 】sports watch activity tracker uses sweat and dust resistant breathable silicone strap, our Fitness Tracker Smart Watch for Android iOS Phones supports 12 sports modes,walking,running,bicycle,swimming,badminton,basketball,football,rope skipping. This bluetooth calls smart watch for men women is lightweight and stylish, bringing more convenient and relaxing sports experience while also providing more protection.
- 【Your 24 Hour Personal Daily Health Monitor】Fitness watch for women men full touch screen IP67 waterproof bluetooth smartwatch for Android iOS Phones with heart rate blood pressure monitor multifunction Andriod smart watch with steps counter sleep monitor sports fitness watch, monitoring blood oxygen saturation allows you to understand your physical condition in real time to track fitness progress ,to know your health status in time.
- 【More Functions Bluetooth Call Smart Watch】This fitness activity smart watch full screen for iPhone and Android phones includes a bunch of new features including:The bluetooth smart watch can hang up the phone, receive and display WhatsAPP /Text /Facebook /Twitter /Messenger reminder.Support sedentary reminder, alarm clock, stopwatch, timer,weather information,music control, remote camera control compatible with Android 5.0 and above or iOS 9.0 and above smartphones.
Strict is appropriate when you accept occasional troubleshooting and want the strongest tracker reduction available in Edge’s built-in levels. It is less suitable for a shared family computer, a work environment with many internal web applications, or anyone who cannot regularly adjust site permissions.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Level | Tracker coverage | Likely site behavior | Personalization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Blocks potentially harmful trackers; allows most others | Highest compatibility | Most personalized ads and content |
| Balanced (Recommended) | Blocks potentially harmful trackers and trackers from sites you have not visited | Sites should generally work as expected | Reduced personalization |
| Strict | Blocks potentially harmful trackers and most trackers across sites | Some video, sign-in, or embedded features may fail | Least personalization |
Use exceptions instead of weakening every site
If one trusted site breaks, open the Tracking prevention settings and add that site as an exception using Edge’s site-exception control. An exception applies to the entire selected site: Edge allows all trackers from it, including potentially harmful ones. That broad effect is why exceptions should be limited to sites you trust and genuinely need.
After adding an exception, reload the page and test only the feature that failed. If the exception restores the feature, keep a note of why it exists. Remove it when the site no longer needs the relaxed behavior. If an exception does not help, delete it and continue troubleshooting cookies, Enhanced security, or the site’s own sign-in requirements rather than accumulating permissions.
Inspect blocked trackers on a specific page
Select the site-information icon at the left of the address bar while the page is open. Edge can show which trackers it blocked and related privacy information. This is useful for distinguishing a tracker-related failure from a network outage, an expired login, a script error, or a site that simply requires third-party cookies.
Turn on Enhanced security on the web separately
Enable and choose a protection level
- Open Settings and more > Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Scroll to Security.
- Turn on Enhance your security on the web.
- Choose Balanced or Strict.
Enhanced security is independent of Tracking prevention. It does not primarily classify advertising or analytics trackers; it changes how Edge handles browser code on sites that may present a higher exploit risk.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBalanced enhanced security
Enhanced security’s Balanced mode applies additional protections to unfamiliar or infrequently visited sites. Frequently visited sites are left out by default, which reduces the chance that everyday workflows will be disrupted while still adding safeguards when you browse somewhere new.
Rank #3
- [Low Noise High Fidelity] New bee guitar cord with 22AWG oxygen-free-copper center conductors provides enhanced signal transfer, the PVC insulation material and the high-density stranded copper double shield provide noise rejection for quiet operation
- [Ideal for Choice] New bee 1/4 straight and right angle metal connectors, ensures a secure connection in any instrument, pedal, or amp jack. L shape great fro on stage guitar stands
- [Wide Compatible] Suitable for mixer, power amplifier, microphone, effector, decoder, equalizer, electoronic organ, electric guitar, electric bass and other electronic equipments. Widely used in the installation of smart home, karaoke speaker, professional stage audio, etc
- [Easy Disassemble] Making incidental repairs quick and easy! Very nice, flexible cable
- [Dont Hesite to Order] 24 hours customer services and professional technology team are standing by
Balanced is a sensible starting point for a personal computer because it introduces hardening without applying the strictest behavior to every site. A site can still behave differently if Edge classifies it as unfamiliar or if its scripts depend on behavior affected by the protections.
Strict enhanced security
Strict applies the additional protections to all sites by default. It can interfere with normal tasks, especially web applications that depend on particular JavaScript execution patterns. Use it when reducing exploit exposure is more important than avoiding occasional compatibility work.
Microsoft describes the mechanism as disabling just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation and enabling additional operating-system protections, including Hardware-enforced Stack Protection and Arbitrary Code Guard (ACG). These measures reduce some attack paths; they are risk reduction, not a guarantee that a site, download, or account is safe.
Allow or block the feature for individual sites
Edge provides site preferences to always use Enhanced security or never use it for selected sites. If a trusted application fails under Strict, first try a site-specific preference rather than disabling Enhanced security globally. Conversely, if Balanced leaves a high-risk or rarely used site without the protection you want, set that site to always use Enhanced security.
Microsoft notes that Enhanced security may be enabled by default in some Edge builds as the feature continues to develop and undergo testing. Do not assume that every installation starts with the same state; check the toggle and its site list directly.
Keep the other Security controls enabled
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen
In the Security section, enable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. It helps Edge identify phishing sites and malicious downloads. SmartScreen complements tracking prevention: a page can be free of obvious trackers and still be a fraudulent login page, while a legitimate page can contain trackers that SmartScreen does not address.
Rank #4
- Digital Family Calendar: BSIMB digital calendar wall touch screen puts an end to your chaotic life. Designed for busy families, the digital calendar keeps you organised and in step with your family. Assign different colours and tasks to each family member to make family scheduling easier and more intuitive.
- Easy Setup and Auto-Sync: Plug in, connect to WLAN and auto-syn your electric calendar in minutes. Digital wall calendar compatible with Google calendar, iCloud calendar, Outlook calendar, Cozi calendar and Yahoo calendar. Add events directly on the device or through the ecalendar app. Electronic calendar stays current whether you're at work or traveling—no manual updates needed.
- All-In-One Home Assistant: Smart calendar builds habits and encourage independence with personalised chores. Display daily meal plan to reduce the daily ‘What's for dinner?’ stress. To-do lists keep track of everything you want. Turning chores into valuable achievements with stars and rewards, making life easier and more enjoyable.
- Manage Anytime Anywhere: BSIMB electronic calendar for family stay connected with the powerful ecalendar app. Access and manage your digital wall calendar anytime, anywhere with free features like stars & rewards, photo screensaver, chore charts, meals plans, to-do lists etc. Electronic planner paid features like Magic Import tailor advanced tools for users with special needs.
- Stay in Touch with Loved Ones: Share photos or videos from your phone to electronic wall calendar with app, instantly update your life moment, and keep in touch with your family, especially those who are far away; you can also surprise your smart calendar digital wall by sending him a wish card; it's also great for keeping tech-illiterate elders in touch with the youngsters.
When SmartScreen warns you, stop and verify the address, the organization you intended to visit, and the reason you need the download. Do not treat a warning bypass as a routine compatibility fix.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Secure DNS
Turn on Use secure DNS in Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Security, then choose how Edge looks up website network addresses. Microsoft says Secure DNS encrypts DNS queries, helping protect those lookups against phishing and malware-related interference.
Secure DNS protects the DNS request; it does not make the destination trustworthy, hide every part of your browsing activity, or replace HTTPS. If a managed network controls DNS or blocks the selected provider, the option may be unavailable or may behave differently.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Control cookies and cross-site data deliberately
Review cookie settings
- Open Settings and more > Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Open Cookies.
- Review which cookies and site data Edge allows or blocks, whether third-party cookies are blocked, and which stored data can be deleted.
Cookies can maintain logins, shopping carts, language choices, security tokens, and embedded-service sessions. Blocking them can make pages display incorrectly or force repeated sign-ins. If you block cookies globally, use a narrow site exception only for a site you trust and need.
Understand the temporary cross-site allowance
A site may ask Edge for access to cookies and site data belonging to another site. If you approve that request, Microsoft says the allowance lasts 30 days from the first approval. You can remove it from cookie settings before that period ends.
This permission can enable cross-site tracking, so approve it only when you trust the requesting site and need the specific function, such as an embedded sign-in or media component. The 30-day period is not a permanent grant, but it is long enough to matter for privacy decisions.
Use Do Not Track and InPrivate with realistic expectations
Do Not Track is a request
Edge can send a Do Not Track request asking websites not to track your browsing behavior. It is a preference signal, not a blocking mechanism. Websites decide whether to honor it, so keep Tracking prevention and cookie controls configured even when Do Not Track is enabled.
What InPrivate removes
When all InPrivate windows close, Edge clears the session’s history, cookies, site data, passwords, addresses, and form data. This is useful on a shared computer or for a temporary session where you do not want those items retained in the browser’s normal profile.
InPrivate does not itself protect you from malicious websites and does not add ad blocking. Network administrators, internet providers, websites, and services you sign in to may still observe activity in ways that local history deletion does not erase. Use Tracking prevention, SmartScreen, Secure DNS, and careful browsing for those separate risks.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Choose a configuration by priority
Everyday browsing with low maintenance
- Tracking prevention: Balanced.
- Enhanced security: Balanced.
- SmartScreen: On.
- Secure DNS: On, subject to network policy.
- Cookies: keep normal site functionality; block third-party cookies if your important sites continue to work.
- Do Not Track: optional, but treat it only as a request.
This combination reduces common tracking and adds browser hardening while limiting the number of sites that need manual repair.
Privacy-first personal browsing
- Tracking prevention: Strict.
- Enhanced security: Strict.
- SmartScreen and Secure DNS: On.
- Cookies: block third-party cookies and remove unnecessary stored site data.
- Exceptions: add only trusted sites that fail, and review those exceptions regularly.
- InPrivate: use for sessions that should not remain in the local profile.
Expect more sign-in, media, and embedded-content troubleshooting. The configuration reduces personalization and increases browser defenses, but it cannot guarantee anonymity or safety.
Compatibility-first work or school device
- Tracking prevention: start at Balanced; use Basic only if a required application still fails.
- Enhanced security: start at Balanced and use a site preference for a known application if necessary.
- Do not change administrator-controlled settings without approval.
- Keep SmartScreen enabled unless your organization’s policy explicitly manages an alternative.
- Document every exception with the application name and reason.
Managed devices may override local choices. A locked toggle or policy message is an administrative boundary, not an indication that Edge is malfunctioning.
Troubleshoot a site that stops working
- Identify the symptom. Note whether the failure is a video, sign-in, embedded widget, download, page layout, or repeated-login problem.
- Check the site-information panel. Review blocked trackers and privacy details for the affected page.
- Test the narrowest change. If Tracking prevention is Strict, try Balanced temporarily. If the issue is specific to Enhanced security, use its site preference instead of changing the global level.
- Review cookies. Confirm that the site is not being denied required cookies or cross-site data. Grant a temporary cross-site allowance only when you trust the request and need the feature.
- Reload and retest. Use a fresh page load after each change so you know which setting affected the result.
- Remove unsuccessful permissions. Delete exceptions that did not solve the problem; unnecessary allowances increase exposure without improving functionality.
- Escalate application-specific issues. If the site still fails with reasonable settings, check its support documentation or contact its administrator. The problem may be an expired account, a script error, network filtering, or a browser incompatibility unrelated to tracking prevention.
Review your settings over time
Edge updates can change labels, defaults, and how Enhanced security classifies sites. Revisit Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services after major browser updates or when a familiar site suddenly changes behavior. Check the exception lists as well as the main toggles; an old exception can silently leave an entire site outside your intended protection.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
On a work or school installation, policies can change centrally. If a setting repeatedly reverts, appears unavailable, or displays an organization notice, treat the device’s management policy as authoritative and ask the administrator for an approved configuration.
The most defensible setup is not the one with every switch at its strictest value. It is the configuration whose tracker coverage, exploit resistance, cookie behavior, and site compatibility match how you actually use Edge, with exceptions kept narrow and understandable.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
