Microsoft Edge does not document a command that restores a deleted, automatically generated Top sites tile to its former position. You can usually recover the site address from browsing history, then add it back as a user-created quick link or Favorite. That restores access, but it does not prove that Edge has recreated the old generated tile or its ranking.
What Edge calls “Top sites”
Edge’s new tab page can show two different kinds of links:
- User-added shortcuts: links you create and manage yourself.
- Top sites: links Edge generates from browsing history.
A deleted generated tile and a manually added shortcut therefore have different recovery behavior. Microsoft’s documentation explains the distinction but does not promise an exact undo or restoration procedure for a removed generated tile.
Restore access to the site
1. Make sure quick links are displayed
- Open a new tab in Edge.
- Select Page Settings (the page customization control).
- Check the layout or content options for Quick links and turn them on if they are hidden.
Control names and placement can vary by Edge version and platform. If quick links are disabled, a tile may appear to have disappeared even though the page is simply not displaying that section.
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2. Find the address in History
- Open Edge’s History panel or history page.
- Search for the site name or URL.
- Open the matching entry to confirm that it is the page you want.
History contains visited site URLs and their visit dates and times, provided the record has not been cleared or otherwise removed. Finding the URL gives you the destination; it does not restore the previous generated tile, position, or ranking.
3. Add a user-controlled shortcut
With quick links visible, use the page’s add-shortcut control, enter the recovered URL, and save it. This creates a persistent shortcut that you can edit or remove independently of Edge’s history-based suggestions.
4. Save the page as a Favorite
Select the star or Add this page to favorites command while viewing the site, choose a folder, and save it. Favorites are separate from generated Top sites and are a more reliable way to keep an important site available. You can also show the Favorites bar from Edge’s appearance settings if you want one-click access.
Check sync before clearing anything
If you use the same Microsoft account and profile on multiple devices, check another device before deleting history or changing sync data. Depending on your sync settings, Edge can synchronize browsing history and Favorites.
Rank #3
- Confirm that you are signed in to the expected Edge profile.
- Review which data types are enabled for sync.
- Look on another synced device for the site in History or Favorites.
Microsoft warns that deleting synced browsing data can remove it from other synchronized devices as well. Another device may preserve the URL or Favorite, but the documented behavior does not establish that it can recreate the exact old generated tile.
When an administrator controls the new tab page
On a work or school computer, an administrator may configure quick links with the NewTabPageManagedQuickLinks policy. Microsoft documents this policy for Windows and macOS, not Android or iOS, and it can define up to three tiles.
Rank #4
- Mandatory tiles cannot be deleted by users.
- Recommended tiles remain editable by users.
If a link behaves differently from links on a personal profile, or keeps returning after removal, contact your organization’s administrator. They may need to change the policy rather than having you recreate the link locally.
Which recovery option fits your situation?
| Situation | Best next step | What it restores |
|---|---|---|
| The URL is still in local History | Add a quick link or save a Favorite | Reliable access to the destination; not the old generated tile state |
| The URL or Favorite exists on another synced device | Verify the same profile and sync settings, then copy or open it | The address or saved Favorite; exact generated-tile restoration is not established |
| Quick links are not visible | Enable them in Page Settings | Visibility of the quick-links section |
| The device is managed by work or school | Ask the administrator about managed quick-link policy | Policy-controlled tiles or permission to edit them |
| History and synced data are gone | Use any independent record of the URL, such as a saved Favorite or bookmark | Only the access method you can recreate; no documented exact tile recovery |
What not to do
Do not edit Edge profile files or registry values as a personal recovery method. The documented Microsoft guidance does not establish those changes as a safe or supported way to restore a deleted generated Top sites tile, and they can damage profile data or be overwritten by Edge updates.
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Bottom line
You can usually get the site back on your Edge new tab page by recovering its URL from History and adding a shortcut, or by saving it as a Favorite. Edge’s current documentation does not provide a supported way to restore the exact automatically generated tile, its former order, or its prior state.
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