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To stop Microsoft Edge from using your browsing activity for personalized advertising and Microsoft experiences, open Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Privacy, then turn off the permission to save browsing activity for personalization. For broader protection, also disable See ads that interest you in the Microsoft privacy dashboard, enable Edge’s tracking prevention, and optionally send a Global Privacy Control signal.
These are separate controls. The Edge privacy switch covers Microsoft’s use of Edge activity; the privacy-dashboard switch covers personalized Microsoft advertising tied to your account; tracking prevention limits third-party trackers. Using all three addresses different parts of the problem.
What the Edge personalization switch controls
Microsoft describes Edge browsing activity as potentially including your browsing history, usage data, favorites, web content you viewed, and device data. When the relevant permission is enabled, Microsoft can use that activity to personalize advertising and experiences such as search, shopping, news, and other Microsoft services. Microsoft says the feature is permission-based.
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This setting is about Microsoft’s use of Edge activity. It is not the same as blocking every tracker on every website, which is controlled separately by Tracking prevention.
Turn off personalized advertising and experiences based on Edge activity
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select Settings and more, the three-dot button in the upper-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Open Privacy, search, and services.
- In the Privacy section, find the permission that allows Microsoft to save your browsing activity—including history, usage, favorites, viewed web content, and other browsing data—to personalize Microsoft Edge and Microsoft services such as ads, search, shopping, and news.
- Turn that permission off.
The change applies from that point onward. Existing browser history is not described by Microsoft as being automatically erased by this switch, so clear history separately if deletion is your goal. Menu wording can vary with the Edge release, and a work or school administrator may control or hide the option.
Check that the switch took effect
Return to the same Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Privacy page and confirm the control remains off. If it turns itself back on, the device may be managed by an organization, or the change may not have been saved because Edge needs to be updated or restarted. On a personal device, sign out and back in to Edge only if the page does not retain the setting; do not assume that signing out is required in normal use.
Check the setting in every Edge profile you use. Microsoft account controls and browser-profile settings can affect different experiences, so changing one profile does not necessarily change another profile’s local configuration. If several people share a computer, review each profile rather than assuming one switch protects everyone.
Turn off personalized Microsoft ads for your account
The Microsoft privacy dashboard has a separate control named See ads that interest you. Turning it off disables personalized Microsoft advertising, including advertising based on browsing history, regardless of the Edge personalization switch.
- Open the Microsoft privacy dashboard from Microsoft’s support guidance and sign in to the Microsoft account used with Microsoft services.
- Find the advertising-personalization section.
- Turn off See ads that interest you.
- Review the account page after saving to ensure the control is still disabled.
The scopes are different. The dashboard setting addresses personalized Microsoft advertising across the account, while the Edge setting prevents Edge browsing activity from being used to personalize search results, news, shopping, and other Microsoft web experiences. To address both categories, change both controls.
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Turning off account ad personalization does not remove advertising spaces from Microsoft websites or applications. It changes whether Microsoft uses particular account signals, such as browsing history, to tailor those ads. You may still see contextual or otherwise non-personalized advertising.
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Enable Tracking prevention in Edge
Tracking prevention is Edge’s browser-level control for third-party trackers. It has three levels. Microsoft recommends Balanced as the default in its privacy-settings overview; Strict blocks more trackers but has a higher chance of disrupting a site.
| Level | Tracker blocking strength | Effect on personalization | Risk of website breakage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Allows most trackers and blocks fewer tracking technologies. | More trackers remain available, so sites can continue more personalization. | Lowest risk; most sites should behave normally. |
| Balanced | Blocks potentially harmful trackers and trackers from sites you have not visited. | Reduces cross-site tracking while retaining compatibility for sites you use. | Generally low; this is Microsoft’s recommended default. |
| Strict | Blocks most trackers across sites. | Provides the strongest built-in reduction of tracker-based personalization. | Highest risk; some content, sign-in flows, payments, embedded media, or other functions may not work as expected. |
The descriptions and trade-offs above come from Microsoft’s Tracking prevention guide and its privacy-settings overview.
Choose a Tracking prevention level
- In Edge, select Settings and more > Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Scroll to Tracking prevention and make sure the feature is turned on.
- Select Basic, Balanced, or Strict.
- Keep Balanced if you want a practical default. Choose Strict when blocking more third-party tracking matters more than perfect compatibility.
Tracking prevention is not a promise that every request from a website will be blocked. Its level determines how Edge handles recognized third-party tracking technologies. A site can still have first-party analytics, contextual advertising, or other data practices that are outside this one browser control.
When Strict breaks a site
If a site loses a sign-in button, embedded video, checkout component, comments, or another function after you select Strict, first test the page with Balanced. If the problem disappears, the stricter tracker rules are the likely cause. You can keep Strict for general browsing and use the site’s permitted exception controls when available, rather than dropping protection for every site. Microsoft’s guide also explains how Edge identifies blocked trackers while you investigate.
Test in a fresh tab after changing the level, because a page may have cached scripts or an earlier failed sign-in. If the site works with Balanced but not Strict, decide whether that site’s function is worth an exception. Do not interpret a working page as proof that no trackers are present; compatibility and privacy are separate questions.
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Send a Global Privacy Control signal
Edge can send a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal to websites. The signal communicates your preference that your data not be sold or shared for targeted advertising. It is a request to sites, not a technical guarantee: each site decides whether and how to honor it. Microsoft currently says this Edge setting is available in the United States.
- Open Settings and more > Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Find the Global Privacy Control option.
- Turn on the option to send the signal to websites.
GPC complements, rather than replaces, the Edge personalization and Tracking prevention controls. It communicates a privacy preference to participating websites; it does not change Microsoft account advertising settings by itself. See Microsoft’s Global Privacy Control documentation for the current availability and behavior.
If you do not see the GPC option, it may not be available in your region or in your Edge release. Its absence does not prevent you from turning off Edge personalization, changing the Microsoft account advertising control, or selecting a Tracking prevention level.
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Understand Windows advertising ID
Windows has an advertising-ID setting for apps that use that identifier. Microsoft explicitly says disabling it does not disable other interest-based advertising methods, including website advertising based on cookies. Therefore, Windows advertising ID is not an Edge tracking switch and is not a substitute for the browser controls above.
If you also want to limit app-based advertising on a Windows PC, review Windows general privacy settings. Keep the scope clear: that setting concerns Windows apps using the advertising identifier, while Edge’s controls concern browser activity, Microsoft experiences, third-party trackers, and the GPC signal.
Which combination should you use?
| Your priority | Edge controls to change | What the combination addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Stop Microsoft from using Edge activity for personalization | Turn off the Edge browsing-activity personalization permission. | Microsoft’s use of Edge history, usage, favorites, viewed content, and related activity for personalized ads and experiences. |
| Stop personalized Microsoft advertising tied to your account | Turn off See ads that interest you in the privacy dashboard. | Personalized Microsoft advertising, including ads based on browsing history. |
| Reduce third-party tracking with good compatibility | Turn on Tracking prevention and select Balanced. | Potentially harmful trackers and trackers from sites you have not visited, with a lower breakage risk than Strict. |
| Block as many third-party trackers as Edge allows | Turn on Tracking prevention and select Strict. | Most trackers across sites, accepting that some site features may fail. |
| Tell websites not to sell or share data for targeted advertising | Turn on Global Privacy Control where the option is available. | A privacy preference signal that sites may or may not honor; Microsoft currently limits availability to the US. |
What to do if you still see ads
Turning off personalization does not mean that every advertising space disappears. The controls change whether Microsoft uses particular activity for personalization and whether Edge blocks specified categories of third-party trackers. A page can still display advertising that is not personalized under those settings.
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Use this diagnostic order:
- Confirm the Edge browsing-activity personalization permission is off.
- Confirm See ads that interest you is off in the Microsoft privacy dashboard if your concern is Microsoft account advertising.
- Check Tracking prevention and verify that the selected level is the one you intended.
- If a particular website is malfunctioning under Strict, switch to Balanced for that site or use the site’s available exception mechanism.
- If a setting is unavailable or cannot be changed, check whether the browser is managed by an employer, school, or other administrator.
Also distinguish an ad from a recommendation. Search suggestions, news ordering, shopping results, and advertising can each use different systems. Turning off the Edge browsing-activity permission is the relevant step when you want to stop Edge activity from personalizing those Microsoft experiences; the account dashboard switch alone is narrower.
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Microsoft says browsing in InPrivate or Guest is not used for the cited Edge personalization. That can reduce the activity associated with that browsing session, but private browsing should not be treated as a replacement for changing account advertising and Tracking prevention controls. Use the settings above when you want an ongoing preference in normal Edge windows.
InPrivate and Guest do not make a website unable to collect information under its own policies, and they do not make a Microsoft account advertising preference unnecessary. Close private windows when finished, and use the persistent settings when you want the same choice to apply to ordinary browsing.
How the controls interact
Think of the controls as separate layers rather than a single “no tracking” switch. The Edge personalization permission governs Microsoft’s collection and use of Edge browsing activity for Microsoft advertising and experiences. The privacy dashboard control governs personalized Microsoft advertising associated with the account. Tracking prevention governs Edge’s treatment of recognized third-party trackers. GPC sends a preference signal to websites. Windows advertising ID concerns compatible Windows apps.
For the broadest built-in combination, turn off both personalization controls, use Balanced or Strict Tracking prevention according to your compatibility needs, and enable GPC when it is offered. If you only want to stop Microsoft from using Edge history for recommendations and ads, the first Edge switch is the essential change; the other controls address different parties or data flows.
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Important limits and maintenance
- Labels can change: Microsoft may move or rename a control in a later Edge release. Start from Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services and search that page for “personalization,” “tracking prevention,” or “Global Privacy Control.”
- Organization policies can override choices: On managed Windows or Mac devices, an administrator can control privacy settings. Contact the organization’s administrator when a control is locked.
- Controls have different scopes: Account ad personalization, Edge browsing-activity personalization, third-party tracker blocking, GPC, and Windows advertising ID are not interchangeable.
- Strict is a trade-off: Stronger tracker blocking can interfere with legitimate site dependencies. Balanced is the safer starting point when you need sites to work reliably.
- GPC is not universal: It is a signal whose treatment depends on the receiving website, and Microsoft currently documents the Edge option as US-only.
- Review after major updates: After Edge updates or an organization policy change, revisit the privacy page to confirm that your selected controls and exceptions remain in place.
- Turning off personalization is not deletion: The Edge switch controls future collection and use for personalization; it is not presented as a command to erase existing history. Use Edge’s separate history-clearing tools when deletion is your goal.
- Device and account settings can differ: A browser setting on one device does not automatically explain every Microsoft experience on another device. Check the account dashboard and each Edge profile you actively use.
Five-minute privacy checklist
- Open Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Privacy.
- Turn off the permission to save Edge browsing activity for personalized advertising and experiences.
- Open the Microsoft privacy dashboard and turn off See ads that interest you.
- Turn on Tracking prevention and choose Balanced unless you accept the compatibility trade-off of Strict.
- Turn on Global Privacy Control if the option is available in your region and you want to send that preference to websites.
- Review Windows advertising ID separately if you also want to limit app-based interest advertising.
- Open a few sites you use regularly and test sign-in, video, shopping, and payment functions after choosing Strict.
- Return to the privacy page after an Edge update to verify that the switches and selected level remain as intended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off personalized ads remove all ads in Edge?
No. Turning off Edge browsing-activity personalization and the Microsoft account control changes whether particular activity is used to tailor Microsoft advertising and experiences. It does not remove advertising spaces, and you may still see contextual or non-personalized ads.
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What is the difference between the Edge privacy switch and “See ads that interest you”?
The Edge switch controls Microsoft’s use of Edge browsing activity for personalized advertising, search, shopping, news, and other experiences. The privacy-dashboard switch disables personalized Microsoft advertising tied to the account, including ads based on browsing history. Change both for both scopes.
Should I choose Balanced or Strict Tracking prevention?
Balanced is Microsoft’s recommended default and blocks potentially harmful trackers plus trackers from sites you have not visited while generally preserving compatibility. Strict blocks most trackers, but Microsoft warns that sign-in, payments, media, or other site functions may fail. Choose based on that trade-off.
Does Global Privacy Control guarantee that websites will stop selling or sharing my data?
No. GPC sends a signal expressing your preference that data not be sold or shared for targeted advertising. Each website decides whether and how to honor it. Microsoft currently documents the Edge option as available in the United States.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWill turning off the Edge switch delete my browsing history?
No automatic deletion is described for this control. It stops future collection and use of the browsing activity for personalization from that point forward. Clear browsing history separately if you want existing records removed from the browser.
Is Windows advertising ID the same as Edge tracking prevention?
No. Windows advertising ID applies to apps that use that identifier. Microsoft says disabling it does not stop other interest-based advertising methods, including website ads based on cookies. Use Edge’s own privacy and Tracking prevention settings for browser activity.
Why is a privacy setting locked or missing?
A work, school, or other organization may manage the browser and enforce a policy. Menu labels can also vary by Edge release, and GPC availability is currently limited by Microsoft to the United States. Check with the administrator or update Edge if appropriate.
Does InPrivate replace these privacy settings?
No. Microsoft says InPrivate and Guest browsing are not used for the cited Edge personalization, but private browsing is session-based and should not replace account advertising controls or Tracking prevention. Use the persistent settings for normal windows.
The Bottom Line
For the broadest built-in reduction, turn off Edge browsing-activity personalization, disable See ads that interest you in the Microsoft privacy dashboard, enable Tracking prevention (Balanced for compatibility or Strict for stronger blocking), and enable Global Privacy Control when available. These controls have different scopes, so seeing an ad afterward does not necessarily mean a setting failed.
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