How to Enable or Disable Deleting Browsing and Download History in Microsoft Edge Chromium


Microsoft has adopted the Chromium open source project in the development of Microsoft Edge on the desktop to create better web compatibility. This new Microsoft Edge runs on the same Chromium web engine as the Google Chrome browser, offering you best in class web compatibility and performance.

The new Chromium based Microsoft Edge is supported on all versions of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server (2016 and above), Windows Server (2008 R2 to 2012 R2), and macOS.

Each profile in Microsoft Edge will have its own browsing data.

Browsing data includes your browsing history, download history, cookies and other site data, cached images and files, passwords, autofill form data, site permissions, and hosted app data.

If you like, you can use the AllowDeletingBrowserHistory policy to enable or disable the ability to delete browsing and download history in Microsoft Edge for all users on the computer.

Types of info What gets deleted Where it's stored
Browsing history The URLs of sites you've visited, and the dates and times of each visit. On your device (or if sync is turned on, across your synced devices)
Download history The list of files you've downloaded from the web. This only deletes the list, not the actual files that you've downloaded. On your device

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable deleting browsing and download history in the Chromium based Microsoft Edge for all users on the computer.

You must be sign in as an administrator to enable or disable deleting browsing and download history in Microsoft Edge.


If you enable the ClearBrowsingDataOnExit policy, it will take precedence and deletes all data when Microsoft Edge closes, regardless of how this AllowDeletingBrowserHistory policy is configured.



EXAMPLE: Deleting browsing and download history disabled in Microsoft Edge
Disable Deleting Browsing and Download History in Microsoft Edge-disable_delete_browsing_and_download_history_in_microsoft_edge-1.png Disable Deleting Browsing and Download History in Microsoft Edge-disable_delete_browsing_and_download_history_in_microsoft_edge-2.png



Here's How:

The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

AllowDeletingBrowserHistory DWORD

(delete) = Enable
0 = Disable


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable Deleting Browsing and Download History in Microsoft Edge for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_deleting_browsing_and_download_history_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg

Download


3 To Disable Deleting Browsing and Download History in Microsoft Edge for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_deleting_browsing_and_download_history_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg

Download


4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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