Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge  

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    Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge

    Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge

    How to Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Browsers & Email
    04 Oct 2018
    Designer Media Ltd



    How to Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge in Windows 10


    Microsoft Edge is a new web browser that is available across the Windows 10 device family. It is designed for Windows 10 to be faster, safer, and compatible with the modern Web.

    Your browsing data is the information that Microsoft Edge remembers and stores on a PC as your browse the web. This includes info you've entered into forms, passwords, and sites you've visited, and it helps make your browsing experience better. If you're using a shared or public PC, you might not want Microsoft Edge to remember your browsing data.

    Starting in Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14271, you can now turn on or off to always clear browsing data when you close Microsoft Edge.

    This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off to automatically clear browsing data when closing Microsoft Edge for your account or all users in Windows 10.


     CONTENTS:

    • Option One: To Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit for Current User in Microsoft Edge Settings
    • Option Two: To Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit for Current User using a REG file
    • Option Three: Enable or Disable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Four: Enable or Disable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users using a REG file





    OPTION ONE

    To Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit for Current User in Microsoft Edge Settings


    1. Open the Microsoft Edge app.

    2. Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+X) button at the top right corner, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge-microsoft_edge_settings.jpg

    3. Click/tap on Privacy & security on the left side, and click/tap on the Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge-microsoft_edge_clear_browsing_data-2.jpg

    4. Turn on or off (default) Always clear this when I close the browser for what you want to do. (see screenshot below)

    If turned on, check the items you want to be cleared on exit, and uncheck the items you don't want cleared.

    Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge-microsoft_edge_clear_browsing_data_on_exit.jpg






    OPTION TWO

    To Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit for Current User using a REG file



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

    Code:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.microsoftedge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy

    ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit DWORD

    0 = Off
    1 = On


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


     2. To Turn On Clear Browsing Data On Exit of Microsoft Edge

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

    Turn_On_Microsoft_Edge_ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit.reg

    Download

     3. To Turn Off Clear Browsing Data On Exit of Microsoft Edge

    This is the default setting.

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

    Turn_Off_Microsoft_Edge_ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit.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 you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    Enable or Disable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor



    You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.

    If enable or disabled, this option will override and gray out Option One and Option Two.

    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

    All editions can use Option FOUR below.


    1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge

    Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge-microsoft_edge_clear_browsing_data_on_exit_gpedit-1.jpg

    3. In the right pane of Microsoft Edge in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow clearing browsing data on exit policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4. Do step 5 (enable), step 6 (disable), or step 7 (default) below for what you want.


     5. To Always Enable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)


     6. To Always Disable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users

    A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)


     7. Not Configure (default) Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users

    A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

    Turn On or Off Clear Browsing Data on Exit of Microsoft Edge-microsoft_edge_clear_browsing_data_on_exit_gpedit-2.png

    8. You can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

    9. If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen the browser to apply.






    OPTION FOUR

    Enable or Disable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users using a REG file



    You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.

    If enabled or disabled, this option will override and gray out Option One and Option Two.

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

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Privacy

    ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit DWORD

    delete = Not Configured (default)
    0 = Disable
    1 = Enable


    1. Do step 2 (enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you want.


     2. To Always Enable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Always_enable_ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit_of_Microsoft_Edge.reg

    Download


     3. To Always Disable Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Always_disable_ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit_of_Microsoft_Edge.reg

    Download


     4. Not Configure (default) Clear Browsing Data on Exit for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Default_not_configured_ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit_of_Microsoft_Edge.reg

    Download

    5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

    8. If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen the browser to apply.

    9. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


    That's it,
    Shawn


    Related Tutorials



  1. Windows 11 Tutorials



  2. Geoff Daniell
    Posts : 261
    Win 10 Home Single Language, Ver 1809, Build 17763.379
       New #1

    Shawn,

    So basically, what is being added is the on/Off button?

    Geoff
      My Computer
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  3. Brink
    Posts : 64,502
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    Hello Geoff, :)

    Yep, just the on/off button to have it automatically clear your browsing data on exit instead of having to manually clear it when you like.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  5. Jake1
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Version 1511 (OS Build 10586.164)
       New #3

    Hello Shawn,

    I tried your registry hack for Edge and it did not work. I had to add the DWORD ClearBrowsingHistoryOnExit because it did not exist. In fact, ever since a big Windows 10 update that occurred early 2016; InPrivate now stores the history on exit and it use to work fine before the update.

    I have the recent Windows 10 update Version 1511 (OS Build 10586.164). The Microsoft Edge 25.10856.0.0, Microsoft EdgeHTML 13.10586.
      My Computer
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  6. Brink
    Posts : 64,502
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Hello Jake1, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    If the .reg file didn't add the key, then it sounds like you may not have fully approved the merge for it to do so.
      My Computers
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  8. Jake1
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Version 1511 (OS Build 10586.164)
       New #5

    I am not in the "Windows Insider Program", which obviously you are, with build 14295. I do not have the "Always clear this when I close the browser" button at the bottom of "Clear browsing data" in my build.

    I'm simply receiving the normal, timely, slow ring updates from Microsoft; presently Build 10586.164. That's probably the issue...
      My Computer
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  9. Brink
    Posts : 64,502
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Yep, that would be why then. You'll have to have at least build 14271 for this to work.
      My Computers
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  10. Jake1
    Posts : 3
    Windows 10 Version 1511 (OS Build 10586.164)
       New #7

    Brink said:
    Yep, that would be why then. You'll have to have at least build 14271 for this to work.
    That's what I thought but was hoping for the miracle! :)

    Great article!!!

    Thank you, Jake
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  11. Brink
    Posts : 64,502
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    It's always fun to try though. :)
      My Computers
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  12. technerd
    Posts : 1
    microsoft edge updated from 7
       New #9

    Hi, I have always done all the above to clear my browsing history but lately it appears below the google address bar when I try to find a new site and I don't know why. Any suggestions would be helpful. Technerd
      My Computer
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