How to Turn On or Off Tracking Prevention 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.
Websites use trackers to collect data about your browsing behavior. Trackers collect data about how you interact with a site, such as the content you click on. They also enable functionality on some websites, such as comments sections, buttons to share articles to social media, and personalized ads.
Some trackers collect data about you across multiple sites. For example, a tracker could track when you go to your favorite shopping site and news site. This is why it can sometimes feel like an ad is following you around the web.
The tracking prevention feature in Microsoft Edge protects users from online tracking by restricting the ability of trackers to access browser-based storage as well as the network. It is built to uphold the Microsoft Edge browser privacy promise while also ensuring that there is no impact by default to website compatibility or the economic viability of the web.
Microsoft Edge is designed to detect and block trackers. Microsoft puts you in control to decide what trackers to block. You can choose from three levels of tracking prevention – Basic, Balanced, and Strict. Balanced is selected as the default. Each option blocks potentially harmful trackers – trackers detected as cryptomining or fingerprinting.
Basic: The least restrictive level of tracking prevention that is designed for users who enjoy personalized advertisements and who do not mind being tracked on the web. Basic only protects users against malicious trackers such as fingerprinters and cryptominers. Blocks potentially harmful trackers but allows most other trackers and those that personalize content and ads.
Balanced (Recommended): The default level of tracking prevention that is designed for users who want to see less creepy advertisements that follow them around the web while they browse. Balanced aims to block trackers from sites that users never engage with while minimizing the risk of compatibility issues on the web. Blocks potentially harmful trackers and trackers from sites you haven’t visited. Content and ads will likely be less personalized.
Strict: The most restrictive level of tracking prevention that is designed for users who are okay trading website compatibility for maximum privacy. Blocks potentially harmful trackers and most trackers across sites. Content and ads will likely have minimal personalization. This option blocks the most trackers but could cause some websites to not behave as expected. For example, a video might not play, or you might not be able to sign in.
See also:
- Tracking Prevention in Microsoft Edge (Chromium) | Microsoft Docs
- Learn about tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Support
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or turn off tracking prevention and change tracking prevention level in the Chromium based Microsoft Edge.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Tracking Prevention in Microsoft Edge
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Tracking Prevention in Microsoft Edge for All Users
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+F) 3 dots menu icon, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 Do step 4 (on) or step 5 (off) below for what you want to do.
A) Click/tap on Privacy and services on the left side. (see screenshot below)
If you do not see a left pane, then either click/tap on the 3 bars menu button towards the top left OR widen the horizontal borders of the Microsoft Edge window until you do.
B) Turn on Tracking prevention on the right side.
C) Select Basic, Balanced (default), or Strict for the level of tracking prevention you want to use.
D) Go to step 6 (off) below.
A) Click/tap on Privacy and services on the left side. (see screenshot below)
If you do not see a left pane, then either click/tap on the 3 bars menu button towards the top left OR widen the horizontal borders of the Microsoft Edge window until you do.
B) Turn off Tracking prevention on the right side.
C) Go to step 6 (off) below.
6 You can now close the Settings tab if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
This option uses the TrackingPrevention policy to apply to all users on the computer.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
TrackingPrevention DWORD
(delete) = Default - user choice
0 = Force disable
1 = Force Basic
2 = Force Balanced
3 = Force Strict
1 Do step 2 (disable), step 3 (basic), step 4 (balanced), step 5 (strict), step 6 (default) below for what you would like to do.
This step will disable tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge, and prevent users from using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Disable_tracking_prevention_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
Download
This step will force basic tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge, and prevent users from using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Force_basic_tracking_prevention_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
Download
This step will force balanced tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge, and prevent users from using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Force_balanced_tracking_prevention_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
Download
This step will force strict tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge, and prevent users from using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Force_strict_tracking_prevention_in_Microsoft_Edge_for_all_users.reg
Download
This is the default setting, and will allow users to use Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Default_user_choice_tracking_prevention_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg
Download
7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
8 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
9 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
10 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.
11 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
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