How to enable tracking prevention feature on Microsoft Edge

The new version of Microsoft Edge based on Chromium has a new tracking protection feature, and in this guide, you'll learn the steps to enable and configure the level of protection that's right for you.

Enable tracking prevention on Microsoft Edge Chromium
Enable tracking prevention on Microsoft Edge Chromium

As part of the Chromium version of Edge, Microsoft is focusing on improving privacy to block web trackers from collecting data about you.

Starting with this new version, Microsoft Edge is introducing new “Tracking prevention” settings, which allows to choose among three different levels of privacy, including Basic, Balanced, and Strict to prevent malicious and advertisement companies from collecting your activities and other valuable information.

While all the levels offer features to block malicious trackers, the level of advertisement tracking will be different depending on the privacy level that you select.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable and configure the tracking prevention feature in Microsoft Edge for Windows 10 as well as for Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and macOS.

How to configure tracking prevention level on Microsoft Edge

To configure tracking prevention level with Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.

  2. Click the Settings and More (three-dotted) button on the top-right corner.

  3. Select the Settings option.

  4. Click on Privacy and services.

  5. Under the “Tracking prevention” section, turn on the Use tracking prevention toggle switch (if applicable).

    Microsoft Edge Chromium enable tracking prevention
    Microsoft Edge Chromium enable tracking prevention
  6. Select the tracking prevention level, including:

    • Basic — blocks malicious trackers but allows relevant ads.
    • Balanced (recommended) — blocks malicious trackers and some third-party trackers, but you’ll experience less relevant ads.
    • Strict — blocks the majority of online trackers, and as a result some websites may not work correctly.
  7. (Optional) Click the Exceptions button in the bottom right.

  8. Click the Add button.

    Chromium Edge tracking protection exclusion settings
    Chromium Edge tracking prevention exclusion settings
  9. Specify the website that you allow trackers when privacy prevention is enabled.

    Allow tracking for specific website on Microsoft Edge
    Allow tracking for specific website on Microsoft Edge
  10. Click the Add button.

    Quick tip: Click the three-dotted button on the right to remove, block, or edit the website.

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to browse the web without worrying about malicious trackers, and you should starting seeing less targeted advertisements.

Update January 13, 2020: Originally published in August 2019, and it’s been updated to reflect the changes since the feature was first introduced.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.