How to Clear Browsing History in Microsoft Edge

To clear browsing history in Microsoft Edge on a computer: open Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data > Choose what to clear. Choose a Time range, select Browsing history, then click Clear now.

Before clearing, decide where the deletion should apply. With sync on, clearing synced history can remove it from other signed-in devices too. To clear only the device you are using, Microsoft directs you to turn sync off first. Microsoft account browsing history in the cloud is managed separately through the privacy dashboard.

1. Choose what you want to clear

Edge offers several data types in the same dialog. For a history-only cleanup, select Browsing history and leave the other boxes unchecked.

Data type	What clearing it does	Consider before selecting
Browsing history	Removes the list of visited URLs and their visit dates and times.	Sync settings can extend the deletion to other devices.
Download history	Removes the list of downloaded files.	It does not delete the downloaded files themselves.
Cookies and other site data	Removes site-stored data such as sign-in information, preferences, location, or media licenses.	You may be signed out of websites or lose saved site preferences.
Cached images and files	Removes locally stored copies of pages and media that can speed up later visits.	Pages may take longer to load the next time while files are downloaded again.
Passwords	Removes saved site passwords.	Leave this unchecked if you want to keep saved sign-ins.
Autofill form data	Removes saved form entries such as email, payment card, or shipping details.	Leave this unchecked if you want to keep those entries available.

Microsoft documents these data types and their effects in its Edge history and data clearing guide.

2. Clear history on a computer

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Select Settings and more (the three-dot menu), then Settings.
3. Open Privacy, search, and services.
4. Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
5. Choose the desired Time range.
6. Select Browsing history. Select other categories only if you intend to remove them too.
7. Check sync scope before proceeding: turn sync off first if you want the deletion limited to this device.
8. Select Clear now.

The available time ranges determine how much history the action covers. Choose the narrowest range that meets your need; choosing a broader range removes more of the selected category.

3. Decide whether the deletion is local, synced, or in the cloud

These are separate scopes. Check the scope before selecting Clear now, especially if you use Edge on more than one device.

Scope	How it works	What to do
Current device	Removes browser data stored on the device in use.	Microsoft says to turn sync off before clearing when you want device-only deletion.
Synced devices	When you are signed in and sync is on, clearing a synced category can clear it across your synced devices.	Leave sync on if you intend the deletion to apply across those devices.
Microsoft account cloud history	Account-associated browsing history is managed separately from the local browser copy.	Use the Microsoft privacy dashboard to view or delete it. Dashboard deletion does not automatically remove the copy on your device.

Edge can also share local browsing data with Windows features. Microsoft’s browsing data and privacy guidance describes a separate setting for managing that sharing. Review it separately if your concern is data shared with Windows features.

4. Clear browsing history on Android

Microsoft’s documented Android path is menu > Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data. Choose the data types you want to remove, then tap Clear. Menu names and placement can vary by app version; if the path differs, look under Privacy in Edge settings. See Microsoft’s Edge app help and mobile FAQ.

5. Clear data automatically when Edge closes

If you want selected data removed regularly, open Edge’s clear-data settings and look for Choose what to clear every time you close the browser. Choose the categories you want cleared on exit. This is a recurring setting, so review the selected categories carefully: for example, clearing cookies on every close can remove site sign-ins and preferences. Microsoft’s privacy guidance covers this option.

6. Use InPrivate for future sessions

InPrivate is for reducing locally retained data from a future browsing session; it does not retroactively remove ordinary browsing history. When all InPrivate windows are closed, Edge clears specified session data, including browsing history, cookies and site data, cached files, passwords, and autofill data. Favorites and downloaded files are retained.

InPrivate does not promise anonymity. A school, workplace, or internet service provider may still be able to access browsing activity. For details, see Microsoft’s InPrivate guidance.

Or skip the browser setup

If your goal is to capture a page for documentation or review rather than delete Edge history, ScreenshotNeo returns a website screenshot or PDF from one API request. The API and options are in the ScreenshotNeo documentation.

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

import requests

r = requests.get(
    "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
    params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
    timeout=90,
)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)

const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);

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Troubleshooting

History disappeared from another device

Sync may have been on when you cleared the synced category. If you intended a local-only cleanup, turn sync off before clearing next time. Check each device’s current history and sync status.

The history is gone locally but still appears in the privacy dashboard

Local browser history and Microsoft account cloud history are managed separately. Use the privacy dashboard to manage account-associated history; clearing one scope does not automatically clear the other.

Websites signed you out

Cookies and other site data may have been selected along with history. Clearing only Browsing history avoids removing those site data, passwords, or autofill entries.

A downloaded file is still on the computer

That is expected if you cleared Download history. The setting removes the download list, not the files themselves.

The Android menu does not match these steps

App versions can use different labels or placement. Open Edge settings and look under Privacy for Clear browsing data.

FAQ

Does clearing Edge history delete my favorites?

Browsing history is a separate data category from favorites. The clearing options described here do not require selecting or deleting favorites.

Can I recover history after clearing it?

The cited Microsoft guidance does not describe a recovery process. If sync or account history is enabled, check those scopes before clearing because copies may be managed separately.

Does InPrivate hide activity from my employer or internet provider?

No. Microsoft says organizations such as a school or workplace, and internet service providers, may still be able to access activity.

Does clearing download history remove files from Downloads?

No. It clears the browser’s list of downloads; the downloaded files remain on the device.