By default, Microsoft Edge is configured to pick up exactly where you left off. When you close the browser and open it again the next day, it will automatically load every single tab you had open during your previous session. This feature is intended to help you maintain your workflow across multiple days without losing your place.
However, if you are sharing a computer with family members or coworkers, this behavior is a severe privacy issue. The next person who opens the browser will instantly see exactly what you were researching, reading, or purchasing. Furthermore, loading dozens of heavy tabs on startup can cause older computers to freeze or run incredibly slowly.
If you want a clean, fast, and private start every time you open Microsoft Edge, you should configure it to open a blank page instead.
How to Disable Previous Tab Restoration
You can change the startup behavior in the core Edge settings menu.
- Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
- Click the three horizontal dots (Settings and more) in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Start, home, and new tabs.
- Look for the section at the very top labeled “When Microsoft Edge starts.”
- By default, it will be set to “Open tabs from the previous session.”
- Change this setting by selecting the radio button next to Open the New tab page. (Alternatively, you can select “Open these pages” to specify a specific homepage like Google.com).
The next time you close Microsoft Edge, it will permanently forget your active session. When you reopen the browser, you will be greeted by a single, clean New Tab page, completely protecting your privacy from the next user who sits at the keyboard.