How to Use Microsoft Edge Collections to Organize Web Research

When conducting research online—whether planning a holiday, shopping for a laptop, or writing a university paper—managing dozens of open tabs quickly becomes chaotic. Bookmarks are often too rigid, simply saving a link without context. To solve this, Microsoft Edge offers a feature called “Collections,” which allows you to visually organize web pages, images, and notes into dedicated project folders.

What are Microsoft Edge Collections?

Collections act as a visual scrapbook built directly into the browser. Unlike traditional bookmarks, saving a page to a Collection generates a large, easy-to-read preview card containing the page title, a thumbnail image, and the website’s favicon. Because Collections sync across your Microsoft account, you can start researching on your Windows PC and continue seamlessly on the Edge app for iOS or Android.

How to Start a New Collection

Accessing and creating Collections is straightforward on the desktop version of Microsoft Edge.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the Collections icon in the top-right corner of the browser toolbar (it looks like two overlapping squares with a plus sign). If you do not see it, click the three-dot menu icon, select Settings > Appearance, and ensure the Collections button is toggled on.
3. The Collections panel will slide out on the right side of the screen.
4. Click Start new collection.
5. Type a name for your project (e.g., “New Laptop Research” or “Tokyo Trip”) and press Enter.

How to Add Web Pages, Images, and Notes

Once your Collection is created, populating it with research material is incredibly easy.

• Adding the current page: While viewing a website you want to save, open the Collections panel, click into your specific collection, and click Add current page. A visual card of the website will appear in the list.
• Adding specific images or text: You do not have to save the whole page. You can simply click and drag an image from the webpage directly into the Collections panel. You can also highlight a paragraph of text, right-click, and select Add to Collections, choosing your specific folder.
• Adding custom notes: Inside a Collection, click the Add note icon (a small sticky note with a plus sign) at the top of the panel. You can type personal thoughts, reminders, or prices. These notes can be color-coded and dragged up or down the list to act as section dividers.

How to Export Collections to Word or Excel

One of the most powerful features of Edge Collections is the ability to export your research into Microsoft Office applications for formal documentation.

1. Open the Collections panel and navigate inside the collection you want to export.
2. Click the three-dot menu icon at the top of the panel.
3. Select Send to Excel, Send to Word, or Send to OneNote.

If you choose Word, Edge will generate a beautifully formatted document with your notes, images, and links. If you choose Excel, it will organize the links and metadata into a clean spreadsheet, which is particularly useful for comparing prices when shopping online. By utilizing Collections, you can dramatically improve your productivity and keep your browser tabs organized.