Microsoft Edge Site Permissions Settings | Pro Guide

Please remember that you always have the option to clear site permissions before closing the browser window or you can also delete all previous site permissions by entering edge://settings/clearBrowserData in address bar of your Edge browser, checking ‘Site permissions’ and the selecting ‘Clear Now’ option.

You can also see the list of all websites you have allowed site permissions, through below navigation.

Click Three Dots for ‘Settings and More’ (or press Alt+F) in top right corner of Edge browser → Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data → Site permissions.

You can also see specific permissions granted to a specific website and customize those permissions.

My Preferred Settings for Site Permissions in Microsoft Edge

Here is how I customized site permissions in Edge browser. → Watch Video Tutorial below.

• Location: turned ON next to ‘Ask before accessing’ option. You also have the option to allow or block specific sites from accessing your location, by entering URLs of those websites. If you allow location for a site, Edge does not share your exact location but an estimated location of your area or region. Sometimes, sharing location with trustworthy sites is quite helpful for finding appropriate service near you.

• Camera: turned ON next to ‘Ask before accessing’ option.

• Microphone: turned ON.

• Motion or light sensors: turned ON. It is useful feature for portable devices such as tablets and mobile phones. Some apps such as fitness tracking apps require this feature for proper functioning.

• Notifications: I have turned ON the toggle for both options of ‘Ask before sending (recommended)’ and Quiet notification requests tweak. Through this setting, sites are still allowed to ask to send notifications, but interrupting notifications are blocked. If I ignore notifications multiple times from a site, further notifications from that site will be blocked by Edge. You can add sites either to allow or block notifications. I have allowed Facebook and Google sites (Drive, Mail, Docs etc) to send me notifications. However, I have blocked certain sites (such as dailymail.co.uk, reddit.com, cnet.com) from sending me notifications.

• JavaScript: Toggled ON.

• Images: Toggled ON next to ‘Show all’ option.

• Pop-ups and redirects: Toggled ON next to ‘Block’ option.

• Ads: I have turned on the toggle to block intrusive and misleading ads.

• Background sync: Toggled ON next to ‘Allow recently closed sites to finish sending and receiving data’ option. It is a good option so that sites (such as OneDrive) can properly and completely finish tasks - upload or download a file including a photo, video, message, before closing.

• Automatic downloads: Toggled ON next to ‘Ask when a site tries to download multiple files automatically’ option. Sites can ask my permission to automatically download related files. You can toggle OFF the option if your device is used by less internet savvy persons such as kids, however, you may experience annoying and repeated alerts for permission, from Edge after each download.

• Protocol handlers: Toggled ON next to ‘Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols’ option. It will make things easier to handle protocols such default email (mailto) protocol handling.

• MIDI devices: Toggled ON next to ‘Ask when a site wants to use system exclusive messages to access MIDI devices’ option.

• Zoom levels: Here, you will see list of sites for which you have zoomed in or zoomed out. To test this feature, just change zoom level of a website in a tab in settings and then check it here the listed website.

• USB devices: Toggled ON next to ‘Ask when a site wants to access USB devices’ option. It helps sites to connect with your USB devices, for functions such as smooth printing task or displaying information on a screen. Be careful and allow the permission to only those sites which you trust as sites can read information or even reprogram your USB device.

• Serial ports: Toggled ON next to ‘Ask when a site wants to access serial ports’ option. Some sites may require this for data transfer. Allow it only for trusted sites.

• File editing: Toggled ON next to ‘Ask when a site wants to edit files or folders on your device’ option. It helps sites to access your device folders for saving your files such as a document or an image.

• PDF documents: Toggled OFF next to ‘Always download PDF files’ option and toggled ON next to ‘PDF view settings’ option.

• Protected content IDs: Toggled ON next to both options. It is necessary for smooth playback of encrypted videos and music. You can know more about it in another article about DRM on this Dozro website.

• Clipboard: Toggled ON next to ‘Ask when a site wants to see text and images copied to the clipboard’ option. It helps sites to match your text formatting before pasting it and saves you from reformatting the text. Allow only trusted sites.

• Payment handlers: Toggled ON next to ‘Allow sites to install payment handlers’ option. This enables users to easily complete one-click payments on websites using their wallet of choice. Examples of payment handler API include Google Pay, Apple Pay, Stripe, PayPal. A browser facilitates the secure flow between a merchant website and a payment handler.

• Media autoplay: I selected ‘Limit’ next to ‘Control if audio and video play automatically on sites’ option.

• Insecure content: here you can add URLs of certain sites to allow or block insecure content. I have not added any sites here because Edge browser automatically blocks the insecure content even on secure sites.

• Virtual reality: Turned ON the toggle button.

• Augmented reality: turned ON the toggle next to ‘Ask when a site wants to create a 3D map of your surroundings or track camera position’ option.

• Application links: I have toggled ON the button next to ‘Automatically block or allow apps based on a list from Microsoft.’ Option.

Microsoft Edge Site Permissions Settings on Mobile

Open Microsoft Edge browser, click three dots … on bottom in mobile phone.

In mobile phone, click Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site Permissions. Here select Cookies.

On mobile phone, you should choose ‘Allow cookies’, for best browsing experience.

Please watch video to know my preferred site permissions in Microsoft Edge, for example, I prefer to block pop ups.

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