While the default setting in Microsoft Edge browser is to launch a New Tab Page with Bing Search bar, frequently visited sites, news headlines, trending topics and other type of personalized content from Microsoft Start and MSN services, it can be configured to display a Blank Page or any website of your choice.
This way; you can ensure that you are straight away using the Search Function of Microsoft Edge browser, instead of being distracted by catchy news headlines and spending your time browsing entertainment-related content from MSN (Microsoft Network).
Change Start Page & Homepage in Microsoft Edge
Traditionally the page/tab that a web browser opens upon startup was known as its Homepage. However, in the case of Microsoft Edge and other Chromium-based browsers like Google; Start page and Homepage are different entities.
- Start Page: The page that Microsoft Edge browser opens upon Startup.
- Home Button: A button (Home Icon), located in the browser toolbar.
- Homepage: The page that Microsoft Edge opens when you click on the Home button; located on the Start page.
To confirm, the Page that Microsoft Edge opens; when you start or launch the browser is known as its Start Page and this Start page can lead to Homepage; if the option to show Home button is enabled and the user clicks on the Home Button.
With this understanding, let us go ahead and take a look at the steps to change Homepage and Start page of Microsoft Edge browser.
Related: How to Change Default Search Engine in Windows 11.
1. Change Microsoft Edge Homepage to Any Website
You can make Microsoft Edge to open any website of your choice, when the you click on the Home Icon; located on the browser’s toolbar on the Start page.
1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
2. Click on 3-dots icon and select Settings in drop-down menu.
3. On the Settings screen, select Start home, and new tab page in the left-pane. In the right-pane, enable Show Home button on the toolbar option, select Set Custom Site option and enter the URL Address of the website that you want to set as the Home Page in Microsoft Edge.
4. Close the browser page and re-launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
5. On the Start page, you will find the Home button and clicking on the Home Icon will lead to your favorite website.
In the above example, we have set google.com as the Homepage on Microsoft Edge; which makes it easy to access Google Search.
2. Change Microsoft Edge Start Page to Blank Tab
Microsoft Edge does not provide the option to set Blank Page as its Start page. However, you can make use of the following workaround to make it open a Blank page.
1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer > click on 3-dots Icon and select Settings in drop-down menu.
2. On the Settings screen, click on Start home, and new tab page in the left-pane > select Open Custom Sites option in the right-pane and click on Add Site button.
3. On “Add Site” pop-up, type Blank:Tab and click on the Add Site button.
Now, when you launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer, it will open a distraction free blank tab; without weather, news and trending content from Microsoft’s entertaining Network.
3. Remove Content from Microsoft Edge Start Page
Another way to make Microsoft Edge open an almost Blank Start Page is by removing content from its default Start Page.
1. Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
2. Click on the Pencil Icon located at top-right corner of the screen (beside Sign-in button) > scroll down to Quick links & search section and switch off Show Content, Show Widgets and Show Feed options.
3. On the same section, you can toggle-off Show Promoted Links option.
This will prevent Amazon, Temu, Booking.com and Icons for other promoted links from appearing below the Search bar on the Start page of Microsoft Edge.
4. Set Any Website As Start Page in Microsoft Edge
You can set your favorite website as the Start page of Microsoft Edge browser by using the following steps.
1. Open Microsoft Edge > click on 3-dots icon and select Settings in drop-down menu.
2. On the Settings screen, click on Start home, and new tab page in the left-pane > select Open Custom Sites option in the right-pane and click on Add Site button.
3. On “Add Site” pop-up, type the URL Address of your favourite website and click on Add Site button.
Now, when you open the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer, you will find it landing on the Homepage of your favorite website.