How to Change Your Homepage in Microsoft Edge: A Comprehensive Guide

Microsoft Edge, the successor to Internet Explorer, has become a popular browser choice for many users. One of the first customizations many people like to make is changing their homepage – the page that loads when they open a new browser window or tab. Whether you prefer a search engine, a news site, or a custom dashboard, Edge offers several ways to set your preferred starting point. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the methods, step by step, ensuring you have complete control over your browsing experience.

Why Change Your Homepage?

Before diving into the ‘how’, let’s discuss the ‘why.’ Changing your homepage provides several benefits:

• Efficiency: Quickly access your most used website or service without having to type the address each time.
• Personalization: Tailor your browsing experience to suit your needs and preferences.
• Productivity: Launch straight into a work-related dashboard or a specific project management tool.
• Convenience: Start your browsing journey with the news you want or the tools you need readily available.

Methods to Change Your Homepage in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge offers multiple avenues for changing your homepage. Let’s explore each method in detail:

Method 1: Setting a Specific URL as Your Homepage

This is the most straightforward method for setting a single webpage as your homepage. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Microsoft Edge: Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
2. Access Settings: Click on the three horizontal dots (the ellipsis) located at the top-right corner of the browser window. This will open the Edge menu.
3. Navigate to Settings: In the menu that appears, click on the “Settings” option. It’s usually near the bottom of the list.
4. Go to Start, Home, and new tabs: On the left side of the settings page you’ll see a sidebar, click on “Start, home, and new tabs”
5. Choose Open These Pages: Look for the “When Edge starts” section. Select the radio button that corresponds to “Open these pages.”
6. Add a New Page: Click on the “Add a new page” button below the selected option.
7. Enter Your Desired URL: A small dialog box will appear. In this box, type the complete URL (web address) of the website you want to set as your homepage (e.g., https://www.google.com, https://www.bing.com, https://www.nytimes.com). Then Click “Add”
8. (Optional) Add Multiple Homepages: If you want to have multiple pages open when you start Edge, you can repeat steps 6 and 7 for each additional website. Each time you open Edge, it will then open all of these pages in separate tabs.
9. Restart Edge: For the changes to take effect, close all instances of Microsoft Edge and re-open it. Your chosen homepage(s) should now load when Edge starts up.

Important Notes for This Method:

• Full URL Required: Make sure you type the complete URL including “https://” or “http://”. Without this, the homepage might not load correctly.
• Multiple Homepages: As mentioned above, this method allows setting multiple homepages that open in different tabs upon startup.
• Editing Existing Homepages: To edit the currently set homepages, you can hover over the webpage and click on three dots to the right, from the new menu that appears you can select to edit or remove the page.

Method 2: Setting a Specific Page as Your Home Button Target

The home button, typically located on the left side of the address bar, can be customized to open a specific page with a single click. This is different from the homepage that opens when you start Edge. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Open Microsoft Edge: Launch the Edge browser on your computer.
2. Access Settings: Click on the three horizontal dots (the ellipsis) at the top-right corner and go to “Settings”.
3. Go to Appearance: In the left sidebar, select “Appearance”.
4. Toggle the Show home button On/Off: In the Customise toolbar section look for “Show home button” and toggle the switch to “on” if you would like the button to appear next to the address bar.
5. Choose the Target URL: Below the toggle for the home button, you’ll see two options, either “New tab page” or “Enter URL”. If you choose “Enter URL”, a new box will appear where you can input your desired URL for when you click the home button.
6. Type the Desired URL: As before, enter the full URL of the webpage you want to use as your home button’s target. (e.g., https://www.bbc.com).
7. Test the Home Button: Click the home button on the left side of the address bar. Your specified page should now open in the current tab.

Important Notes for This Method:

• Home Button Visibility: Make sure the “Show home button” toggle is on for the home button to appear.
• Distinction from Homepage: The home button is different from the startup homepage. This setting only affects what happens when you click the home button, not when Edge starts up.
• Replacing Current Page: Clicking the home button will replace the content in the current tab with the home button URL you specified.

Method 3: Using the ‘New Tab’ Page Options

Microsoft Edge also allows you to customize the ‘new tab’ page, which might be what some users consider their homepage, especially if they usually open new tabs instead of closing and re-opening the browser. You can set a specific URL to show in new tabs with these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge: Launch the Microsoft Edge browser.
2. Access Settings: Click on the three dots (ellipsis) at the top-right corner and go to “Settings”.
3. Go to Start, Home, and new tabs: On the left side of the settings page you’ll see a sidebar, click on “Start, home, and new tabs”
4. Choose open These Pages: Look for the “When a new tab opens” section. Select the radio button that corresponds to “A specific page”
5. Enter your URL: Now type or paste the URL you wish to use as your new tab page.
6. Press Enter: Edge will automatically save your selection and you are good to go. Now whenever you open a new tab, it will show the website you have specified.

Important Notes for This Method:

• New Tab, Not Startup: This method only affects the ‘new tab’ page, not the page that loads when you start the browser itself.
• Quick Links on the new tab page: By default the ‘new tab’ page shows a search bar, and some preselected quick links to other websites, and the background images change occasionally. All of these can be removed or adjusted in settings.
• Customization options: There are many different ways you can customize the look and feel of your ‘new tab’ page that are not covered in this guide, but are well worth exploring.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, despite following the steps carefully, you might encounter issues with changing your homepage. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

• Homepage Not Saving:
  • Check URL Accuracy: Double-check that you have entered the full URL including “https://” or “http://”. Typos or missing parts can prevent the page from loading.
  • Browser Updates: Ensure that your Microsoft Edge browser is updated to the latest version. Outdated versions may have bugs.
  • Restart Edge: Make sure you have closed ALL open Microsoft Edge windows when restarting the browser to apply changes.
• Homepage Redirects:
  • Malware Check: Scan your computer for malware. Some malicious software can hijack browser settings, including your homepage.
  • Extension Conflicts: Check your Edge extensions. Some extensions might interfere with your homepage settings. Disable any suspected extensions temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.
• Homepage Opens Blank:
  • Check URL: Verify that the URL you entered is valid and the website is working.
  • Network Issues: Make sure your internet connection is stable and working correctly.

Conclusion

Customizing your homepage in Microsoft Edge is a straightforward process that can significantly improve your browsing experience. Whether you prefer a specific website or a custom dashboard, Edge provides various ways to set up your desired starting point. By using the methods outlined above, you can tailor your browser to meet your needs and enhance your productivity. Remember to double-check URLs, keep your browser updated, and consider malware or extension conflicts if you encounter any issues. Enjoy your personalized browsing experience!

By understanding these different methods you can set a homepage, a home button destination, and a ‘new tab’ page that all work together and feel uniquely yours. Happy browsing!