Microsoft Edge Browser Tips and Tricks for Windows 11/10

Microsoft has been relaunching its browser, which first started with the EDGE HTML rendering engine and now Chromium. While Internet Explorer is still there on Windows 10, Edge HTML will be called Edge Legacy, the new Chromium-based Edge Browser will soon be delivered through Windows Update. This post offers you some cool Edge Browser Chromium Tips and Tricks that will help you get the best of this new web browser and its features in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Here are some tips and tricks that will help you get the best out of the new Microsoft Edge Chromium browser on Windows 11/10:

You can quickly access the Edge Chromium Settings either by using “edge://settings/” in the URL or click on the three dots and then click on settings. I have also highlighted the direct path for each of the settings for quicker access.

The default is set to the light theme, but you can change it to Dark or use System mode. The latter will automatically enable dark mode when you use Dark Mode in Windows 10.

Read: How to enable or disable Audio, Video, and Screen Capture in Edge.

If you want to force websites to become dark, you can force it using a flag—Force Dark Mode for Web Contents. It works on Chrome as well because of the Chromium Engine.

You should know that when you force a website to change, it is possible that some of the text will not be visible to you. Chromium Engine offers different ways to force dark mode. Experiment with them to find what works for you. There are various ways like HSL, RGB, and so on.

Read: How to lock the Edge or Chrome browser with a password.

The default search engine in Edge Chromium is going to be Bing, but you can always change it. You can choose to create custom search engines to search on websites directly.

Now every time you type on the address bar, it will search on Google. If there is another search engine you want to add, click on Manage Search Engines, and you can add based on some parameters.

You can include Google or any other search engine in the list of Edge browser. Our post on how to change Default Search to Google in Edge offers step-by-step instructions in this regard.

Read: How to find those parameters and add them.

Every time you open Edge Chromium, you should see a new wallpaper as a background. It’s a signature feature of Edge that has been there for long. You get a search bar, background image, and a bunch of recently visited pages in the form of aligned boxes.

The New tab page in the Edge browser now features  4 new modes. This helps you customize the experience to fit your preferences. See ‘Change New Tab Page layout in Edge‘ to know the complete procedure.

You can change this layout by clicking on the cog icon on the right.

Apart from this, you also have On Startup option (edge://settings/onStartup), where you can choose open a new tab or Continue where you left off and open a specific page every time.

Read: How to block a website in Microsoft Edge.

Edge offers some customization options. Visit this page if you would like to customize the Edge browser.

A home page is the main page of a website where visitors can find hyperlinks to other pages on the site. Also, it is a web address that opens automatically when you launch the web browser. Here, you can set your favorite website, blog or search engine as your home page or you can set a blank page too. Like all web browsers, the new Edge too, lets you configure multiple homepages. Just access ‘Settings and more‘ menu > ‘Settings’ > ‘On startup‘ > ‘Open a specific page or pages‘ > ‘Add a new page‘.

Then, enter the URL of the homepage and you are good to go!

TIP: You can edit an Image using built-in Image Editor Tool of Microsoft Edge

Just like Chrome and Firefox, Microsoft Edge Chromium offers its inbuilt password manager that can sync across devices. Edge is also available on Android and iPhone.

When you turn off sign-in, you will have to enter the password every time you use the password manager to sign in.

You can do away with the requirement of saving passwords manually! The process can be simplified by enabling the Form-fill option. This feature configures your browser to fill the web forms, automatically. Refer to our earlier post – Manage Passwords and Form-Fill.

The home button in a browser is a legacy thing which used to take the user back to a new tab and open it as it has been set. It is like the house icon next to the address bar.

The Home button represents a physical button that aids the navigation by taking users directly to the Home screen (starting point of the site). It is turned off by default in Edge Chromium but you can add it anytime. See this post for more details –  add a Home button.

If you are planning to use Edge over any other browser, it would be a good idea to import settings, etc. from the old browser. The Import Feature works with Microsoft Edge (Legacy), Chrome, Firefox, and more.

TIP: You can also use enable and use Password Monitor.

In Edge Chromium, you have a better way to access favorites—Favorites Button. It appears at the end, and outside of the address bar. When you click on it, it will reveal all the bookmarked pages and folders. It is better to use the button as it is less intrusive.

Press F11 to go full-screen. The Edge address bar will auto-hide. To make it appear, simply move the mouse to the top edge.

There’s more! You might take interest in checking out some of the features of the Edge browser so that you are completely familiar with all the features of the web browser. It talks about how to Delete browsing history and cache, Share web pages, use Reading View, create Reading List, use the built-in PDF Reader, the Hub, Sync Support, Page Prediction feature, support for Dolby Audio and more. There are also some new security features in Edge you may want to take a look at. Having done this, you might want to also take a look at and configure

Edge is the only browser available to date that allows you to annotate a web page right on the screen and then save your markings as notes. It lets you take notes, write, highlight directly on web pages or scribble on the web. To check this, open a PDF file with Edge and you’ll see the ‘Draw‘ option below the address bar that will allow you to create WebNotes, readily.

The earlier version of Edge allowed adding websites to the Start Menu. That’s not possible with the Chromium version. Instead, you can choose to Pin websites shortcut to Taskbar.

Interesting to note that all these pinned websites are treated as Apps and are available under Menu > Apps > Manage Apps (edge://apps/)

n case you are interested in developing add-ons for Microsoft Edge, you might want to know about developer tools provided by Microsoft.

Click on Menu More Tools and then click on Developer Tools. You can use Ctrl + Shift + I to open it quickly.

This will automatically launch the tools undocked. As a Developer, you might be excited to use the Network tools. Use them to change User-Agent, Mode, Display, Geolocation too.

If you still need to use IE for some of the websites and applications, follow this method for IE. When it comes to Edge HTML or Edge Legacy, you need to enable it manually. Once done, follow the same steps we have asked for IE.

Since Microsoft Edge is now based on Chromium, it supports most of the Chrome extensions. You can now install extensions in Edge from outside Microsoft Store to enhance your web browsing experience. You can also install extensions from the Chrome Store.

When you visit the Chrome Extension Webstore, Edge will prompt that you can install the extension from here or any third party website. Click on Allow to enable extensions from other stores. You can also install Chrome Themes.

Related: How to manage, add, remove Extensions in new Microsoft Edge browser

Just like Firefox and Chrome, you can sync data, profile, extensions, and passwords across browser instances. If you use Edge on multiple computers, you can sync data between them. You will have to enable it manually, so follow our guide. It is my favorite of our Edge Chromium Tips Tricks, and I am sure if you love using Edge, you will like it too.

TIP: if you middle-click the Back and Forward buttons, this action will open the site in a new tab.

It is best to set the download location separate from the default download folder if you download a lot of things at one place.

Keyboard shortcuts are something that every browser supports. Microsoft’s browser is no exception to this rule. You can use these shortcuts to fasten your navigation process. For example, you can bookmark a website by simply hitting CTRL+D keys in combination and choose a folder to save the bookmark. See the complete list of these browser keyboard shortcuts.

You can take a scrolling screenshot of the webpage you are viewing. Press CTRL+Shift+S in Edge. Then use the pointer to select the entire webpage – even the part that is below the fold.

Command Palette feature in Edge browser (version 105 and higher) lets you perform actions that you may need in day-to-day browsing. For example, this feature lets you clear browsing data, toggle developer tools, move a tab backward, bookmark all tabs, and lots more from a single panel. Here is how to enable and use Command Palette in Microsoft Edge:

After enabling Command Palette, use the Ctrl+Shift+Space shortcut key to open the Command Palette panel. Type some keyboards in the text box and related actions will be visible.

Math Solver is one of the interesting features of Microsoft Edge. It helps to solve Math problems (Calculus, Arithmetic, Trigonometry, Quadratic equations, etc.) with step-by-step explanations.

To enable the Math Solver feature in Microsoft Edge:

Math Solver icon will appear on the Microsoft Edge toolbar. You can click that icon and then use the Math Solver feature in Microsoft Edge.

You may have imported a lot of favorites from other browsers as well as created many bookmarks over the period of time in Microsoft Edge. And, some of those favorites might be duplicated. Thankfully, Microsoft Edge comes with a built-in option to remove duplicate favorites from a profile with the same URL and name.

For this, open the Edge browser and access a user profile. Press Ctrl+Shift+O hotkey to open the Favorites menu. There, click on the More options icon, select the Remove duplicate favorites option, and complete the process.

Also read: 10 Work from Home extensions for Microsoft Edge browser.

There’s more! You might take interest in checking out some of the features of the Edge browser so that you are completely familiar with all the features of the web browser. It talks about how to Delete browsing history and cache, Share web pages, use Reading View, create Reading List, use the built-in PDF Reader, the Hub, Sync Support, Page Prediction feature, support for Dolby Audio and more. There are also some new security features in Edge you may want to take a look at.

I hope these tips and tricks for Microsoft Edge Chromium come in handy for you. we have also covered Edge Browser Tips and Tricks for Android & iOS.

The answer is a Yes. Microsoft Edge is definitely better in Windows 11 as well as Windows 10. Ever since it is based on Chromium, many interesting features came into existence. There are so many features such as vertical tabs, Web capture, voice typing, security settings, family safety, sleeping tabs, efficiency mode, etc., that provide a better user experience.

There are some tweaks for Microsoft Edge that can make it faster. Startup Boost is a feature in Microsoft Edge that makes it launch faster than usual. You can enable it in Edge Settings. Installing more extensions can also slow down a browser. Uninstall or disable unnecessary extensions from Edge. You can also optimize your new tab experience to make Edge faster.

If you liked this post, you might want to check out  Windows 10 as well as Windows 11 Tips and Tricks too. Chrome users may want to take a look at this Google Chrome tips & tricks post and Firefox users, this Firefox tips & tricks post.

10 Microsoft Teams Tips and Tricks to help you get the best out of it

A lot of teams work from home, and they must have a tool that helps them communicate, manage tasks, get on video calls, and so on. Microsoft Teams is a viable solution that anyone can use; it is available without any extra cost. In this post, I am sharing 10 Microsoft Teams tips and tricks that will help you improve your experience with the product.

These are some of the important Microsoft Tips and Tricks you should know and try. Some of them will need an IT admin or Office 365 admin to enable the feature.

Microsoft Teams offers tons of features, and if you use features that you think will be worth adding to the list, let us know.

Conversations could be lengthy, and they can be in large volumes. That’s where the bookmark feature in Microsoft Teams comes into the picture. Any message or attachment in a conversation can be bookmarked. Select the message, and it will reveal emoji picker along with three dots. Click on it, and you have the option to “Save this message.”

To access saved message, click on your profile on the top-right, and then select “Saved.” It will reveal the list of all the saved messages. When you click on any of the bookmarked messages, it will open the whole conversation, and it’ll temporarily highlight the saved message with a yellow background.

To remove a message from the list, select or hover over it, and then click on the “unsave this message” menu. You can also unsave any message by hovering over it on the list, and then clicking on the bookmark icon.

Read: How to integrate Zoom with Microsoft Teams.

It is a powerful feature which you should master to find anything in the ocean of messages. Click on the search box, and you can type forward-slash(/) to see all the commands, mention feature(@) to find a contact and all the conversation, The “@” feature can also be used to interface with installed apps.

Not everyone uses the same service, and if you have just moved to Microsoft Teams or want to connect with other services, then you can use the Microsoft Teams’ connectors. You can use it to receive notifications and messages from your web, RSS feeds, and even o push content from different Office 365  applications into Microsoft Teams.

Connectors are available in the Teams menu and are similar to apps, but they work differently. If your company has built a custom connector, then you can publish it into the store and access it or ask IT to deploy it for the company.

If you are using an app, the navigation buttons are going to be your savior. Available on the top left, these buttons act as the browsing buttons (back and forward) like on the browser. So if you opened the inbox and then want to back to your team conversation, use the nav buttons to move back and forth.

Teams allow you to add multiple sections or tabs. You can add a wiki, a calendar, a website, or even a file. To add a table, click on the ‘+’ sign on the right -hand side of the channel and then search for what it is you want to add in the tab.

Microsoft has done an incredible job when it comes to translation, and it is powerful enough to translate messages in real-time. If you are conversing with people around the world, the translation feature will be handy. Once enabled by the administrator, you can click hover over any message, click on the three-dot menu, and then choose to translate in your default language.

To read all the messages in a distraction less view, Microsoft has integrated immersive reader for all team message. It is useful, especially for those who need special assistance. In the immersive view, you can read the message with clarity, and also use the audio tool to read the message aloud. To have eth best experience, set the speed, and audio selection.

Click on the menu button of any message, and select Immersive Reader. It also offers extra features such as translation, line focus, change text size, bookmarks, and more.

If you have access to the Microsoft planner under Microsoft 365 subscription, then it is going to be the most straightforward task manager for you. It is recommended for those who do not use any third-party task manager and need one for the Team. Once integrated, you can create a task out of any message and assign it to any person. You can also “pin” the Planner app to any channel to make it more accessible in one click.

If you have used Skype meetings, I am sure you already know about this feature. It allows you to hide what is in your background to keep your privacy.  Microsoft teams offer video calling, and it uses Skype, which means you can use the same set of features.  If you want to activate Background Blur during meetings, click on the more actions on the call menu and select ‘Blur My Background.’

TIP: You can also use Custom Backgrounds in Microsoft Teams.

While Teams-Outlook integration is yet to happen, until then if you want to forward any email into your Team, you can enable the built-in feature, click on the Teams menu, and then select Get email address.  It will then reveal a unique email id to which you can forward an email to appear on the teams. The configuration allows you to let anyone send emails, or only members of Team or only from the fixed set of domains.

That said, there can be a lot of tips tricks available for Microsoft teams. These are some of the best and will make sure you get to learn something new and help you use Microsoft Teams even better.

7 tips and tricks for hay fever relief

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Incessant sneezing, runny, red hot nose, dry itchy eyes and a banging head from wheezing all the time, it’s exhausting!

So far it’s really proving to be far from a summer of fun for hay fever sufferers.

While we love verdant trees, green grasses (grass pollen being the most common cause of hay fever coming into July) and flower beds to delight our bees and boost our picnic plans, the pollen plants release cause any number of allergic reactions.

According to Allergy Ireland, about 25 per cent of all Europeans suffer some type of nose/sinus/chest allergy and this is set to rise to 50 per cent within the next decade

Hay fever sufferers should have antihistamines handy and should visit their GP if things get really bad, but in the meantime, here’s how to help ease any irritation, at least a little…

1. Be prepared with an app

My Pollen Forecast Pro UK is cited as one of the best apps for tracking the pollen count and your allergens. With a five day forecast, a diary feature to track your allergies and a live pollen map, at least it can help you prep for the great outdoors. Available on the App Store.

The Asthma Society of Ireland offers a similar app with a pollen tracker for daily updates on pollen levels around Ireland, including a forecast and predictions for the following day. Plus it’s free.

2. Keep the windows closed

Sunshine and blue skies? It’s only natural to want to throw open the windows. Unfortunately, this can let all those nasties in, so try to avoid opening them during peak pollen hours of late morning and late afternoon; and close them at night when there’s a high pollen count too.

3. Vaseline can help in various ways

A godsend when you have dry lips, eyelids or cracked skin, Vaseline can also help soothe and protect your nose. Try smearing it inside each nostril to ease any soreness and catch pollen entering the nasal passages.

4. Take a cool shower

If your eyes are streaming and you can’t stop sneezing, take refuge under the coolness of cold running water. Not only will it help ease symptoms, but you should wash your hair and change your clothing if you’ve been spending any length of time sitting or working outside. If a shower isn’t practical, put a cold facecloth on your face and lie down for a few minutes.

5. Used tea bags can help ease puffy eyes

Make the most of your morning cuppa by putting used tea bags in the fridge and use them as a cold compress to help relieve any swelling and soothe sore, itchy eyes. Cucumber slices can work too.

6. Keep your face mask on

Face masks have become so much the norm, you may as well use them to filter out particles of pollen. Especially with summer socials in full swing, if you’re going on a picnic, it’s windy or you have to mow the lawn… eek!

7. Wear wraparound sunglasses

Fashionable, sporty and with a fair chance of slightly increased protection against pollen getting in your eyes, a cool pair of wraparound sunnies is your best summer investment – an A-list accessory with benefits.