The new Microsoft Edge is a modern browser, but it is loaded with too many features. Although you can customize Edge from its settings, many parts of the browser can only be configured through policies, something many users are unaware of.
Below we will see a script that can automate the settings in certain policies to enable or disable specific functions.
MSEdge Tweaker is an open source script that you can download from GitHub. Its first release lets you disable the initial experience, splash screen, data import from other browsers (the feature that begs you to let it get your data from Chrome), and more.
Here is the full list of currently supported policies:
Turn off the first run experience and splash screen
Disable input from other browsers at startup
Turn off browser connection and synchronization services
Disable collections mode
Turn off the edge sidebar
Disable shopping assistant
Disable sponsored links on the new tab page
Deactivation of the insider banner on the about page
According to the GitHub description, the developer plans to roll out more options and policies in future updates. However, you should be aware that using policies to configure Microsoft Edge and its features will result in a "browser managed by your organization" banner being displayed.
Currently, there is no way to revert changes. But you can see all the changes that the script will make if you open it with notepad (right click, open with Notepad).
This way you'll see which registry keys each option creates or modifies, and then you can manually restore it.
If you are interested in MSEdge Tweaker, you can download it from GitHub . Extract the files to a folder, run MSedgeTweaker.cmd as Administrator, and select the features you want or don't want from the list of available policies.
George is still wondering what he is doing here….
