Browsing history on the privacy dashboard

Why does Microsoft collect my browsing history?

If you sign in to Windows with your Microsoft account and turn on browsing history in Cortana, your Microsoft Edge browsing history will be collected by Microsoft to help our apps and services provide you with timely and intelligent answers and proactive personalized suggestions. Sharing your browsing history also helps us to improve Microsoft Edge and other Microsoft apps and services.

How do I clear my browsing history?

To view and clear the Microsoft Edge browsing history associated with the Microsoft account that you use to sign in to Windows, go to the privacy dashboard.

To learn how to fully clear the browsing history from your device and ensure that your data is not used for targeting, see the following section.

If you want to clear your browsing history for a non-Microsoft browser, check for instructions on the browser’s company website.

How do I clear the browsing history from my device?

The info shown on the privacy dashboard is separate from the browsing history stored on your device. To clear the browsing history on your device:

1. Go to Microsoft Edge on your device and select More > Settings.

2. Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.

3. To ensure that your data is not used for targeting, select the following check boxes to clear your browser cache and cookies:

   • Cookies and saved website data

   • Cached data and files

For more info, see View and delete your browser history in Microsoft Edge.

How do I share my browsing history or diagnostic data with Microsoft?

Sharing your diagnostic data—including your browsing history—with Microsoft enables us to better help you troubleshoot problems and helps us improve our services.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback

2. Make sure that Diagnostic data is set to Full.

How do I turn on my browsing history in Cortana?

Turning on your browsing history in Cortana enables Cortana to use your browsing history to provide you with timely and intelligent answers and proactive personalized suggestions.

1. On your device, select the search box on the taskbar to open Cortana home.

2. Select Settings > Permissions & History > Manage the information Cortana can access from this device.

3. Make sure Browsing history is set to On.

How do I change what Cortana knows about me?

Go to Cortana's Notebook to change what Cortana knows about you.

How do I clear my Cortana data?

1. On your device, select the search box on the taskbar to open Cortana home.

2. Select Settings > Permissions & History > Change what Cortana knows about me in the cloud.

3. Select Clear.

How do I stop Microsoft Edge from saving my browsing history to the cloud?

1. On your device, select the search box on the taskbar to open Cortana home.

2. Select Settings > Permissions & History > Manage the information Cortana can access from this device.

3. Under Browsing history, make sure the setting is turned Off.

Why am I not seeing all of my data on the privacy dashboard?

When you use InPrivate tabs or windows, your browsing data (like your history, temporary internet files, and cookies) isn't saved once you're done. Learn more about InPrivate Browsing

To learn more about why you might not be seeing all of your data, see View your data on the privacy dashboard.