Microsoft Edge regularly introduces new features to improve user experience and security. However, some of these features can be a bit confusing at first, such as the new “Save screenshots of sites for History” feature, which automatically saves screenshots of websites you visit.
But what exactly is this feature, and how does it work? And more importantly, can you switch it off? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the “Save Screenshots of Sites for History” Feature in Microsoft Edge?
Microsoft Edge 117, currently available in the Canary, Dev, and Beta channels, includes a feature that takes a screenshot of every site you visit and saves it to your history. This means you’re able to quickly revisit a site by hovering over it in your history and clicking on the thumbnail of the screenshot.
However, the name and description of this feature have caused some confusion among users. The name “Save screenshots of site for History” makes it sound like the browser will automatically take screenshots of every page you visit, but Microsoft has not made any statements to confirm this. Still, it’s best to keep the feature turned off, especially if you’re concerned about your privacy.
Microsoft has not yet announced when this feature will be released in the stable version of Edge. Hopefully, it will be introduced in a refined form, with an option to prevent the browser from taking screenshots of specific websites.
How to Stop Edge From Taking Screenshots by Editing Edge Settings
The “Save screenshots of sites for History” feature is disabled by default in preview channels. However, if you have enabled it by mistake or Microsoft decides to keep it enabled in the stable version, you can disable it by following these steps:
That’s it! Microsoft Edge will no longer take screenshots of every website you visit.
How to Stop Edge From Taking Screenshots by Editing the Registry
You can prevent Edge from taking screenshots of every site you visit by editing the Windows registry as well. Here’s how to do it.
Editing the registry carries inherent risks, as a single incorrect edit can potentially render your computer unstable. Therefore, make sure toback up the Windows registryandcreate a restore point on Windowsbefore proceeding with the steps.
After restarting your computer, you will see a lock icon next to the “Save screenshots of site for History” toggle. If you hover your cursor over the lock icon, you will see the message, “This setting is managed by your organization.”
To revert the changes, type"1" in ShowHistoryThumbnails value and clickOK.
Prevent Microsoft Edge From Capturing Your Online Activity
The “Save screenshots of sites for History” feature is still in testing, but it has already gotten a bad rap from users. Hopefully, Microsoft Edge will release a more polished version of this feature in its stable release. Also, if it comes enabled by default in the stable version of Edge, you can disable it using the steps above.
