Do More with Microsoft Edge: Tips and Tricks for Power Users

Gone are the days when a web browser was simply a portal to the internet. Today, browsers are powerful productivity hubs, and Microsoft Edge is a prime example. Far from being just a successor to Internet Explorer, the modern Microsoft Edge, built on the Chromium engine, has evolved into a feature-rich application designed to enhance your productivity, bolster your security, and integrate seamlessly with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

If you are seeking to get the most out of your daily browse, this post will unveil some of the powerful, yet sometimes overlooked, capabilities within Microsoft Edge. Let’s dive in and discover how you can do more with Edge.

1. Collections

Collections are like supercharged Bookmarks!

Imagine you’re researching a project, planning an event, or gathering ideas for a new initiative. You find numerous websites, articles, images, and even snippets of text that you want to keep together. This is where Collections shines. It allows you to group related content from across the web into dedicated, organised spaces. You can add pages, images, videos, text, and even notes. Collections sync across your signed-in devices, making your research accessible wherever you are.

You can access collections from the settings menu, or by the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Y. You can also opt to keep pin your Collections, while you continue to work in the browser.

Below is an example of a school student researching poets for an English project. You can also choose to send all your links and notes to an Excel, Word or OneNote document.

2. Web Capture

Need to grab a screenshot of a webpage? Edge’s built-in Web Capture tool makes it easy. You can capture a specific area of a page or even the entire scrolling webpage – perfect for saving lengthy articles or complete layouts without needing multiple screenshots or third-party tools. Once captured, you can mark it up before saving or copying.

Simply choose Screenshot from the settings menu or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S.

3. Create a QR Code

Sharing a link from your desktop to your mobile device or with someone nearby is effortless with the built-in QR code generator. Simply right-click on any webpage and select “Create QR code for this page.” A QR code will instantly appear, ready to be scanned by a smartphone or tablet. Copy or download the QR code to add it to a poster or flyer etc.

4. Magnify

Need a closer look at an image on a webpage without opening it in a new tab or downloading it? Microsoft Edge’s Magnify tool allows you to do just that. Simply right-click on an image and select “Magnify,” or hover your mouse over the image and quickly press the Ctrl key twice. The image will open in an overlay window, allowing for a detailed view without disrupting your flow.

5. Drop

Transferring files, images, or notes between your devices shouldn’t be a hassle. Drop in Microsoft Edge provides a simple, intuitive way to share content between your desktop and mobile devices where you are signed into Edge. It functions like a personal chat with yourself within the browser sidebar. Simply drag and drop files take screenshots or type notes into the Drop pane, and they instantly appear on your other devices. This feature leverages OneDrive for storage, ensuring your shared items are safely accessible.

The Drop panel can be found by in Settings > More tools.

6. Quickly Create New Documents

Did you know you can quickly create new Microsoft 365 documents directly from your address bar?

Just type the following shortcut web addresses:

• word.new: Instantly opens a new blank Word document in your browser.
• excel.new: Quickly creates a new blank Excel spreadsheet in your browser.
• ppt.new: Generates a new blank PowerPoint presentation in your browser.

These simple shortcuts can save you valuable time when you need to quickly jot down notes, crunch some numbers, or start a presentation.

7. Shortcuts for Edge Power Users

Mastering keyboard shortcuts is a surefire way to boost your productivity in any application, and Microsoft Edge is no exception.

Here are some of the most useful shortcuts for navigating and controlling your Browse experience:

• Ctrl + T: Open a new tab
• Ctrl + W: Close the current tab
• Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen the last closed tab
• Ctrl + N: Open a new browser window
• Ctrl + Shift + N: Open a new InPrivate window
• Ctrl + Tab: Switch to the next tab
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Switch to the previous tab
• Ctrl + L: Select the URL in the address bar
• Ctrl + F: Open find on page
• Ctrl + H: Open History
• Ctrl + J: Open Downloads
• Ctrl + D: Save the current tab as a Favorite
• Ctrl + Shift + B: Show or hide the Favorites bar
• Ctrl + Shift + I: Open Developer Tools
• Ctrl + Shift + U: Start or stop Read Aloud
• F9: Enter or exit Immersive Reader
• Ctrl + Plus (+): Zoom in
• Ctrl + Minus (-): Zoom out
• Ctrl + 0: Reset page zoom level
• Spacebar: Scroll down a webpage
• Shift + Spacebar: Scroll up a webpage
• Alt + Left arrow: Go back
• Alt + Right arrow: Go forward
• F5: Reload the current page
• Shift + F5: Reload the current page, ignoring cached content

Take some time to explore these features within your own Edge browser and discover how they can help you work smarter, stay organised, and get more done each day.

Please get in touch if you have any questions around Microsoft licensing, support or training.