Trucks tips

Use Google Chrome Extensions in Edge

If you recently moved from Google Chrome to Microsoft Edge, you don’t have to worry about the lack of your favorite Chrome extensions. Just go to edge://extensions/ and enable the ‘Allow extensions from other stores’ toggle at the bottom left. You can then install extensions from Chrome Web Store on Edge. Isn’t this the niftiest Microsoft Edge tip for new users?

Use Sidebar Search

Saw something on a web page that you would like to know more about? Microsoft Edge comes with a built-in sidebar search feature. Select the text you want more info on, right-click, and choose Bing sidebar search. This way, you can search the web without leaving the current page. Unfortunately, you can’t remap this functionality with other search engines, such as Google or DuckDuckGo.

Use Web Capture Tool

Did you know that Edge has a built-in web capture tool that lets you easily capture screenshots of web pages? You can access it from the three dots menu or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+S. You can also draw over the screenshot within the capture tool before saving it to your computer.

Try Caret Browsing

If you are looking for a way to use caret browsing mode, you will be glad to know that Microsoft Edge has this feature built-in. To enable caret browsing mode, all you have to do is press the F7 key. It will place a cursor on your browser to allow you to select large chunks of text. You can hit the F7 key again to turn it off.

Immersive Reading Mode with Read Aloud

If you want a distraction-free experience while reading web pages, you can use Edge’s immersive reading mode. Use the immersive reader button in the address bar or use the F9 key to enter reading mode. Once you are in Reader mode, you can make Edge read the page aloud for you. To do that, click on the “Read aloud” button from the list of options at the top. This is one of the Edge tips and tricks that I regularly use to listen to lengthy articles during supper or work breaks.

Disable URL Copy and Paste

If you have recently switched to Edge and are annoyed by its new copy and pasting mechanism, you are not alone. Fortunately, you can switch back to the usual URL copy/paste experience from the Settings. Go to Settings -> Share, copy, and paste and choose Plain text. Microsoft Edge uses ‘Link’ as the default setting. Check out our article on how to disable the URL copy and paste feature in Edge for step-by-step instructions.

Enable Kids Mode in Edge

Kids mode is a custom Edge experience meant for kids, and you can choose from two age ranges, including 5-8 years or 9 and older, during setup. You get custom browser themes that are more appealing to children, browsing on certain allowed websites, and strict Bing SafeSearch with kids mode. You can learn how to enable and use Kids Mode on Microsoft Edge from our linked guide.

Use Collections

Found something interesting on the web that you might want to check out later? Save it to “Collections” with just a click. You can right-click on a page and add it to a new collection. You also have the option to save all open tabs in your collection. Moreover, with the recent Pinterest integration, you can easily find similar content online. I believe this is a valuable tip and trick for creative users who have made the switch to Microsoft Edge.

Enable Startup Boost

Microsoft Edge’s Startup Boost feature keeps the browser running in the background with minimal processes. As a result, the browser will open faster when you launch it. You can enable the feature from Settings -> System -> Startup boost. This Edge tip will come in especially handy for users with older, low-end machines. If that’s the case, you should check out our detailed guide to speed up your Windows 10 PC.

Try Vertical Tabs in Edge

As the name tells, the vertical tabs feature shifts the tabs from the usual top position to the left side of the browser. You can use the vertical tabs button to switch between horizontal and vertical tab layouts in Edge. In future Edge builds, you will also be able to resize the vertical tabs bar by clicking and dragging the sidebar.