Top 10 Microsoft Edge Tips for Windows 11 in Moreno Valley (2026)

Updated November 2026 · Menu paths checked against Microsoft's documentation in October 2026. Edge updates often, so names can differ slightly in your version (check edge://settings/help).

Whether you work from home, study, or run a small business in Moreno Valley, a few Edge settings can make a Windows 11 desktop or laptop noticeably smoother and safer. These ten tips are the ones worth doing first.

1. Turn on efficiency mode

Efficiency mode reduces the browser's resource use so Windows can give more to other apps, and it helps battery life on laptops. Go to Settings and more › Settings › System and performance and switch on Efficiency mode (or paste edge://settings/system). Microsoft notes you may see some slowdowns while browsing, so add demanding sites, such as browser games or video tools, to the exclusion list.

2. Keep sleeping tabs on

On the same page, under Optimize Performance, Save resources with sleeping tabs puts tabs you haven't used for a while to sleep and wakes them when you click. If you keep a dashboard or call page open all day, use Never put these sites to sleep to exclude it.

3. Try vertical tabs on a wide monitor

Vertical tabs move your tab strip to the side, which shows full page titles when you have many tabs open. Toggle them with Ctrl+Shift+,, or right-click a tab and choose Turn on vertical tabs.

4. Use Secure Network on public Wi-Fi

If you work from cafés, libraries, coworking spaces or airports in Moreno Valley, Microsoft Edge Secure Network encrypts your Edge traffic and masks your IP address. Turn it on under Settings › Privacy, search, and services › Security. Know the limits: you must sign in with a personal Microsoft account, the free monthly data is capped (5 GB per Microsoft's support page, which has changed before), it covers Edge only, and it may not be available on work-managed devices. It is not a replacement for a full VPN.

5. Capture screenshots without extensions

Press Ctrl+Shift+S to capture an area or the full page, then mark it up, copy it or save it. For anything outside the browser, use Windows' Snipping Tool with Win+Shift+S.

6. Organize pages with Favorites folders

Collections is gone. Microsoft removed it in Edge 149 (June 2026). Many older guides still recommend it.

Use Favorites instead: press Ctrl+D to save a page, create a folder per project, and show the bar with Ctrl+Shift+B. If you used Collections, Microsoft offered a "Move to Favorites" conversion, and personal accounts may find older saves in Bing Saves.

7. Separate work and personal with profiles

Each profile has its own history, passwords, extensions and settings. Click your profile picture in the toolbar to add one. It is the easiest way to keep work logins and personal browsing apart on a shared PC.

8. Keep Microsoft Defender SmartScreen on

SmartScreen warns you about known phishing and malicious download sites. Check it under Settings › Privacy, search, and services › Security, and think twice before clicking through a warning.

9. Prune your extensions

Every extension uses memory and may read the pages you visit. Open edge://extensions, remove anything you no longer use, and install only from the Edge Add-ons store or sources you trust.

10. Learn a few shortcuts

Ctrl+Shift+T — reopen the last closed tab
Ctrl+Shift+R — reload without cache
Ctrl+Shift+, — toggle vertical tabs
Ctrl+Shift+S — screenshot

FAQ: Edge on Windows 11 in Moreno Valley

Where do I find Edge's performance settings?

Open Edge, select Settings and more > Settings > System and performance, or paste edge://settings/system into the address bar. Efficiency mode and sleeping tabs are under Optimize Performance.

Is Edge Secure Network a full VPN?

No. It protects traffic inside the Edge browser only, requires signing in with a personal Microsoft account, has a monthly free data allowance (5 GB according to Microsoft's support page, which has changed before), and routes streaming sites outside the VPN by default. It may be unavailable on work-managed devices or in some regions.

What happened to Collections in Edge?

Microsoft retired Collections: adding items stopped in Edge 145 and the feature was removed in Edge 149 (June 2026). Use Favorites folders instead, or check Bing Saves if you have a personal Microsoft account.

Will these tips work on Windows 10 or Mac?

Most do. Efficiency mode, sleeping tabs, vertical tabs and screenshots exist on Windows and macOS, but menu names and shortcuts can differ slightly by Edge version.