Microsoft Edge - Open new tab with a blank page

Question

Microsoft Edge - Open new tab with a blank page

Lee Thacker 146

Hi Folks,

How on earth can I set a new tab to be a blank page i.e ABOUT:BLANK and not a page full of M$ shovelware!

I know about extensions such as 'Blank Tab' but I don't want to use these due to security concerns.

Before I finally ditch Edge, I am just wondering if there is any update on how to achieve this?

Jonathan Valdes 0 Reputation points

2024-05-24T17:28:54.4766667+00:00

Do you want to open Edge and see a blank page? what would be the reason?, soon or later you will have to navigate to Bing, google, or another search tool to start navigating. it won't be easier to set your search page as your start page. I just want to understand the reason of this.

Thank you!
Lee Thacker 146 Reputation points

2024-05-24T19:58:13.76+00:00

Hi Jonathan,

I already have a homepage set for when edge opens, I am asking about when you open a 'new tab'
Lee Thacker 146 Reputation points

2024-05-24T21:13:54.59+00:00

This is not the Answer but a reply!
Viva S 10 Reputation points

2024-11-24T16:24:10.8733333+00:00

I am easily distracted, and the MS page that opens works, and I am distracted. Could you make an option to turn off the MS page while I am trying to work?
olag_2 0 Reputation points

2024-12-03T12:03:12.14+00:00

I created https://about-blank.ch and it will stay blank.
DMKI 10 Reputation points

2025-11-29T12:45:15.46+00:00

Microsoft sure knows how to kill their products. First someone creates a technology, then someone else comes up with bright idea that kills said technology. Then they wonder why it didn't work out. Making new tabs to contact Microsoft websites is a quick way to kill Edge.
Sean 0 Reputation points

2026-02-09T14:45:04.0233333+00:00

@Jonathan Valdes probably because most of us don't want the extra crap loading when you open a new tab. plus no one needs to navigate to a search page, you can just type your search in the URL bar and edge and chrome will auto search using its own engine.

6 answers

Your answer

Jonathan Valdes 0 Reputation points

2024-05-24T17:28:54.4766667+00:00

Do you want to open Edge and see a blank page? what would be the reason?, soon or later you will have to navigate to Bing, google, or another search tool to start navigating. it won't be easier to set your search page as your start page. I just want to understand the reason of this.

Thank you!
Lee Thacker 146 Reputation points

2024-05-24T19:58:13.76+00:00

Hi Jonathan,

I already have a homepage set for when edge opens, I am asking about when you open a 'new tab'
Lee Thacker 146 Reputation points

2024-05-24T21:13:54.59+00:00

This is not the Answer but a reply!
Viva S 10 Reputation points

2024-11-24T16:24:10.8733333+00:00

I am easily distracted, and the MS page that opens works, and I am distracted. Could you make an option to turn off the MS page while I am trying to work?
olag_2 0 Reputation points

2024-12-03T12:03:12.14+00:00

I created https://about-blank.ch and it will stay blank.
DMKI 10 Reputation points

2025-11-29T12:45:15.46+00:00

Microsoft sure knows how to kill their products. First someone creates a technology, then someone else comes up with bright idea that kills said technology. Then they wonder why it didn't work out. Making new tabs to contact Microsoft websites is a quick way to kill Edge.
Sean 0 Reputation points

2026-02-09T14:45:04.0233333+00:00

@Jonathan Valdes probably because most of us don't want the extra crap loading when you open a new tab. plus no one needs to navigate to a search page, you can just type your search in the URL bar and edge and chrome will auto search using its own engine.

Answer 1

Mathew Clark 25

My fix for this problem is downloading Foxit PDF reader, setting that as my default PDF reader, and not using Microsoft Edge for anything anymore. That's Microsoft for you these days: the appetite to make their products good for end users is so lacking that the only real "fix"for problems with Microsoft products is to find an alternative software.

0 comments

Answer 2

JC 10

Good news! There is in fact a toggle on Edge now that lets you turn off all the news and ad widgets below your search bar and quick links. Not sure how new this feature is, but here's how to find it:

Open a new tab, then in the top right select the Page Settings (gear icon). This panel allows you to toggle off certain items that are displayed on your new tab.

What you're looking for is the "Show Feed" option - toggle it off and your new tab is nice and clean of distractors. You can also toggle off widgets (usually weather and stocks) if you really want a clean slate.

blank page actually blank

I too am way too easily distracted by newsfeeds, so this was a delightful find I had to share. (Edit to fix typo and add image.)

Shraga Milon 0 Reputation points

2025-10-19T04:33:40.94+00:00

Thanks , working :-)

Answer 3

Raymond 35

Thanks for your help. I was going to give Edge a go on my new laptop but spent ages trying to figure out how to open a blank page for a new tab. Microsoft can't be bothered making this simple, so I'm now installing Chrome! Goodbye Edge.

JC 10 Reputation points

2025-10-13T14:31:27.12+00:00

Edge has added a toggle switch under "Page Settings" to turn off the feed, letting you make your blank page actually blank.

Answer 4

It is unbelievable that MICROS~1 forces users a page full of M$ shovelware and that the only way to disable this is a Group Policy Change or a Registry hack!

The Registry key that worked for me:

Create a new blank text file using Notepad.
Copy everything between === BEGIN REG FILE === and === END REG FILE ===.
Paste this in the blank text file.
Save this to a file with the extension ".reg".
Double click on this file to add this key to the Registry.
Restart Edge.

=== BEGIN REG FILE ===

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended]

"NewTabPageLocation"="about:blank"

=== END REG FILE ===

Answer 5

olag_2 0

I created https://about-blank.ch and it will stay blank.

0 comments