How to Delete All Your Microsoft Edge Favorites?

If you want to start fresh with your bookmarks or simply remove years of clutter, clearing all your Microsoft Edge favorites only takes a few careful steps. Whether you use Edge at home, work, or across multiple devices, there are reliable ways to wipe out every saved favorite. Here’s how to do it quickly and safely.

Delete Favorites Directly Within Microsoft Edge

The simplest method is to use Edge’s built-in bookmarks manager. Open Edge and click the Favorites icon (the star with three horizontal lines, usually located at the top right, or press Ctrl+Shift+O to open the Favorites menu). Select "Manage favorites" at the bottom.

Inside the manager, you’ll see all your folders and bookmarks. To select multiple items, hold Ctrl and click each favorite, or use Ctrl+A to select everything. Press Delete on your keyboard. All selected favorites will vanish instantly. If you have folders, you can right-click any favorites folder and choose "Delete" to remove everything inside at once. It’s fast, but double-check you’re not deleting something important by accident.

Using the Favorites Bar for Quick Cleanup

If you primarily use the Favorites Bar for quick access, you can delete items straight from there. Right-click any bookmark or folder on the Favorites Bar and select "Delete." For a larger purge, right-click the bar itself and choose "Open favorites page" to access the full list for mass deletion.

While this method is more hands-on, it’s useful if you want to clear the bar without affecting favorites stored in other folders. Remember, removing an item from the bar does not always remove it from other favorites locations, so double-check using the favorites manager if your goal is a complete wipeout.

Remove All Favorites by Deleting the Favorites File

For users comfortable digging a little deeper, Edge stores its favorites in a specific file. You can delete or rename this file, and Edge will recreate a blank one the next time it starts. First, ensure Edge is completely closed, including any background processes. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and end any remaining Edge tasks.

Navigate to C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Bookmarks. You may need to enable hidden files to see the AppData folder. Delete or rename the "Bookmarks" file. When you reopen Edge, all favorites will be gone. If Edge sync is on, the cloud can sometimes restore them - see the section below for tips on handling this.

Turn Off Edge Sync to Prevent Restoring Favorites

Edge’s sync feature can cause deleted favorites to reappear if syncing is enabled across devices. Before deleting everything, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Settings," then "Profiles," and click "Sync." Turn off "Favorites" sync to prevent the cloud from restoring your bookmarks after deletion.

After you’ve cleared your favorites, you can re-enable sync if you want to keep the slate clean across all devices. If you skip this step, bookmarks might keep coming back from another device where they remain saved.

Deleting Edge Favorites on Multiple Devices

If your Microsoft account is signed in on several devices, favorites may reappear if you delete them only on one computer. To truly erase them everywhere, repeat the deletion process on each device or disable sync before deleting on your main device. Give Edge some time to push the changes through Microsoft’s servers.

If you use Edge on your phone, go to the favorites/bookmarks page in the mobile browser, tap and hold on a favorite or folder, and select "Delete." Again, ensure sync is off or wait for changes to propagate before re-enabling it.

Restore Favorites If You Deleted Them by Accident

It’s surprisingly easy to delete everything in a few clicks. If you change your mind, you can restore your favorites through a backup. Edge occasionally keeps a "Bookmarks.bak" file in the same folder as your main bookmarks file. Close Edge, rename "Bookmarks.bak" to "Bookmarks," and restart Edge to restore the old list.

If you have File History, OneDrive backup, or a system restore point, you might also roll back the bookmarks file. The sooner you act, the better the chances of a successful recovery.

Export Favorites Before Deleting as a Backup

Before you wipe out all your Edge favorites, consider exporting them as a backup. Even if you think you’ll never need them, it’s safer to have a copy. Go to Edge’s Favorites manager, click the three-dot "More options" menu, and select "Export favorites." Save the HTML file somewhere safe.

If you want your bookmarks back later, use "Import favorites" in the same menu to restore them. Backing up only takes a moment, and it’s an easy way to undo mass deletions if you regret your decision.

Frequently asked questions