Edge opens with a news feed you didn't ask for and a photo that covers half the screen. The layout of that page is yours to change, and you can do it from the new tab itself in about a minute.
Open the Page Settings gear on a new tab, pick a preset if your build still offers one, or switch to Custom and turn individual cards on and off.
In this guide, I have covered:
Contents
What Edge Means by Your Homepage Layout
You open a new tab and get a wall of news headlines, a photo you never picked, and a weather card you did not ask for. That page is Edge’s New Tab page, and the Page Settings panel on it holds every layout option.
One thing worth separating: Edge also has a homepage setting for the page that loads when the browser starts. Redesigning the New Tab page will not touch a custom homepage address you set earlier.
Open Page Settings and Apply a Layout
You want new tabs to open with content you actually read. Everything happens on the New Tab page itself.
- Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
- Open a new tab.
- Click the Page Settings control in the upper-right corner of the New Tab page. It’s the gear icon.
- Choose a layout, or open the card controls, depending on what the panel shows.
- If you select Custom, use the switches to show or hide individual modules.
- Close the Page Settings panel.
- Open a new tab.
You’ll know it worked when the next new tab you open shows only the cards you left switched on.
Understand the Four Layout Presets
Not sure which preset to pick? Each one controls a different mix of images and news suggestions.
- Focused: hides the background image and news suggestion articles.
- Inspirational: displays background images.
- Informational: displays news suggestions and background images.
- Custom: lets you enable or disable individual modules.
Here is the classic four-name panel, for reference.
Newer Edge releases sometimes ship a refreshed Copilot New Tab page. If the Focused, Inspirational, and Informational names are missing, use the Page layout and card controls shown in Page Settings instead.
Use Edge Settings When Page Settings Is Missing
No gear in the corner of your new tab? Some builds tuck the layout controls into Edge’s main settings, and you can reach the same switches from there.
- Click the
menu in the upper-right corner of Edge. - Choose Settings.
- Select Start, home, and new tab page in the left sidebar.
- Look for Copilot new tab page or Page layout, depending on the labels in your Edge build.
- Open the available layout or card controls.
You’ll know it worked when the settings page lists one of those two labels. Which one you see depends on your Edge build.
Set a Different Homepage Address
Maybe you want Edge to launch straight into a dashboard or your company intranet. That is a separate setting from the New Tab design, and it sits in the same section of Edge settings.
- Click the menu in the upper-right corner of Edge.
- Choose Settings.
- Select Start, home, and new tab page.
- Find the Homepage setting and choose the option for opening your preferred page.
- Enter the address if Edge asks for one.
You’ll know it worked when Edge restarts into your chosen page, while a new tab still uses the layout you just built.
Compare Edge Computer and Android Layout Controls
Wondering whether the same switches exist on your phone? Not exactly. The presets and Custom switches described here apply to Edge on Computer.
Edge on Android has its own controls, so customize the homepage layout in Edge on Android separately if you want a similar result there.
Check the Updated New Tab Layout
Made a change and not sure it stuck? Open a fresh New Tab page and compare it against what you selected.
- Nothing changed? Confirm you’re looking at Edge’s New Tab page and not a custom homepage or another site that opened at startup.
- No Page Settings control at all? Open Settings and go to Start, home, and new tab page.
Once the new tab looks right, the setting holds across restarts. You only need to revisit Page Settings when you want a different mix of cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Page Layout option in Microsoft Edge on Computer?
Open a new tab and click Page Settings in the upper-right corner. If the control is missing, open Settings and select Start, home, and new tab page.
Why is there no Gear icon on my Edge homepage?
The gear control belongs on Edge’s New Tab page, not on every site that opens as a homepage. Open a new tab and use Page Settings there.
Can I still choose Focused, Inspirational, and Informational in Edge?
Yes, if your Edge build still shows the classic preset list. The refreshed Copilot New Tab page uses different layout and card controls, so the old names may not appear.
Are the Edge Computer and Android layout options the same?
No. The desktop presets and Custom switches are for Edge on Computer. Edge on Android has separate controls and does not offer the same Custom layout.
Does the Edge layout change affect a custom homepage URL?
No. The layout applies to the New Tab page. A custom homepage address set for browser startup is a separate setting.
