Microsoft Edge Introduces Per-Site Extension Management for Greater Privacy & Control

Microsoft Edge has steadily matured into one of the most feature-rich Chromium-based browsers, and recent developments confirm Microsoft’s dedication to both user experience and granular control. The latest feature now being tested allows users to enable or disable browser extensions on a per-site basis—a small but potentially transformative addition for those navigating privacy, performance, and compatibility challenges across today’s web.

Extension Management Evolves in Microsoft Edge​

Browser extensions remain a double-edged sword for most users. They unlock functionality, from ad-blocking and shopping assistants to integrated password managers and productivity boosters. Yet, these very extensions have reputations for sometimes clashing with specific websites, creating instability, lowering performance, or even introducing privacy risks. Until recently, Edge, like the majority of browsers, only allowed for managing extensions globally or pausing them individually—leaving no way to fine-tune extension behavior by website.
Microsoft has begun addressing this longstanding gap with an update spotted in the Edge Dev channel. This new capability finally grants users the power to enable or disable each extension depending on the site they’re visiting. Let’s dive into the details of how it works, explore what it means for regular users and IT professionals, and examine how this move positions Edge against its browser competition.

How the New Per-Site Extension Controls Work​

Available to those testing the Developer edition of Microsoft Edge, this feature resides in the Extensions panel. When visiting a website, users can click the Extensions button (usually represented by a puzzle piece icon) within the browser’s toolbar to manage which extensions are active for the current domain.
A user simply toggles individual extensions for the specific site, then clicks Refresh in the Extensions menu for the changes to take effect. Want your ad blocker only on select news sites, or need your screenshot tool everywhere except confidential intranet portals? This new toggle-based workflow makes such scenarios straightforward, effectively giving users per-site extension whitelists and blacklists without diving into complex settings.
All extensions can also be enabled or disabled in bulk for a given website, offering a level of convenience that power users and novices alike will appreciate.

Step-By-Step: Using Per-Site Extension Controls​

• Navigate to your target website in Microsoft Edge.
• Click the Extensions button in the browser toolbar.
• Review the list of extensions—each will show its active status for the current site.
• Toggle extensions on or off to permit or block them for that page.
• Click Refresh within the Extensions menu to immediately apply your choices.

By comparison, while Google Chrome previously experimented with similar per-site controls, as of now such granularity is unavailable in stable Chrome releases, leaving Edge’s implementation as both timely and unique among major browsers.

Why Per-Site Extension Management Matters​

Edge’s granular extension management isn’t just a convenience feature; it represents a substantial improvement in security, privacy, and customization.

Security and Privacy Gains​

Extensions, by design, hold significant permissions over browser content. Even vetted add-ons may inadvertently interact with web pages in unsafe ways, or—and this has happened—turn malicious through updates or takeovers. Being able to restrict an extension’s activity to sites where it’s actually needed minimizes the risk surface.
For example:

• Restricting a password manager’s injection scripts to login pages only, rather than all websites.
• Disabling shopping or deal-finding extensions on sensitive portals like bank or employer sites to avoid data leakage.
• Preventing extensions that analyze content or insert overlays from interfering with online banking, government portals, or proprietary SaaS dashboards.

Edge had already introduced a warning system to alert users when extensions degrade performance, but the new controls give users a direct tool to block potentially problematic add-ons at the source—rather than simply suggesting removal.

Performance and Compatibility​

Another regular pain point: certain extensions conflict with specific sites. Resource-heavy add-ons can slow down web-based applications, while overlay-based extensions may break webpage layouts. In a world where complex web apps dominate productivity toolkits, being able to selectively disable problematic extensions for certain domains is a long-requested fix.
Instead of going through the hassle of disabling and re-enabling extensions each time you visit sensitive or incompatible pages, Edge’s contextual management lets you maintain productivity and compatibility with minimal friction. This empowers both individual users and IT admins overseeing large device fleets to enforce smarter, more nuanced extension policies.

Comparing Edge with Other Browsers​

Chrome and Firefox: Where Do They Stand?​

Google Chrome, the dominant player in the browser market, had previously tested a similar feature. However, according to recent reports, Chrome’s per-site extension control never saw wide release or was quietly killed off, leaving users dependent on more cumbersome workarounds or all-or-nothing toggling. There is, as of this writing, no evidence that Chrome’s stable builds offer comparable site-specific extension management.
Mozilla Firefox offers some privacy provisions that let users restrict individual extension access to certain domains, but its interface for such controls is buried within advanced settings and lacks the simplicity of Edge’s current approach. Additionally, Firefox does not offer a bulk all-extensions-on/off toggle for a site in the same fluid manner.
For organizations and privacy-conscious users, these differences could be a strong incentive to give Edge a second look—especially in managed enterprise settings.

IT and Enterprise Implications​

Edge’s new extension delegation feature could be a game-changer for IT administrators. In regulated industries or organizations handling sensitive data, browser extension policies are a critical part of security posture.

Easier Policy Management​

• Site-Specific Compliance: Organizations can enforce certain extensions (like security compliance checkers or productivity trackers) only on workplace domains, and block them elsewhere to protect user privacy.
• Reduced Shadow IT Risks: Employees often resort to browser extensions for everything from task management to file transfer. Being able to audit and control extension behavior on a per-site basis limits the chance that confidential data leaks through ill-behaved plugins.

User Experience Meets Admin Oversight​

Traditionally, enforcing extension policies meant locking down browsers—often at the cost of employee workflow or satisfaction. The new controls offer a more balanced approach: users retain freedom to customize their browsing experience, while organizations set up guardrails that keep both data and productivity safe.

Strengths: What Microsoft Edge Gets Right​

• User-Centric Workflow: The process to manage extensions per site is intuitive and direct, requiring only two clicks and no fussing with nested menus.
• Immediate Application: The ability to refresh and immediately see results eliminates confusion about whether toggles are truly active.
• Enhanced Control Without Performance Hit: Rather than blanket disabling (which could inadvertently hinder productivity), users only block extensions where needed.
• Enterprise Value: Fits neatly into larger strategies for granular device management, supporting growing needs for secure remote work and hybrid models.
• Market Differentiation: This feature leapfrogs existing offerings from Chrome and Firefox, giving Edge a potential competitive advantage with both mainstream and power users.
• Foundation for Future Automation: As Microsoft ties more browser behavior into Microsoft 365, Microsoft Defender, and InTune, per-site extension policies could be automated based on user group, device type, or even threat intelligence feeds.

Potential Risks and Drawbacks​

No feature is without caveats—and Edge’s new extension control tool warrants critical caution and scrutiny.

Inconsistent Extension Behavior​

One immediate consequence of per-site toggling is the risk of user confusion. If an important browser add-on is silently disabled on a critical site, troubleshooting why a shortcut or app “doesn’t work” becomes an extra step. User education is necessary to ensure people realize their extensions aren’t universally active.

Over-Reliance on User Judgment​

Empowering end users to decide which extensions work where introduces risk—especially for security or monitoring add-ons that IT expects to always run. Admins must have the ability to override or lock extension settings to avoid scenarios where users can (intentionally or otherwise) bypass compliance tools.

Potential for Exploits​

If control over extension toggling is exposed in ways that malicious actors can script or automate, there’s a theoretical possibility that drive-by attacks or phishing pages could attempt to disable extensions that would otherwise protect the user. Early testing and security auditing by Microsoft are essential before the feature is rolled out to stable channels.

Feature Fragmentation​

Given Edge’s pace of updates and Microsoft’s history of testing features in Dev/Insider channels, there is always the possibility some features never reach general release, or behave differently across Windows, Mac, and Linux. Users who rely on this per-site management should confirm its full rollout before deploying at scale or redesigning workflows.

Early Feedback and User Community Response​

The initial reception, as seen on tech forums and in Microsoft’s feedback channels, is largely positive. Power users, developers, and IT professionals welcome the improved control, especially those who juggle dozens of extensions in their daily workflow.
However, some community members have flagged the need for more transparent indicators when extensions are disabled on certain sites—perhaps through badges or warnings to prevent confusion. Others have requested the ability to set “default behavior” for new sites visited, streamlining management for those who routinely navigate between work and personal domains.
Microsoft’s track record suggests that user feedback will continue shaping the final version of this feature before its wide release.

How to Test and Prepare for the Feature​

Curious users and admins can try this feature today by installing the latest Edge Dev build, found on Microsoft’s official Edge Insider page. Given Edge’s rapid update cadence, features introduced in Developer or Canary builds often make their way into Beta and then Stable releases in a matter of months, though policies and availability may differ by region and administrative controls.

Practical Recommendations​

• For individuals: Audit your extension list and identify privacy- or performance-sensitive sites where toggling makes sense. Test the feature with sandboxed accounts before migrating your primary workflow.
• For businesses: Begin drafting policies for extensions that account for site-specific behaviors. Monitor Microsoft’s roadmap for administrative controls and visibility over per-site extension toggling.
• For developers: Update extension documentation to clarify how your add-ons behave with Edge’s new controls. Consider adding logic to gracefully handle scenarios where your extension is disabled on a site.

A Glance at the Future: Where This Innovation May Lead​

Edge’s site-based extension controls could be an early step towards even finer browser sandboxing. Imagine profiles for work versus personal browsing, context-sensitive extension activation based on the time of day or operating system (for example, disabling certain extensions when on public WiFi), or machine learning-driven recommendations for safe extension use.
Additionally, as privacy and data sovereignty become more regulated globally, granular tools such as this may soon be requirements, not just conveniences. Microsoft’s proactive start could set new standards that competitors must follow, benefitting the broader security ecosystem.

Conclusion: Incremental Innovation with Major Impact​

Though easy to overlook at first glance, Microsoft Edge’s new ability to enable or disable extensions for specific sites solves real-world problems at the intersection of privacy, security, and productivity. It gives end-users tangible control, aids enterprises needing transparent device oversight, and differentiates Edge in a crowded browser market.
Yet, as with all new browser features, caution is warranted: real-world testing, robust user education, and clear administrative policies must accompany technical advancements. Only with such support will Edge’s granular extension control reach its full potential—ushering in an era of flexible, secure, and intelligent web browsing.

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Source: Windows Report Microsoft Edge Now Lets You Enable or Disable Extensions for Specific Sites