Microsoft Edge has come a long way since it first launched. In 2015 Edge had no support for browser extensions, which made blocking ads difficult. That changed in January 2020 when Microsoft rebuilt Edge on the Chromium engine, the same foundation Google Chrome uses. Today Edge supports a full catalog of extensions, including the excellent uBlock Origin ad blocker.
This guide shows you how to block ads in Microsoft Edge using modern browser extensions, with no proxy software and no system hacks required.
Step 1. Install an ad blocker in Edge
The best ad blocker for Edge is uBlock Origin. It is free, open source, lightweight, and blocks ads, trackers and malicious domains without slowing your browser down. You can install it from the official Microsoft Edge Add-ons store.
- Open Edge and go to the Edge Add-ons store.
- Search for uBlock Origin.
- Click Get to install it and confirm the prompt.
- The uBlock Origin icon will appear in the toolbar, and ads will start being blocked immediately.
Step 2. A note about the future of extensions in Edge
Edge currently runs extensions based on the older Manifest V2 standard, and the classic uBlock Origin works well. Microsoft has announced it will eventually phase out Manifest V2 in favor of the newer Manifest V3. When that happens, you can switch to uBlock Origin Lite, the Manifest V3 version designed to work with future versions of the browser. For now, the classic version is the best choice.
Step 3. Block ads system wide with DNS filtering (optional)
If you want to block ads on every app and browser on your device, not just Edge, consider DNS based filtering. Services like AdGuard DNS or NextDNS block advertising domains at the network level before they ever reach your browser. This is a clean, modern alternative to the old proxy based tools that used to be recommended for Edge.
Conclusion
The days of hacking around Edge’s lack of extension support are over. Install uBlock Origin from the Edge Add-ons store, and you get the same reliable ad blocking experience you would expect from any modern browser. No proxies, no payware, no hassle.