Microsoft Edge is a popular web browser that offers many features and benefits for its users. One of these features is the Web Capture tool, which allows you to take screenshots of any webpage and save them as JPEG images. You can also annotate, edit, and share your screenshots with others.
Stop Edge from Taking Screenshots of Every Webpage You Visit
However, this feature also has a downside: it can potentially compromise your privacy and security. Edge has a hidden setting that enables the browser to take screenshots of every webpage you visit, even if you don’t use the Web Capture tool. These screenshots are stored in a folder called “WebCapture” in your user profile directory.
Why does Edge do this?
The reason is not clear, but some speculate that it is related to the Collections feature, which lets you organize and save web content for later reference. The screenshots could be used to generate thumbnails or previews for your collections. However, this also means that Edge is capturing and storing sensitive information from your browsing history, such as personal details, passwords, credit card numbers, and more.
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How to disable Web Capture in Edge
If you are concerned about this feature and want to disable it, you can do so by following these steps:
- Open Edge and type edge://flags in the address bar. Press Enter to access the experimental settings page.
- Search for “Enable web capture feature” and set it to Disabled.
- Restart Edge for the changes to take effect.
Alternatively, you can also disable the Web Capture feature using the Registry Editor. However, this method is not recommended for inexperienced users, as it may cause system errors or instability. If you want to try it, make sure you backup your registry first and follow the instructions carefully.
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type regedit and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
- Right-click on the Microsoft key and select New > Key. Name it Edge.
- Right-click on the Edge key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it WebCaptureEnabled.
- Double-click on the WebCaptureEnabled value and set its data to 0.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart Edge.
By disabling the Web Capture feature, you can prevent Edge from taking screenshots of every webpage you visit. This will help you protect your privacy and security online. However, keep in mind that this will also disable the Web Capture tool itself, so you won’t be able to use it to take screenshots manually.
Other ways to protect your privacy and security online
Disabling the Web Capture feature in Edge is one way to protect your privacy and security online, but it is not enough. There are other steps you can take to enhance your online safety, such as:
- Use a VPN service to encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address from prying eyes. A VPN can also help you access geo-restricted content and bypass censorship. You can check out our best VPN for 2023 to find one that suits your needs.
- Use a password manager to create and store strong and unique passwords for all your online accounts. A password manager can also help you fill in login forms automatically and securely. You can check out our list of best password managers for 2023 to find one that suits your needs.
- Use an ad blocker to block annoying and intrusive ads that may track your online activity and expose you to malware. An ad blocker can also help you save bandwidth and improve your browsing speed.
- Use a privacy-focused browser that respects your data and offers features such as tracking protection, incognito mode, private search, and more.
We hope this article helped you learn how to disable Web Capture in Edge and why you should do it. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.