Unlock the full potential of your Surface Go 3 with these genius Microsoft Edge tips! Master browsing, productivity, and personalization effortlessly.

Welcome to the wonderful world of your Surface Go 3! It’s a fantastic little device, perfect for staying connected, getting work done, and even indulging your creative side. But are you getting the most out of its built-in web browser, Microsoft Edge? Sometimes, exploring all the features a device has can feel a bit… overwhelming. You might find yourself wishing for simpler ways to do things online. Don’t worry, that’s completely normal! This guide is here to make things easy. We’ll walk through some truly genius tips for Microsoft Edge on your Surface Go 3 that will make your browsing experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. Get ready to discover some hidden gems!

Surface Go 3 Microsoft Edge Tips: Genius Essentials

Your Surface Go 3 is a versatile companion, and pairing it with the right browser can make all the difference in your daily tasks. Microsoft Edge, built right into Windows, is more powerful than you might think. It’s designed to be fast, secure, and full of helpful features that go way beyond just showing you websites. Let’s dive into some essential tips that will transform how you use Edge on your Surface Go 3.

1. Mastering Tabs: Your New Best Friend

Tabs are the backbone of modern web browsing. Juggling multiple websites is a daily reality, whether you’re researching a project, comparing prices, or keeping up with social media. Edge makes tab management incredibly smart.

A. Tab Groups: Organize Your World

Ever feel like your tab bar is a chaotic mess? Tab groups are here to rescue you! You can group related tabs together and give them a name and color. This is perfect for categorizing your work, hobbies, shopping lists, or anything else you’re browsing.

How to use Tab Groups:

1. Right-click on any tab you want to group.
2. Select “Add tab to new group.”
3. Give your group a name (e.g., “Work Projects,” “Travel Ideas”) and pick a color.
4. To add more tabs, right-click them and choose “Add tab to group,” then select your existing group.
5. To collapse a group, click on its group name or color. Click again to expand.

B. Vertical Tabs: A Smarter View

If you often have many tabs open, the traditional horizontal tab bar can get cramped. Edge’s vertical tabs offer a cleaner, more spacious way to view and manage your open pages. They take up less width on your screen, allowing more content to be visible in the tab itself, and the list format is easier to scan.

How to switch to Vertical Tabs:

1. Look for the small “Turn tab actions on” icon in the top-left corner of your Edge window (it looks like a little square with a dot and a line). Click it.
2. Alternatively, you can click the three horizontal dots (More options) in the top-right corner, then select “Vertical tabs.”
3. To switch back, simply click the vertical tab icon again, or go through the “More options” menu.

C. Pin Tabs: Keep Essentials Handy

For websites you visit constantly – like your email, a specific work portal, or your favorite news site – pinning them is a game-changer. Pinned tabs appear on the far left of your tab bar, are much smaller, and don’t have a close button, meaning you won’t accidentally close them.

How to Pin a Tab:

1. Right-click on the tab you want to pin.
2. Select “Pin tab.”
3. Your pinned tab will move to the left, shrink to just the favicon (the small website icon), and stay put.

2. Collection Your Thoughts: For Research & Planning

Collections are one of Edge’s most underrated features, especially for students and anyone who does research or planning. Think of it as a digital scrapbook or a smart notepad that lives right in your browser.

What are Edge Collections?

Collections allow you to gather links, images, text snippets, and even entire web pages on a specific topic. You can organize them, add notes, and even sync them across your devices. It’s perfect for planning a trip, gathering research for an essay, comparing product features, or saving recipes.

How to Start a Collection:

1. Click the Collections icon in the top-right corner of your Edge window. It looks like a plus sign inside a square.
2. Select “Start new collection.”
3. Give your collection a name.
4. As you browse, any page you’re on can be added to an existing or new collection by simply clicking the Collections icon again and selecting “Add current page to…”

Organizing and Using Your Collections:

• Add Notes: Within a collection, you can add text notes to elaborate on why you saved a link or to jot down ideas.
• Drag and Arrange: Reorder items within your collection to create a logical flow.
• Export: You can export your entire collection as a Word document, PDF, or even send it to OneNote. This is incredibly useful for submitting research or creating study guides.
• Syncing: Collections sync automatically if you’re signed into Edge with your Microsoft account, meaning they’re accessible on any device where you use Edge.

3. Performance Boosters: Speed Up Your Surface Go 3

Your Surface Go 3 might be a compact powerhouse, but keeping your browser running smoothly ensures it stays that way. Edge has built-in tools to help.

A. Sleeping Tabs: Save Resources

When you have a lot of tabs open, they can consume significant memory and CPU power, slowing down your Surface Go 3. Sleeping Tabs automatically puts inactive tabs to sleep, freeing up resources. They wake up instantly when you click on them.

How to Enable Sleeping Tabs:

1. Click the three horizontal dots (More options) in the top-right corner.
2. Select “Settings.”
3. In the left-hand menu, click on “System and performance.”
4. Ensure “Save resources with Sleeping Tabs” is toggled to “On.”
5. You can also set the inactivity period before tabs go to sleep (e.g., 5 minutes, 30 minutes).

B. Efficiency Mode: Maximize Battery Life

For those times you’re away from a charger and relying on your Surface Go 3’s battery, Efficiency Mode is a lifesaver. It helps extend battery life by limiting background activity and adjusting certain browser settings when your battery level is low or when you’re unplugged.

How to Enable Efficiency Mode:

1. Follow the same steps as above to get to “Settings” > “System and performance.”
2. Under “Performance,” you’ll find “Improve performance by reducing CPU usage when your device is idle” and “Reduce how often tabs wake up from sleep.” Both contribute to efficiency.
3. There’s also a “Reduce background activity for inactive tabs” option, which further conserves power. Enable these as needed based on your battery concerns.

4. Enhance Privacy and Security

Browsing the web safely is paramount. Edge offers several practical features to help protect your privacy and security.

A. Tracking Prevention: Block Trackers

Many websites use trackers to monitor your online activity. Edge’s Tracking Prevention helps block these by default. You can choose from three levels: Basic, Balanced, and Strict.

• Basic: Blocks malicious trackers.
• Balanced (Default): Blocks malicious trackers, and other trackers that Edge identifies as potentially unwanted.
• Strict: This offers the most protection but may cause some websites to not load or function correctly.

How to Adjust Tracking Prevention:

1. Click the three horizontal dots (More options) > “Settings.”
2. Select “Privacy, search, and services” from the left-hand menu.
3. Under “Tracking prevention,” choose your preferred level.

B. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen: Phishing & Malware Protection

This built-in feature acts as your digital bodyguard. It warns you about potentially dangerous websites, suspicious downloads, and phishing attempts. It’s enabled by default, so you’re already protected!

SmartScreen checks the reputation of sites and files against a constantly updated list from Microsoft. For more information, you can visit the official Microsoft Defender SmartScreen documentation.

C. Read Aloud: Accessibility and Convenience

Microsoft Edge can read web pages aloud to you. This is fantastic for accessibility, saving your eyes, or multitasking. It’s a simple yet powerful feature that makes content more digestible.

How to use Read Aloud:

1. While on any web page, click the three horizontal dots (More options).
2. Select “Read aloud.”
3. The browser will start reading from the top of the page. You can pause, rewind, fast-forward, and even adjust the reading speed from the controls that appear at the top right.

5. Personalization: Make Edge Yours

Your browser should feel comfortable and efficient for you. Edge offers a good degree of personalization.

A. Customizing the New Tab Page

Every time you open a new tab is an opportunity. You can customize what you see on this page.

• Layouts: Choose from Focused, Inspirational, Informational, or Custom layouts.
• Content: Decide what you want to see – news, quick links, search bar, etc.
• Backgrounds: Select beautiful background images or simple colors.

How to customize:

1. Open a new tab.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner of the New Tab page.
3. Adjust your layout and content preferences.

B. Theme Your Browser

Give your Edge browser a fresh look! You can choose from different themes to change the color scheme of your browser window, including the tab bar and address bar.

To find themes:

1. Click the three horizontal dots (More options) > “Extensions.”
2. Click “Get extensions for Microsoft.”
3. Search for “themes” or browse the available options.
4. Install your chosen theme.

6. Using Immersive Reader: Distraction-Free Reading

For articles and blog posts, Immersive Reader strips away all distracting ads, pop-ups, and sidebars, leaving you with just the text and relevant images. It’s like a dedicated reading mode for the web.

How to activate Immersive Reader:

1. When you are on an article page, look for the Immersive Reader icon in the address bar. It looks like an open book.
2. If you don’t see it, click the three horizontal dots (More options) and select “Enter full screen” (F11) first, then look for the icon again.
3. Click the icon to enter Immersive Reader.

Within Immersive Reader, you can:

• Adjust text size, spacing, and backgrounds.
• Use line focus to highlight one or several lines at a time.
• Use “Picture Dictionary” for word definitions with images.
• Have the text read aloud to you.

7. Developer Tools: For the Curious (Optional!)

While mostly for web developers, Edge’s Developer Tools can be fascinating for anyone curious about how websites are built. You likely won’t use these daily, but it’s good to know they’re there if you ever want to inspect elements on a page.

How to access:

1. Right-click anywhere on a web page.
2. Select “Inspect.”
3. This opens a panel with various debugging and inspection tools.

For the everyday Surface Go 3 user, focus on the tips above. These developer tools are advanced features.

8. Syncing Across Devices: Seamless Workflow

If you use other devices (like a Windows PC or another tablet), signing into Microsoft Edge with your Microsoft account is a MUST.

What syncs:

• Favorites
• Passwords
• History
• Extensions
• Settings
• Open tabs
• Collections

This seamless syncing means you can start browsing on your Surface Go 3 and pick up right where you left off on your desktop computer, or vice-versa. It’s incredibly convenient for maintaining productivity.

How to ensure syncing is on:

1. Click the three horizontal dots (More options) > “Settings.”
2. Click “Profiles” in the left-hand menu.
3. Ensure you are signed in with your Microsoft account.
4. Under “Sync,” ensure the toggle is “On” and that the items you want to sync are enabled.

Surface Go 3 Microsoft Edge Tips: In Summary

Microsoft Edge on your Surface Go 3 is more than just a browser; it’s a powerful tool for productivity, learning, and entertainment. By leveraging features like Tab Groups, Collections, Sleeping Tabs, and Immersive Reader, you can significantly enhance your browsing experience. The Surface Go 3 is designed for portable productivity, and these Edge tips help you achieve exactly that. Experiment with these features, and don’t be afraid to explore the settings!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is Microsoft Edge good for the Surface Go 3?

Yes, Microsoft Edge is an excellent choice for the Surface Go 3. It’s optimized for Windows devices, including the Surface line, and its performance-enhancing features like Sleeping Tabs and Efficiency Mode are particularly beneficial for a compact device like the Go 3, helping to conserve battery and resources.

Q2: How do I make Microsoft Edge faster on my Surface Go 3?

To make Edge faster, ensure “Sleeping Tabs” and “Efficiency Mode” are enabled in the “System and performance” settings. Also, regularly clear your browser cache and cookies, and close unnecessary tabs and extensions. Keeping your Windows operating system and Edge updated is also crucial for optimal performance.

Q3: Can I use extensions with Microsoft Edge on my Surface Go 3?

Absolutely! Microsoft Edge supports extensions, which can add a lot of functionality. You can find and install extensions from the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store or even from the Chrome Web Store. Just go to Settings > Extensions to manage them.

Q4: How do I save a webpage completely in Microsoft Edge?

You can save a webpage for offline viewing using Edge’s built-in “Create collection” feature or by using “Save as” functionality. For a full offline copy, you can sometimes print to PDF, or if you want to save the live page to revisit later, use the “Collections” feature by adding the page and then exporting it.

Q5: What is the difference between Microsoft Edge and Chrome?

Both Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome are excellent web browsers built on the Chromium engine, so they share many similarities in speed and compatibility. Edge has advantages like better integration with Windows features, stronger built-in privacy tools (like Tracking Prevention), and specific features tailored for Microsoft hardware like the Surface Go 3, such as Efficiency Mode. Chrome is known for its vast extension library and deep integration with Google services.

Q6: How do I clear my browsing history in Edge on Surface Go 3?

To clear your browsing history, open Edge, click the three horizontal dots (More options), select “Settings.” In the left menu, click “Privacy, search, and services.” Under “Clear browsing data,” click “Choose what to clear,” select the time range and data types you want to remove, and then click “Clear now.”

Conclusion

Your Surface Go 3 is a fantastic portable device, and by mastering these Microsoft Edge tips, you’re well on your way to a more efficient, organized, and enjoyable digital life. From managing tabs like a pro with Tab Groups and Vertical Tabs, to meticulously planning projects with Collections, and ensuring smooth performance with Sleeping Tabs, Edge offers a robust suite of tools. Don’t forget the built-in security features and the simple convenience of Read Aloud or Immersive Reader. Keep exploring, keep experimenting, and make your Surface Go 3 and Microsoft Edge work together to