Clear Saved Info Box Information in Microsoft Edge

To clear specific saved information from the Info Box in Microsoft Edge without deleting your browsing history, cookies, or form data, you must use the dedicated "Manage" features for each data type rather than the general "Clear browsing data" tool. This approach allows you to surgically remove autofill entries, passwords, or payment methods while preserving your overall browser activity and login sessions.

Understanding the Info Box and Autofill Data

The Info Box in Microsoft Edge is a convenient feature that automatically suggests information as you type into web forms. It typically displays suggestions for addresses, credit card details, and sometimes passwords depending on your settings. Unlike the main browsing history, which tracks every page you visit, this data is stored locally within your profile to speed up form completion. Many users wish to remove outdated addresses or expired credit cards but are hesitant to use the standard clearing tools because those options often wipe out cookies (logging you out of sites) and clear recent history, which can be disruptive.

Managing Saved Addresses and Personal Information

One of the most common sources of clutter in the Info Box is old address data. If you have moved, changed phone numbers, or no longer use certain email addresses, you can delete these specific entries without affecting other data. To do this, navigate to the Settings menu by clicking the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the dropdown, select Profiles and then choose Profile information. In the Profile information section, look for the Addresses and more option. Clicking this will open a panel listing all the physical addresses Edge has saved. You can hover over any entry you wish to remove and click the trash can icon or the Delete button. Once removed, that specific address will no longer appear in the Info Box when you fill out forms online. This method ensures that your current, correct address remains available while obsolete ones are purged. For more detailed management of various saved data types, you might also find it useful to read about Managing and Deleting Saved Data Entries on Edge Browser, which covers broader strategies for keeping your profile clean.

Removing Specific Passwords

If the Info Box is suggesting passwords that you no longer use or that belong to compromised accounts, you can delete them individually. Go back to Settings and select Passwords from the left-hand menu. This opens the Password Manager interface, where all saved credentials are listed. Scroll through the list to find the specific website or service associated with the password you want to remove. Click on the entry to expand it if necessary, then click the More actions icon (often represented by three dots or an edit symbol) and select Delete. Confirm the deletion when prompted. This action removes the credential from Edge's storage immediately, preventing it from appearing in future autofill suggestions. Note that this does not change the password on the actual website; it only removes the saved copy from your browser.

Cleaning Up Payment Methods

Credit card and payment information is another frequent contributor to the Info Box. If you have closed bank accounts or updated card numbers, you should remove the old details to prevent accidental charges or confusion. In Settings, navigate to Payment methods. Here, you will see a list of all saved cards. Click on the card you wish to remove and select Delete. Edge may ask for confirmation to ensure you did not make a mistake. After deletion, the card will disappear from the autofill suggestions. This is particularly important for privacy, as it prevents anyone with access to your computer from seeing old financial details during form filling. For additional context on how Edge handles sensitive data like passwords, consider reviewing View Saved Passwords Stored in Microsoft Account via Browser.

Why Not Use Clear Browsing Data?

It is crucial to understand why the standard "Clear browsing data" option is not suitable for this task. When you access this feature via Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data, you are presented with options to delete history, cookies, cached images, and site data. While there is often a checkbox for "Autofill form data," selecting it usually clears all autofill data at once, including addresses and payment methods you might want to keep. Furthermore, clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites, requiring you to log in again manually. Therefore, using the individual management panels described above is the only way to selectively remove Info Box content while maintaining your browsing session and history.

Preventing Future Clutter

To minimize the accumulation of unwanted data in the Info Box, you can adjust your autofill settings. In Settings, go to Profiles and then Profile information. Here, you can toggle off options such as "Offer to save passwords" or "Allow Microsoft to send me offers and updates." Additionally, you can disable "Use this device to sync my preferences" if you do not want cloud-synced data appearing on this machine. Regularly auditing your saved addresses and payment methods every few months helps maintain a clean and secure browsing environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting saved addresses remove my browsing history?

No, deleting saved addresses from the Profile information section only removes the autofill data. Your browsing history, which records the websites you have visited, remains completely intact and unaffected by this process.

How do I stop Edge from saving new passwords automatically?

You can disable this feature by going to Settings > Passwords and turning off the toggle for "Offer to save passwords." This prevents Edge from prompting you to store new credentials in the future.

Can I clear only the Info Box suggestions without losing cookies?

Yes, by using the individual "Manage" sections for Addresses, Passwords, and Payment methods, you can remove specific suggestions. These actions do not touch your cookies, so you will remain logged into your websites after clearing the autofill data.

What happens if I accidentally delete a saved payment method?

If you delete a payment method, it is permanently removed from your local Edge profile and synced devices if you have sync enabled. You will need to re-enter the card details manually the next time you wish to use them for online purchases.

Does clearing autofill data affect my Microsoft account security?

No, removing autofill data does not impact the security of your Microsoft account itself. It only deletes the convenience data stored in the browser. Your account credentials and security settings remain unchanged unless you explicitly modify them elsewhere.