MS Edge Starting Page Question

Generally, as late as this morning, Microsoft Edge opened to a new tab, showing a refresh icon, a home icon, a large search window (almost all the way across the top), and a favorites icon just to the right of the search window.
The remainder of the page showed a scenic backdrop (a standard Windows backdrop that occasionally changed), and a smaller search window (about 8") containing the standard magnifier icon and the words "search the web", as well as a copilot icon I (could never get rid of that!).

During the day, as I used my computer, I must have inadvertently changed the Edge settings, because now my opening page no longer has the scenic background, but instead has an endless number of advertising windows on a white background, as far down as I can scroll.

Please help me get back to the basic scenic background, hopefully permanent when I find one I like, rather than randomly changing. I would also like to get rid of the copilot icon in the small search window, if possible.

Any help would be appreciated.

Use the page settings icon then turn everything off except background whereyou can edit it. If you have the switch - play around with the new look option.





Not found a way to get rid of copilot in the search bar.

I had this happen. While on the start page, right-click and select "View Background." It will be solid white. Close the tab and reopen the start page.

LSF said:

help me get back to the basic scenic background, hopefully permanent when I find one I like, rather than randomly changing.

Click to expand...

LSF said:

now my opening page no longer has the scenic background, but instead has an endless number of advertising windows on a white background, as far down as I can scroll.

Click to expand...

These guys may be right and that's all it is but I'm guessing that you may have grabbed a piece of malware in your browsing, either a browser redirect or adware.. Please post a screenshot of this browser window you are seeing. I'm only surmising here since I haven't seen the browser window you are describing.

If their suggestions don't work for you and it turns out to be malware, here's the way I would approach it.
In Edge settings (3 dots>settings) I would clear cookies and history. Also look at your extensions to make sure you haven't inadvertantly installed a rogue extension.

Download and install Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner. Close the browser and run each of them. Quarantine/remove anything they find.

Restart. If the issue still exists, export your favorites and reset Edge back to default. Report back and we can tell you how if this step becomes necessary..