To delete a site icon from the new tab page in the Microsoft Edge iPhone app, open a new tab, touch and hold the icon you do not want, then tap the remove option in the menu that appears. Older versions of the app label it Delete, and newer versions may label it Remove. To get rid of every icon at once, change the new tab page layout so the row of shortcuts is turned off.
Microsoft calls these icons top site shortcuts. They sit under the search box on the new tab page, and tapping one opens that website. Microsoft’s own help pages for the iPhone app do not list the steps for removing a single shortcut, so the exact menu wording below can differ on your version of the app. The layout options are documented by Microsoft and are described the same way here.
Before You Start
- Device: an iPhone with the Microsoft Edge app installed. The app also runs on iPad, where the screens are similar.
- App version: update Edge from the App Store first. Menu names in the app have changed several times, and an old version may not match these steps.
- Account type: if you are signed in to Edge with a work or school account, your organization may control the new tab page. See the troubleshooting section if an icon will not go away.
Removing a shortcut only takes the icon off the new tab page. It does not block the website, sign you out of it, or delete it from your favorites or browsing history.
How to Delete One Site Icon in Edge on an iPhone
- Open the Microsoft Edge app.
- Open the new tab page. If a website is on the screen, tap the menu (…) and choose New tab. You can also tap the numbered square tabs icon and then the + icon. You should see a search box with a row of site icons under it.
- Touch and hold the site icon you want to remove. Keep your finger on it until a small menu opens. A quick tap opens the site instead, so if the page loads, go back and hold a little longer.
- Tap Delete or Remove. The icon should disappear from the row, and the other icons move over to fill the gap.
- Repeat for any other icon you do not want.
On some versions of the app, a touch and hold puts a small three-dot button on the corner of the icon instead of opening a menu straight away. Tap that button, then tap Remove.
The menu that opens may also include choices such as opening the site in a new tab or in an InPrivate tab. Those do not change the new tab page. Only the delete or remove choice takes the icon away.
How to Hide All Site Icons at Once
If you do not want any shortcuts on the new tab page, removing them one at a time is slow, and Edge may fill the row again with other sites. Changing the page layout is the more reliable route.
Microsoft documents four new tab page layouts for Edge on iPhone and Android: Focused, Inspirational, Informational, and Custom. Inspirational is the default, and it shows top site shortcuts, a wallpaper, and a news feed. The Custom layout has separate switches for top site shortcuts, wallpaper, and news feed, so you can turn off only the icons.
- Open the Microsoft Edge app and open a new tab.
- Open the page layout options. Look for a settings icon near the top-right corner of the new tab page. It often looks like two or three sliders. If you do not see it, tap the menu (…), choose Settings, and look for New tab page.
- Choose Custom.
- Turn off the switch for the site shortcuts. In the app it has been labeled Show most visited sites, and the wording may be different on your version.
- Go back to the new tab page. The row of icons under the search box should be gone.
While you are in the Custom layout, you can also turn the wallpaper and the news feed on or off. Each switch works on its own, so turning off the shortcuts does not remove your news feed unless you turn that off too.
Which Method Should You Use?
| What you want | What to do | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Remove one or two sites | Touch and hold the icon, then tap Delete or Remove | Only that icon leaves the row |
| Remove the whole row | Set the page layout to Custom and turn off the site shortcuts switch | No site icons appear on the new tab page |
| A simpler page overall | Try the Focused layout, or use Custom and turn off wallpaper and news feed as well | Less content on the new tab page |
How to Check That It Worked and How to Undo It
Close the current tab and open a fresh new tab. If the icon is still gone, the change has been saved. If you turned off the shortcuts in the Custom layout, the whole row should stay hidden on every new tab.
To bring the row back, return to the page layout options and turn the site shortcuts switch on again, or pick the Inspirational layout, which Microsoft describes as the default.
A single icon that you deleted has no documented restore button in the iPhone app. If you want quick access to that site again, open it and save it as a favorite by tapping the menu (…) and choosing Add to favorites. Microsoft says the page then appears in your Mobile favorites.
Troubleshooting
Nothing happens when you touch and hold an icon
Hold for a full second or two without moving your finger. If a menu still does not open, update the Edge app from the App Store and try again. If the remove choice is missing on your version, use the page layout method to hide the row instead.
The icon cannot be deleted
If you use Edge with a work or school account, your organization can add a homepage shortcut and other top site shortcuts to the new tab page. Microsoft’s management documentation says users cannot edit or delete those shortcuts in a managed context. An organization can set up to eight of them. Only your IT administrator can change them.
You cannot change the page layout
Organizations can also lock the new tab page layout so that users cannot change the page layout settings. If the layout choices are missing or do not respond and you are signed in with a work or school account, this is the likely reason. Contact your IT administrator.
Deleted icons are replaced by other sites
The row can refill with other sites after you remove one. If that keeps happening, turn off the site shortcuts in the Custom layout so that no icons are shown at all.
The steps do not match your screen
Edge for iPhone is updated often, and button names and positions move. If you cannot find an option, you can tell Microsoft by tapping the menu (…) and choosing Send feedback. Include as much detail as you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a site icon delete my browsing history?
No. Deleting a shortcut only removes that icon from the new tab page. Your history is separate. Microsoft’s mobile help says you clear it on an iPhone by tapping the menu (…), then Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data.
Does it delete the site from my favorites?
No. Favorites are stored separately from the new tab page shortcuts. A site you saved as a favorite stays in your favorites after you remove its icon.
Why are there sites on the new tab page that I never visit?
The default Inspirational layout shows top site shortcuts, and a new installation can start with suggested sites before you have much browsing history. You can remove them one by one or hide the row with the Custom layout.
Can I turn off the news stories on the new tab page too?
Yes. The news feed has its own switch. Microsoft’s Edge app help lists Settings > New tab page and a Show my news feed switch for iOS. In the Custom layout, the news feed switch is separate from the site shortcuts switch.
Do these steps work in Edge on a computer?
No. On a computer the shortcuts are called quick links, and you remove one from the three-dot button on its tile. This guide covers only the iPhone app.
Microsoft Sources
- Manage Microsoft Edge on iOS and Android with Intune (Microsoft Learn): new tab page layouts, top site shortcuts, and managed shortcuts.
- Microsoft Edge for mobile FAQs (Microsoft Support): opening a new tab, favorites, history, and feedback on iOS.
- Microsoft Edge app help (Microsoft Support): news feed settings on the new tab page.
Next Step
Once the new tab page shows only what you want, you may also want to browse without adding to your history. Learn how to open a private browsing tab in Edge on an iPhone, or see how to find your reading list in the Edge iPhone app. If you use Edge on a computer as well, you can show or hide the favorites bar in Microsoft Edge.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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