If you have opened Microsoft Edge and the favorites bar seems to have vanished as if by magic, the fix is much simpler than it looks. Microsoft’s browser lets you show it, hide it, or limit it to new tabs in several different ways, so there is no need to spend half an hour digging through menus to recover the shortcuts you use every day. If the browser behaves oddly in other situations, keeping a guide to clear the browser cache handy can also save time.
The key is choosing how you want to work: an always-visible bar for quick access to your saved websites, a cleaner option that only appears when you open a new tab, or hiding it completely if you prefer a distraction-free interface. Along the same lines of visual tweaks, you can also change the taskbar colour in Windows 11. What is the point of saving your favourite pages if finding them later is harder than locating an advanced option in a settings panel?
The fastest way to show the favorites bar in Microsoft Edge
The most direct method is the keyboard shortcut, ideal when you want to turn the bar on or off without interrupting what you are doing. On Windows, simply press Ctrl + Shift + B, while on Mac the equivalent is Command + Shift + B. This command works like a toggle: if the bar is hidden, it appears; if it is already visible, it disappears. It is the kind of shortcut worth memorising because it saves several clicks and also avoids the small ritual of summoning menus as if you were configuring a spaceship.
If you prefer to set it permanently from the settings, open Microsoft Edge and click the Settings and more button, represented by the three dots in the top-right corner. Then go to Settings, open Appearance and look for the Toolbar section. There you will find the option dedicated to the favorites bar, with a drop-down menu that lets you choose when it should be displayed.
The options are straightforward: Always, to keep the bar fixed at the top of the browser; Only on new tabs, to see it only when opening a new page; and Never, if you want to hide it completely.
Enable it from the favorites menu and adjust the button
Microsoft Edge also lets you control the bar from the favorites menu itself, which is useful if you are already reviewing your saved pages and do not need to open your PC history. On the right side of the address bar, the favorites button may appear, with an icon that combines a star and horizontal lines. Clicking it opens a panel with your saved items, including the favorites bar and any folders you have created.
Inside that panel, tap the more options menu, go to Show favorites bar and choose one of the same three options: show it always, show it only on new tabs, or never show it. The result is the same as from Settings, but the route may feel more natural if you are managing links at that moment.
If the favorites button does not appear next to the address bar, it does not mean Edge has hidden your bookmarks in another dimension. You can enable it from Settings, by going to Appearance and then Toolbar. You can also open the favorites menu directly with Ctrl + Shift + O on Windows or Command + Shift + O on Mac.
How to add, rename and organise favorites without overcrowding the bar
Once it is visible, the favorites bar is only truly useful if you keep it organised. To add a website, open the page you want to save and click the star icon at the far right of the address bar. Edge will open a small window where you can change the name of the favorite and decide which folder to save it in. If you want it to appear on the bar, select Favorites bar as the location and confirm the action.
This system is the equivalent of saving a bookmark, but with the advantage that your shortcuts remain close at hand. Even so, it is best not to turn the bar into a jumble sale of links, because too many long names end up taking more space than necessary. To adjust an item, right-click it and you will see options to edit or delete it. With Edit, you can change the name or move it elsewhere; with Delete, it disappears from the list.
Edge also adds useful options for anyone who collects lots of reference websites. You can create folders, show only a site’s icon to save space, or open the favorites manager from Manage favorites. This last view is especially convenient when you already have several folders and want to reorganise everything with a bit more perspective.
In short, if all you need is to bring back the favorites bar, the keyboard shortcut is the fastest route. If you want to customise the browser to your liking, the appearance settings give you full control. And if you are already inside the favorites panel, the context menu lets you sort it out without moving elsewhere. A small adjustment, but a big difference in everyday Microsoft Edge use.
