Microsoft Edge is stepping up its game with a powerful new feature: AI-powered History Search. This innovation is designed to help users find previously visited websites more efficiently—even if they forget the name or typed it wrong. What sets this feature apart is its strong commitment to user privacy, with all data being processed locally on your device.
What is AI History Search in Microsoft Edge
This new feature uses artificial intelligence to enhance the way you search through your browsing history. Instead of relying on exact keywords or perfect spelling, this intelligent tool understands phrases, typos, and even synonyms. This means you can quickly rediscover that useful webpage from last week—even if you can’t remember exactly how you found it.
The feature is currently being tested in Microsoft Edge version 138.0.3351.14, available in the Edge Beta channel, and is expected to roll out to all users soon.
How Does AI-Powered History Search Work?
This smart feature leverages on-device machine learning to analyze your browsing behavior and deliver more relevant search results. When you search your history, the AI understands your intent, even if your search terms are vague or incorrectly spelled. This makes the search process intuitive, fast, and user-friendly.
For example, if you visited a cooking site about “pasta recipes” last week but now search for “spaghetti blog”, the AI can connect the dots and still find the right page for you.
Privacy First: Your Data Stays on Your Device
One of the biggest concerns users have with AI features is data privacy. Microsoft is directly addressing this by ensuring that all data stays local. The AI model used to power History Search runs entirely on your device. This means your browsing history is not sent to Microsoft’s servers or the cloud.
This on-device processing approach ensures your personal information remains private and secure—an important step in building trust among users. With AI technologies often viewed with skepticism, especially when it comes to personal data, Microsoft is sending a strong message: Privacy matters.
Learning from the Past: Microsoft Recall Controversy
Microsoft’s decision to keep this feature on-device may be a direct response to the backlash it received from its Windows Recall feature. Recall, which captured screen activity to help users retrieve past information, was criticized for potential security vulnerabilities. As a result, Microsoft delayed its release and added more security layers.
With the new AI History Search in Edge, Microsoft is clearly learning from past mistakes by putting privacy and user control at the forefront.
Full User Control: Enable or Disable the Feature Anytime
Microsoft has made it easy for users to opt out of the AI-powered History Search. If you’re not comfortable using it, simply turn it off in your browser settings. For organizations, system administrators can manage this feature through the EdgeHistoryAISearchEnabled policy setting. This makes it suitable for both individual users and enterprise environments.
More Enhancements in Microsoft Edge 138.0.3351.14
Alongside the new AI search tool, Microsoft has rolled out several additional features to improve the overall user experience:
1. Smarter Profile Management for External Links
Edge now supports Primary Work Profile management. If you’re signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID, external links will open in your professional profile rather than your last-used one. This change simplifies workflows, especially for business users, and can be managed through admin settings using EdgeOpenExternalLinksWithPrimaryWorkProfileEnabled.
2. New Media Control Center
Just like in Google Chrome, Edge now offers a media control hub. When you’re playing music or video in the browser, a media icon appears beside the address bar. From here, you can control playback, manage picture-in-picture video, or cast content to another device—all in one place.
3. Improved Autofill with Enhanced Privacy
Edge’s Autofill settings now come with a consent toggle that lets users allow Microsoft to collect web form field labels (like “Name” or “Email”)—not the data you input. This helps improve Autofill accuracy without compromising personal information. You can manage this setting via edge://settings/autofill/personalInfo.
4. Sensitivity Labels for Protected PDFs
For enterprises, Edge now allows users to view Sensitivity Labels on Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) protected PDFs. This helps employees quickly assess the classification of sensitive documents directly within the browser’s PDF reader.
5. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Integration
Edge is becoming smarter with Copilot integration. A new context menu option allows users to summarize web content or ask questions about a webpage using Copilot Chat. This feature enhances productivity and helps users digest large volumes of information faster.
6. Performance Notifications
Edge now monitors browser performance and will alert users in the “Settings and more” menu if extensions or other elements are slowing things down. These proactive suggestions help keep your browsing fast and efficient.
The Bigger Picture: The Rise of Local AI
Microsoft’s approach with Edge reflects a larger trend: the shift toward on-device AI. With the rise of Copilot+ PCs and Neural Processing Units (NPUs), local AI processing is becoming more feasible—even without internet access. This not only enhances performance but also significantly improves data privacy, a growing concern in the digital age.
Final Thoughts
The AI-powered History Search in Microsoft Edge is more than just a smart tool—it’s a glimpse into the future of privacy-focused AI. By processing data locally and giving users full control, Microsoft is creating a safer and more intelligent browsing experience.
For anyone who’s ever struggled to find a long-lost webpage, this feature could be a real lifesaver. And for those worried about data privacy, it’s reassuring to know that your information never leaves your computer.