[Tip] Enable Tab Search, Sharing Hub and Full Dark Mode in InPrivate Mode in Microsoft Edge

In this article, we are going to share 3 useful tips which will help you in activating and enabling some hidden secret features in Microsoft Edge web browser.

You’ll be able to enable following 3 secret features in Microsoft Edge after following this article:

• Tab search feature
• Desktop sharing hub
• Full dark mode in InPrivate (or Incognito) mode

We have already shared similar tips for Google Chrome web browser in past and since both Chrome and Edge browsers are based on Chromium project, most of the tips work fine in both the browsers.

These tricks will work in newer versions of Microsoft Edge browser such as version 92 and later. The features enabled by these tips are under development and testing, that’s why these features are disabled by default. But interested users can manually enable them by modifying hidden preferences/flags which we are going to share in this tutorial.

If you also want to enable above mentioned hidden secret features in Microsoft Edge browser, following methods will help you:

1. Enable Tab Search Feature in Microsoft Edge Browser

Tab Search feature adds a new “Search Tabs” button (drop-down arrow icon) to Microsoft Edge titlebar or tab bar which can be used to search through all running tabs or recently closed tabs.

Following screenshot shows Tab Search feature’s flyout working in Microsoft Edge browser:

This feature is already present in Google Chrome browser. If you also want to enable same feature in Microsoft Edge browser, following steps will help you:

1. Right-click on Microsoft Edge shortcut on Desktop and select Properties option. If Microsoft Edge shortcut is pinned to Taskbar, right-click on it and again right-click on Microsoft Edge option present on the jumplist and select Properties option.

If you launch Microsoft Edge from Start Menu, copy and paste following string in RUN dialog box and press Enter key:

It’ll open Programs folder in File Explorer which contains Microsoft Edge shortcut. Right-click on it and select Properties option.

2. Once you open Microsoft Edge properties box, append following string at the end of the text string present in Target field:

Remember there must be a blank space between existing text string and the appended string.

3. Apply the changes and launch Microsoft Edge using the shortcut.

That’s it. Now you’ll see new Tab Search button or icon present in Microsoft Edge titlebar.

NOTE: If you are already using another “–disable-features” or “–enable-features” parameter in Microsoft Edge shortcut, following article will help you in using more than one “–disable-features” or “–enable-features” parameter in Edge’s properties:

[Tip] How to Use Multiple “–Disable-Features” Parameters in Chrome and Edge Shortcut

PS: In future, if you decide to restore default settings in Microsoft Edge, delete the new extra text string from Target field in Microsoft Edge shortcut’s properties and save the changes.

2. Enable Desktop Sharing Hub Feature in Microsoft Edge Browser

This feature adds a new Sharing icon to Microsoft Edge address bar and 3-dots main menu, You can use Sharing hub to share the current web page with others in form of webpage link, QR code, cast, etc.

Following screenshot shows the new Desktop Sharing Hub feature activated and enabled in Microsoft Edge:

Recently we shared similar trick to enabling Desktop sharing hub in Google Chrome web browser and the same method now also works in Microsoft Edge browser.

Following steps will help you in enabling Desktop Sharing Hub feature in Microsoft Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge web browser and type edge://flags/ in address bar and press Enter. It’ll open the advanced configuration page.

2. Now type sharing hub in the “Search flags” box.

You’ll get following 2 options:

3. To activate and enable Sharing Hub feature in Edge 3-dots menu as well as address bar, select Enabled from the drop-down box for both options.

4. Microsoft Edge will ask you to restart the browser. Click on “Restart” button to restart Microsoft Edge.

That’s it. You have successfully activated and enabled Desktop Sharing Hub feature in Edge.

Now you can start using Share feature by clicking on its icon present in Edge address bar or 3-dots menu.

PS: In future, if you decide to disable or remove Desktop Sharing Hub feature, select “Default” option from the drop-down box for above mentioned options and restart the browser.

3. Enable Full Dark Mode Everywhere in InPrivate Mode in Microsoft Edge

By default, when you launch Microsoft Edge in InPrivate mode or Incognito mode (private browsing) by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N keys together or by using “New InPrivate window” option from 3-dots menu, the full window opens in dark mode but many elements such as context menus, main menu, dialog box, etc still use light or White mode which doesn’t look good and annoy users.

This trick will allow you to enable full dark mode support everywhere in InPrivate mode of Microsoft Edge browser as shown in following screenshot:

We have shared similar trick for Google Chrome browser recently and now the same trick also works in Edge browser.

Following steps will help you in enabling full dark mode experience in Microsoft Edge InPrivate mode:

1. Open Microsoft Edge web browser and type edge://flags/ in address bar and press Enter. It’ll open the advanced configuration page.

2. Now type inherit in the “Search flags” box.

You’ll get following option:

3. To activate and enable full Dark theme support in InPrivate mode in Edge, select Enabled from the drop-down box.

4. Microsoft Edge will ask you to restart the browser. Click on “Restart” button to restart Microsoft Edge.

That’s it. You have successfully activated and enabled dark theme support everywhere in InPrivate mode in Edge.

Now try to open a new window in InPrivate mode and you’ll get Dark mode UI everywhere including menus.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore default settings, select “Default” option from the drop-down box for above mentioned option and restart the browser.

Also Check:

[Tip] Disable or Remove “Extensions” Menu Button from Microsoft Edge Toolbar

[Tip] Hide or Remove “Tab Actions Menu” Button from Tab bar in Microsoft Edge

[Tip] How to Restore Classic Download Panel at Bottom in Microsoft Edge