Every now and then it is a good idea to do a nice reset of the browser settings to reset them and to clear the junk that fills the cache, which in the long run can slow down browsing.Obviously, before doing the reset it is advisable to save your favorites so as not to lose them and find them again after the reset or after a new installation.
Whenever you install or reset a browser such as Google Chrome, Edge o Firefox, there are always some settings to be changed to make browsing the internet smoother, faster, safer and more practical.
Settings to change on Google Chrome
On the first start after a reset or after a new installation, Chrome is lightning fast, snappy with no delays.Keeping it so fast becomes, in reality, almost impossible if you use it at full capacity by taking advantage of every function, adding the favorites bar and, above all, if you install many extensions.
We have seen, in another article, that to speed up Google Chrome if slow or heavy it is advisable to uninstall or disable unused extensions, keeping 10 or at most 15 active, without exceeding this limit.
With more than 15 extensions installed, Chrome can become a real pachyderm, especially if you keep many tabs open.
To disable or disable Chrome extensions you can go to the extensions page by pressing the button with three lines at the top right and then on Other tools.
Once the extensions are fixed, open the Chrome Settings and change the following options, from top to bottom:
- Sign in with a Google account to synchronize favorites, extensions, history and settings themselves (so after each new installation or reset, all you have to do is log in with the account to find everything as it was before).
- Change the option Startup to continue where you left off so you don't lose open tabs if you accidentally close Chrome.
Note however that Chrome has the function of restoring open tabs if it crashes.
This option can also be left on the "new tab" page to open Chrome faster; then by installing an extension to save the open tabs you will be able to reopen the sites you were looking at at any time.
- Under Appearance, make sure to activate the home page button and the favorites bar button, which is very useful to always have in view.
- Under People, activate guest access, in order to be ready when some friend or colleague uses our computer and wants to browse with Chrome, so as not to allow them to see our favorites and the sites we were visiting.
The functionality is, for now, only on Chrome beta and the choice to browse as a guest is made by clicking on your name or icon at the top right and then on Change person.
- Open the Advanced Settings and check the options in the Privacy section.
In this regard, I wrote a guide on Chrome's privacy and security options, explaining them one by one.
Personally, I keep them all turned on because I don't have much privacy to protect, but if you're worried, I recommend at least enabling phishing and malware control.
- In the section Passwords and forms the opinions are mixed, there are those who trust and those who do not.
I personally recommend turning on password saving and auto form filling which is really handy, unless you use a separate password manager like Lastpass.
- We have already talked about Google Cloud Print, some may find it useful, others not, depending on the needs.
- The latest settings of System in Chrome they should be enabled by default, although you can choose: hardware acceleration allows you to see sites with graphic animations, but it can slow down the browser while keeping Chrome running in the background speeds up startup and allows you to receive notifications from extensions even if the browser is closed.
Settings to change on Firefox
The speech on extensions already made for Chrome, also applies to Firefox, so better not to overdo it.To access the settings, press on the three lines at the top right and then on the Options button.
- In the tab General, you can decide to load the last tabs opened at startup or the homepage.
- In Cards, make sure the option to open new windows on a new tab is turned on and raise the warning when closing multiple tabs, rather boring.
- The Firefox privacy and security settings have been explained in another article and can be left as is.
- In the section Password, you can decide whether to remember the passwords entered, which is very convenient, or not to do so if you fear that they may be spied on by other people.
- The function Sync in Firefox allows you to synchronize data, favorites and history so you can find everything on other computers or smartphones and tablets.
The guide to sync Firefox on PC and mobile is in another article.
- The options Advanced and generally it is not necessary to touch them.
- Firefox also has customization options to choose which buttons to see in the main bar at the top.
In another article you can read the guide for customize the Firefox interface.
Settings to change on Edge
Press the gear button at the top right and change the settings which, even if arranged in a different way, are the same as in Chrome.- In the tab General, change the homepage to www.google.it or another favorite site and then click on the Tabs button to disable the grouping option, which I personally find inconvenient.
- Close the options and, always from the gear button open the add-ons manager for change the search engine default (in the search provider section, click on find other providers below) replacing Microsoft's Bing with Google português.
