How to enable extensions in Microsoft Edge's InPrivate Browsing mode

Microsoft introduced support for extensions in Microsoft Edge in the Windows 10 Creators Update. Less than 100 extensions are available officially at the time for Microsoft Edge and that is likely not going to change anytime soon.

While you can download and install several content blockers or password managers, you won't find most smaller helper extensions that Chrome or Firefox users have access to.

Extensions run only in regular browsing mode by default in Edge. If you use the InPrivate Browsing mode of the browser as well, you have to enable extensions to run in it.

The main reason why extensions are not enabled in Microsoft Edge's private browsing mode by default is that Microsoft has no control over the data collecting of extensions. This could lead to extensions collecting data while in private browsing mode.

Enable extensions in Microsoft Edge's InPrivate Browsing mode

It is relatively easy to enable extensions in InPrivate Browsing mode but you can do so only on Windows 10 build 17074 or newer. The feature is only available in the latest Windows 10 Insider Builds currently but will be made available to the whole Windows 10 population in the next feature updgrade. Microsoft plans to release it in March/April 2018.

Here is how you enable extensions so that they run in InPrivate Browsing mode as well:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the menu icon and select Extensions from the menu.
3. Move the mouse over the extension that you want to enable in private browsing and click on the cogwheel icon that appears on hover.
4. Check the box "Allow for InPrivate browsing".
5. Edge displays a notification afterwards: "Microsoft Edge cannot block extension from collecting your browsing history".

Note that you can only check the box if the extension is enabled in regular mode. It is not possible currently to run extensions only in InPrivate Browsing.

It is recommended that you enable only select extensions that you trust in private browsing.