How to Assign Keyboard Shortcuts to Extensions in Microsoft Edge?

Microsoft Edge is the default browser that comes with Windows. It offers a dedicated add-ons marketplace to install extensions and enhance the features. In addition, you can also install extensions from Chrome Web Store in Edge. When you have installed plenty of extensions, it is difficult to launch them whenever you want to use. The best option is to assign a keyboard shortcut for each extension in Edge so that you can easily use them when you need.

Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts for Extensions in Edge

Follow the below instructions to assign keyboard shortcut to extensions:

• Launch Edge browser and click on the three horizontal dots “Settings and more” on top right corner. Alternatively, press “Alt + F” shortcut keys to open the menu.
• Select “Extensions” from the list of menus.

• This will show a dropdown menu below the puzzle icon next to the address bar with the list of installed extensions.
• Select “Manage extensions” option from the list to open extensions management page in Edge.

• The extensions management page will show all installed extensions in Edge and go to “Keyboard shortcuts” from the left sidebar meu.
• You will see a section for each extension allowing you to assign a shortcut for activating and toggling. The options may change based on the features offered by extension and the way you can use it on Edge.
• Type your shortcut key in the “Activate the extension” box. Edge will only accept the shortcuts that start with alt or control key. Pressing any other key will show an error message “include either Ctrl or Alt” below the text box.

• Let us say, we assign the shortcut as “Alt + Z” for the AdBlock extension. The next dropdown will allow you to set whether the activation will only in Edge or globally on all other apps. However, it will be frozen with “In Edge” option if the extension works only within Edge (as in the AdBlock extension case).

• If required, you can change the already assigned keyboard shortcut “Control + Period” for “Toggle Pause/Resume on all sites” option.

Similarly, you can assign shortcuts for all the installed extensions in Edge. If you are not seeing an extension under “Keyboard shortcuts” section, first make sure to activate it under “Extensions” section. Below screenshot shows the shortcut keys assigned for another extension called “Momentum” which will show custom new tab page in Edge. As mentioned, this extension offers only one option for activating.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

The keys will start work immediately after you assign in the settings page. Now that you have assigned the shortcut keys, it is time to test how it works.

• Open any webpage and press “Alt + Z” keys which is the assigned shortcut for AdBlock extension.
• This will show open the extension icon next to address bar and show its options.

• Now press “Control + Dot” shortcut keys to pause the extension on Edge. You can use the same shortcut keys to enable it again.

Similarly, pressing “Alt + X” keys will activate Momentum extension and open a new tab page.

Final Words

Assigning shortcut key to extensions in Edge is extremely useful to open and pause them whenever you need. However, avoid using conflicting Windows system shortcut keys for extensions. Edge will not prevent assigning such shortcuts and it will overwrite system function. For example, assigning “Control + A” to AdBlock will open the extension and deactivate selecting all content in Edge.