Edge is still lacking some of the basic features we've come to expect from other browsers – the most obvious of which is extensions.

But that doesn't mean there aren't lots of cool customizations and tweaks that you can make already, all of which will help Edge work exactly the way you want it to.

Here is our list of the top seven tweaks you should make right now.

Change the Theme

At the time of writing, Edge doesn't support third-party themes like Chrome and Firefox. While that may change in the future, there are already two built-in themes to choose from – one light and one dark.

To switch between the two, fire up the main menu by clicking on the three horizontal dots in the top right-hand corner of the window, then select Settings.

The first option on the list is Choose a Theme. You can select your preferred choice from the drop-down list underneath.

Light:

edge-light

Dark:

edge-dark

Select Your Homepage

By default, Edge doesn't load a homepage when you launch the browser. This is intentional, Microsoft believes that the notion of homepages is starting to become outdated as web usage evolves.

That doesn't mean that you can't set one, however. Edge actually offers four different choices for what you'll see upon opening it – the Start Page (Edge's main page which includes a personalized news feed), a new blank tab, a list of your previously visited sites, and a specific web page.

edge-homepage

To set your preferred homepage, click on the three horizontal dots and choose Settings. Scroll down to Open With and mark the checkbox next to Specific Page or Pages. You'll then be shown a drop-down list, select Custom. Now you'll be able to add your preferred homepage in the space provided.

It's worth mentioning that you can also change what you see when you open a new tab. Just choose your preferred option from the list under Open New Tabs With.

Show the Home Button

If you enjoy using a homepage and you've taken the time to select your own, you'll presumably want to enable the home screen button next to the browser's Forward, Back, and Refresh icons.

edge-home-button

To turn it on, click the three dots and head to Settings > Advanced Settings. The first item on the list is Show the Home Button option. Flick the slider to add it to your screen.

Disable Flash

There is one plug-in that does work on Microsoft Edge – the ubiquitous-but-maligned Adobe Flash Player.

There are lots of reasons why many people believe Flash Player needs to die: it's insecure, it's closed and proprietary, and it's been overtaken by other web standards. If you're one of the increasing number of people who'd like to see Flash Player consigned to the annals of history, you can play your part by disabling it within the browser.

edge-flash

To do so, click on the three horizontal dots, go to Settings > Advanced Settings, then move the slider under Use Adobe Flash Player to Off.

Be aware that some websites might lose certain aspects of their functionality if you turn it off.

Change Your Default Search Engine

Yes, we know Bing is slowly growing in popularity, and yes, we know there are lots of more privacy-friendly search engines than Google. However, it remains a fact that the Mountain View-based behemoth enjoys a 65-70 percent share of the search market. Second-placed Bing comes in around 15 percent.

edge-search-engine

With those figures in mind, there are bound to be many people out there who want to make Google their default search engine on Edge.

Thankfully, it's easy to change; you can use any search provider you want as long as it supports the OpenSearch standard.

The first thing you'll need to do is visit your desired search engine's homepage. This will allow Edge to automatically recognize it and add it to its list of options. Next, click Menu > Settings > Advanced Settings, scroll down until you see Search in the Address Bar With, and click Change.

You'll be presented with a list of all the available options. Highlight your preference then click on Set as Default.

Customize Your Newsfeed

One of the best new features of Edge from a usability perspective is "My News Feed". It will automatically show you news and weather from your location, but if you'd like a more personalized feel it is possible to tweak it.

Simply click on Customize in the top right-hand corner above your list of news. You'll be presented with a menu that allows you to select your language and location, as well as choosing your favorite topics.

edge-news

The downside is that the topics are very limited; cars, entertainment, lifestyle, money, news, and sport are the only six options available (where's technology?!). We'd like to think that Microsoft plans to significantly expand on these options in future updates, but at the moment you'll have to make do.

Block Cookies

Strangely, Edge's default setting is to allow all cookies (cue the Microsoft privacy/tracking conspiracies!).

If you want to change this and block either all cookies or just third-party cookies, you'll need to head to Menu > Settings > Advanced Settings > Cookies. You'll see a drop-down menu that offers you the necessary choices.

edge-cookies

You should definitely block third-party cookies by default. They have no real benefit to the user and are mainly used for data gathering purposes.

What Are Your Favorite Tweaks?

We know Edge still has a long way to go until it can truly compete with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, but we hope these customizations will go a long way to making it more usable until Microsoft gets around to releasing some updates.

Which tweaks and customizations have you discovered that you can share with your fellow readers?

We'd love to hear from you. You can let us know all your hints and tips in the comments sections below.