Show Only Bookmark Icon in Edge Canary

To show only the bookmark icon (and hide the text label) in Microsoft Edge Canary, you need to adjust the toolbar settings so that the favorites bar displays icons only. This is done by right-clicking the favorites bar or using the Edge settings menu, and it applies to the current Canary builds as well as stable Edge.

Background: The Favorites Bar in Edge

The favorites bar (also called the bookmark bar) in Microsoft Edge displays your saved bookmarks as a row of buttons. By default, each button shows both a small icon and the bookmark’s name. For users who prefer a cleaner, more compact toolbar, Edge allows you to switch to “Icons only” mode. This feature has been available in Edge for several years and is carried over to the Canary channel, which is Microsoft’s early-access testing version of the browser.

How to Show Only Bookmark Icons

There are two main ways to achieve this in Edge Canary:

Right-click method: Right-click on any empty area of the favorites bar. In the context menu that appears, hover over “Favorites bar” and then select “Show icons only.” This will immediately hide all text labels, leaving only the favicons.
Settings method: Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner, go to Settings > Appearance. Under the “Customize toolbar” section, find the “Show favorites bar” dropdown and select “Icons only.” This applies the same change.

Both methods work identically in Canary and stable Edge. If you don’t see the favorites bar at all, first enable it by pressing Ctrl+Shift+B or via the same Settings menu (select “Always” or “Only on new tabs”).

What the “Icons Only” Mode Does

When you select “Icons only,” Edge hides the text next to each bookmark, showing only the site’s favicon (the small icon associated with the website). This reduces the width of each bookmark button, allowing more bookmarks to fit on the bar. However, it does not remove the folder icons or the “Other favorites” overflow menu—those remain visible. Hovering over an icon will still show the bookmark’s name as a tooltip, so you can identify it without expanding the bar.

How to Choose Between Icons Only and Text

The choice depends on your preference for space versus clarity:

Icons only: Best for users who have many bookmarks and want a minimal, uncluttered toolbar. It works well when you recognize sites by their logos (e.g., YouTube, Gmail, Wikipedia).
Text only: This option (available in the same right-click menu) shows only the bookmark names, no icons. It’s useful if you have many bookmarks from the same domain or if favicons are not distinctive.
Show both: The default mode, which shows icon and name. Good for discoverability, especially if you don’t visit a bookmark often.

You can switch between these modes at any time—the setting is persistent across sessions.

Common Problems and Fixes

Some users report that the “Icons only” option is grayed out or not working in Canary. This can happen for a few reasons:

Favorites bar not enabled: If the bar is hidden, the right-click method won’t work. Enable it first with Ctrl+Shift+B.
New Tab page behavior: On the new tab page, the favorites bar may behave differently. Try switching to “Always” in Settings > Appearance to see if the option becomes available.
Enterprise policy: If Edge is managed by an organization, a policy might force the favorites bar to show text. Check with your administrator.
Bug in Canary: Canary builds are experimental and may have temporary glitches. If the option doesn’t work, try restarting the browser or reporting the issue via the feedback tool. Usually, it resolves in a later build.

If none of these work, a simple workaround is to manually rename each bookmark to a single space, which effectively hides the text. However, this is tedious and not recommended.

Comparison: Edge Canary vs. Stable Edge

The process is identical between Edge Canary and the stable version. Canary is updated nightly and includes experimental features, but the favorites bar settings have been stable for a long time. There is no difference in how the “Icons only” option works. The only variation might be in the Settings page layout if Microsoft is testing a new design, but the right-click method remains consistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t the “Icons only” option appear in my right-click menu?

This option only appears when you right-click on the favorites bar itself, not on a bookmark or folder. Make sure you right-click on an empty area of the bar. If the bar is not visible, press Ctrl+Shift+B to show it first.

Can I show only icons for specific bookmarks and keep text for others?

No, the setting is global—it applies to all bookmarks on the bar. There is no per-bookmark option to hide text individually. You can, however, create folders and put bookmarks inside them to reduce clutter.

Will this setting sync across my devices?

Yes, the favorites bar display mode is part of your Edge profile and syncs if you have sync enabled. So if you set it to “Icons only” on one device, it will apply on other devices where you’re signed in with the same Microsoft account.

Does “Icons only” affect the new tab page?

No, the new tab page has its own layout and is not affected by this setting. The favorites bar on the new tab page may show text regardless of your choice. This is a known behavior and not a bug.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to toggle icons only?

No, there is no dedicated keyboard shortcut for this. You must use the right-click menu or Settings. You can, however, use Ctrl+Shift+B to show/hide the entire favorites bar.

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