Build Microsoft Edge Managed Favorites with a GUI

Edge managed favorites GUI screenshot

Managing browser favorites at scale sounds simple — until you actually try to do it.

If you’ve ever configured Microsoft Edge Managed Favorites via Intune, Group Policy, or custom profiles on macOS, you already know the pain points:

  • Complex nested JSON structures
  • No validation or visual feedback
  • One missing comma = policy failure
  • Different formats for Windows vs macOS/iOS
  • No easy way to reorder, bulk add, or maintain structure over time

To solve this, I built a lightweight, browser-based Edge Managed Favorites Builder that lets you visually design your favorites structure and export it ready for Intune deployment.

What Are Edge Managed Favorites?

Microsoft Edge supports centrally managed favorites through the ManagedFavorites policy.

This allows IT administrators to:

  • Enforce a predefined favorites structure
  • Create folders and links that appear for all users
  • Keep corporate bookmarks consistent across devices

Typical use cases include:

  • Corporate intranet links
  • HR, payroll, and self-service portals
  • IT service desks and knowledge bases
  • SaaS applications and admin portals

The challenge is that ManagedFavorites is configuration-driven, not UI-driven.

The Problem With Manual Configuration

1. JSON Is Fragile

On Windows, the policy expects a very specific JSON array format.

A single syntax error breaks the entire policy.

2. No Visual Overview

When editing JSON directly, you have:

  • No tree view
  • No easy way to reorder items
  • No indication of nesting depth

3. Platform Differences

  • Windows uses a JSON array
  • macOS / iOS use a plist structure
  • Same logical data, different syntax

4. Long-Term Maintenance

Adding or reorganizing favorites later often means:

Losing consistency across platforms

Rewriting large parts of the JSON

Copy/paste errors

Losing consistency across platforms

Introducing the Edge Managed Favorites Builder

To remove friction from this process, I built a fully static, client-side tool that runs directly in the browser.

  • No login
  • No backend
  • No data stored

You simply open the page, build your structure, and copy the output.

Key Features

  • Visual tree editor (folders + links)
  • Unlimited nesting
  • Windows and macOS/iOS output
  • Bulk add links (paste from Excel or text files)
  • Alphabetical sorting (A–Z), including subfolders
  • Import existing Windows JSON
  • Copy/paste-ready output for Intune
  • Minimal, enterprise-friendly UI

How the Tool Works (Conceptual Overview)

The tool separates structure from output.

  1. You build a single logical structure:
    • Folders
    • Links
    • Hierarchy
  2. The tool renders that structure into:
    • Windows-compatible JSON
    • Apple-compatible plist

This guarantees:

  • Identical structure across platforms
  • Correct formatting every time
  • No accidental policy changes

Windows Example Output

[
  {
    "toplevel_name": "Company"
  },
  {
    "name": "IT",
    "children": [
      {
        "name": "Intune",
        "url": "https://intune.microsoft.com"
      },
      {
        "name": "Entra",
        "url": "https://entra.microsoft.com"
      }
    ]
  }
]

This output can be pasted directly into:

  • Intune Settings Catalog
  • Administrative Templates
  • Custom OMA-URI configurations

macOS / iOS Example Output

<key>ManagedFavorites</key>
<array>
  <dict>
    <key>toplevel_name</key>
    <string>Company</string>
  </dict>
  <dict>
    <key>name</key>
    <string>IT</string>
    <key>children</key>
    <array>
      <dict>
        <key>name</key>
        <string>Intune</string>
        <key>url</key>
        <string>https://intune.microsoft.com</string>
      </dict>
    </array>
  </dict>
</array>

This fits directly into:

  • Intune Custom Configuration Profiles (macOS)
  • Managed App Configuration for Edge on iOS

Real-World Use Cases

Enterprise IT

  • Standardize favorites across hundreds or thousands of devices
  • Ensure consistent access to business-critical systems
  • Reduce helpdesk tickets

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Quickly reorganize bookmarks across business units
  • Merge intranets and portals without chaos

Security-Focused Environments

  • Direct users to approved systems only
  • Reduce reliance on user-created bookmarks

Multi-Platform Management

  • One design → multiple outputs
  • Avoid platform drift over time

Why Alphabetical Sorting Matters

In large environments, favorites tend to grow quickly.

Built-in A–Z sorting:

  • Keeps structures readable
  • Makes maintenance easier
  • Reduces human error

Sorting is optional — you stay in control.

Design Philosophy

This tool intentionally avoids:

  • Over-engineering
  • Heavy frameworks
  • Cloud dependencies
  • User accounts

Instead, it focuses on:

  • Predictability
  • Transparency
  • Enterprise safety
  • Zero side effects

Everything you copy is exactly what gets deployed.

Try the Tool

You can access the Edge Managed Favorites Builder here:

https://using-it.dk/EdgeBookmarsCreator/

If you manage Edge via Intune or work with cross-platform endpoint management, this tool should save you both time and frustration.