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- Uninstall Microsoft Edge With the Command Prompt
- Stop Edge From Reinstalling
- Remove Microsoft Edge on Windows 7, 8 or 8.1
- Final Thoughts
- Comments
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Microsoft Edge is far from being a popular browser even though it’s the default browser on Windows machines. Microsoft doesn’t provide a straightforward path to removing its famously stubborn browser, so we’ll show you how to uninstall Microsoft Edge in this article.
By Max Pitchkites (Writer)
— Last Updated: 2022-06-21T17:49:10+00:00 Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska
Microsoft passed the browser torch from the now-discontinued Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge in 2015. Like its predecessor, the Microsoft Edge browser is deeply embedded in the Windows operating system and it can’t easily be removed. We’ll show you how to uninstall Microsoft Edge if you’re one of the many frustrated Windows users with no interest in the developer’s official browser.
Key Takeaways:
- Windows users can’t directly uninstall Edge the way they can other programs.
- Some methods for removing Microsoft Edge become obsolete when Microsoft updates Windows.
- Edge may reinstall itself even after a successful uninstallation.
The lackluster Edge browser was mostly ignored at the time of its launch, but there were major improvements when it received a Chromium makeover in 2020. Despite Microsoft’s efforts, Edge still hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as other browsers, like Google Chrome or Firefox, causing many to remove Edge from their systems — or at least try to.
Uninstalling Microsoft Edge from Windows isn’t as simple as removing any other program, as Microsoft doesn’t provide an obvious path for removal. Keep in mind that some of these methods might not work depending on your version of Edge or Windows, as future Windows updates are likely to thwart these techniques.
We’ll stick to uninstalling Edge in this article without offering much comment on the browser itself. Check out our full Microsoft Edge review for our complete evaluation of the Edge browser.
If you’re looking for a new browser to use, then take a look at our best browser article for a selection of great browsers for everyday use.
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04/25/2022 Facts checked
Rewrote the article; removed obsolete methods and updated working methods.
The best way to delete Microsoft Edge from Windows is to use the command prompt. On some machines it disables Microsoft Edge, while on others it only rolls it back to the pre-Chromium build. Even when disabled, some files still remain on the computer.
Microsoft Edge is the default web browser for Windows operating systems.
Nothing other than the removal of Microsoft Edge should happen if you follow the uninstallation steps correctly.
How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge With the Command Prompt
The best way to remove Microsoft Edge is to use the command prompt. As of this writing, following these steps on Windows 11 will disable the browser, although it won’t completely erase all of its files.Depending on your system, these steps might also simply roll back Edge to its pre-Chromium legacy version.
- Find Edge’s Version Number
First you’ll need to find the version number for your installation of Edge. Open file explorer and enter the path “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\” — you should find a folder with the version number of the most recent installation of Edge installed on your system (e.g. 100.0.1185.36).
- Open the Command Prompt With Admin Privileges
Press the Windows key and search for “cmd.” The command prompt will appear at the top of the search results. Right-click on the command prompt and click “run as administrator.”
- Use the Current Directory Command
Including the quotation marks, enter the command cd “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\[installation_number]\Installer.” Make sure to change the installation number to whichever corresponds to your version of Edge.
(Video) How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge In One Click - Uninstall Microsoft Edge
Without quotation marks, enter the command “setup.exe –uninstall –system-level –verbose-logging –force-uninstall.” This will uninstall the latest version of Microsoft Edge. If you’re using Windows 11, this method should disable Microsoft Edge without completely uninstalling it. Next restart your device. You should not see Microsoft Edge on your computer any longer.
How to Disable Edge & Switch Default Browser
Naturally, Microsoft has made Edge the default browser for opening all file types in Windows systems. This is one way Edge manages to creep up on users who don’t want to use it, so you’ll have to manually change the default browser for each file type.
- Go to “Default Apps”
Press the Windows key. In the search bar, type “default apps” and click on the button with that name.
- Select “Microsoft Edge”
This menu gives you the option of setting the default application to open individual file types. Scroll down the list to find “Microsoft Edge” and click on it.
- Set the Default Browser for Each File Type
In this menu you will see all of the file types Edge is configured to open by default. These include file types such as PDF, HTML, HTM and others.
- Change Default Browser
Select every appearance of Microsoft Edge beneath each individual file type and select your preferred browser. Now your favorite browser will open those file types by default instead of Edge.
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How to Stop Edge From Reinstalling
Windows will reinstall Microsoft Edge even if you succeed in removing or disabling it. You can prevent this by making edits in the registry.
- Launch the Registry Editor
Press the Windows key and “R” at the same time. Search for “regedit” and press enter. This will launch the registry editor, but first a window asking for your permission will appear. Click “OK.”
- Go to the Microsoft Folder in the Registry Editor
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft. When the registry opens, open the folder in the above path.
(Video) How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge The Right Way - Create a New Key
Right-click on the Microsoft folder, select “new” and then “key.” Name the new key “EdgeUpdate” (without the quotation marks).
- Create a Second Key
Right-click on “EdgeUpdate,” select “new” and then click “DWORD (32-bit) Value.” Clicking this will create a new key inside the EdgeUpdate key you just created. Rename the new key “DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium” and press enter.
- Change Value From 0 to 1
Double-click on the new key and change the value. Left-clicking twice will open a new menu with a box labeled “value data.” It should contain a 0; change it to 1. Click “OK.”
Windows will no longer install Microsoft Edge if you have already removed or disabled it. If you want to undo the changes, change the DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium key’s value back to 0.
How to Remove Microsoft Edge on Windows 7, 8 or 8.1
It is easier to remove or disable Microsoft Edge on older versions of Windows.
- Open the Program Uninstallation Menu
Press the Windows key. Search for “uninstall a program” and click on the search result with that name.
- Look for Microsoft Edge
Look for Microsoft Edge in the list of applications, click on it and then the “uninstall” option.
- Clear Your Browsing Data and Uninstall
A window will appear that displays a box with the caption “also clear your browsing data?” Check this box and select “uninstall.” Reboot your device; Edge will disappear after you restart your computer.
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Final Thoughts
It should be clear by now that Microsoft doesn’t want its users to get rid of its default browser. For now, each of these methods will remove Edge from your system, but it only takes a single Windows update to render these steps obsolete. Keep an eye out for new techniques to spring up once Microsoft begins another round of whack-a-mole.
What is your preferred way of removing Microsoft Edge? Are there any uninstallation techniques we didn’t cover here? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQs
How do I get rid of Microsoft Edge 2022? ›
Press the Windows key. Search for “uninstall a program” and click on the search result with that name. Look for Microsoft Edge in the list of applications, click on it and then the “uninstall” option.
How do I completely remove Edge from Windows? ›- Open Settings.
- Click on Apps.
- Click on Apps & features.
- Select the Microsoft Edge item.
- Click the Uninstall button.
Microsoft Edge is the web browser recommended by Microsoft and is the default web browser for Windows. Because Windows supports applications that rely on the web platform, our default web browser is an essential component of our operating system and can't be uninstalled.
How do I permanently disable delete Microsoft Edge? ›- Open the Settings app by clicking on the gear icon in the Start menu. ...
- Click on the Apps tile. ...
- Locate and select Microsoft Edge by clicking on it once. ...
- Click the Uninstall button again to confirm your choice and wait for Windows 10 to remove Microsoft Edge from your computer.
- Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
- Go to Apps > Apps & features.
- Find Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three-dotted icon and select Uninstall.
- Click the Uninstall button again.
Replies (5) 
Since you apparently received Edge Chromium from Windows Updates it can't be uninstalled. You can still use Chrome by going to Settings, Apps, on the left click on Defaults and, scroll down to Browsers and change it to Chrome.
- Press Win + X and select Task Manager from the resulting menu.
- Switch to the Startup apps tab.
- From the list of programs, look for Microsoft Edge. Right-click on it and select Disabled.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the Settings and more (three-dotted) button from the top-right.
- Select the Settings option.
- Click on System.
- Turn off the Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed toggle switch.
\setup.exe -uninstall -system-level -verbose-logging -force-uninstall in the Windows PowerShell and click Enter key. Step 8: Click Yes if there appears a windows ask you whether allow this app to make changes to your device or not. Step 9: With that, you're done removing Microsoft Edge from Windows 11.
How do I get rid of Microsoft Edge and use Google? ›- Open Microsoft Edge.
- At the top right, click. Settings.
- On the left, click Privacy and Services. If you don't find this, first click the Menu. at the top left.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Address bar.
- In the “Search engine used in the address bar” drop-down, select Google.
Is it safe to remove Microsoft Edge? ›
Don't uninstall Edge. It's not hurting anything by being there. It's integrated into Windows and you may run into issues if you uninstall it.
How do I stop Microsoft Edge from opening instead of Internet Explorer? ›- Launch MS Edge and click the top-right corner button. ...
- Pick Default browser from the list and enable all IE-related options as follows:
- Under Internet Explorer compatibility, click the Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge menu.
- Select Never.
Launch Microsoft Edge and go to Settings. Navigate to Default browser, and locate Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge. Set this option to Never. Edge is a better choice than IE as it supports the latest web standards.
How do I get rid of Microsoft? ›...
Replies (3) 
- Click the Start button, and then click Settings.
- Click Accounts, scroll down, and then click the Microsoft account you would like to delete.
- Click Remove, and then click Yes.
Microsoft has changed the way Windows 11 handles switching default web browsers, thankfully, reversing an unpopular decision it made when the OS was still in pre-release testing (back in August).
What happens if I uninstall Microsoft Edge Windows 11? ›First, a clarification. This method will uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 11, but it will not change which browser your system considers its default. You must first install a new web browser onto your system and make it the default browser.
Can I switch from Microsoft Edge to Chrome? ›At the bottom, under "Web browser," click your current browser (typically Microsoft Edge). In the "Choose an app" window, click Google Chrome.
How do I stop Chrome from switching to Edge? ›How to Stop Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge from Running in the ...
Why does Microsoft Edge keep popping up on my computer? ›If the Microsoft Edge browser opens automatically soon after booting into the Windows 10/11 desktop, the chances are that it's set up as a startup program on your computer. Disable it via the Task Manager.
What is Microsoft start and how do I get rid of it? ›Go to Start, Settings, Apps, Apps and Features and scroll down to the Microsoft Start App. Click on the App, select Uninstall and uninstall the App. Restart and it should be gone.
How do I stop Microsoft Edge installer? ›
Type the following command to stop Windows Update from installing Microsoft Edge and press Enter: EdgeChromium_Blocker. cmd /b.
How do I disable Microsoft Edge in Task Manager? ›- Right click on task bar and select "Task Manager"
- Click the "Startup" tab and check if Microsoft Edge is listed and enabled.
- If it is enabled, right click Microsoft Edge and select "Disable"
- Open Powershell as admin.
- Type the command “get-appxpackage *edge*” (without the quotation marks) and press enter.
- Copy the PackageFullName.
- Type the command “remove-appxpackage” followed by the PackageFullName.
- Press enter and reboot.
You will see complete details of Microsoft Edge. Find 'PackageFullName' and copy everything opposite to it (as highlighted in the image). Now type remove-appxpackage and paste the 'PackageFullName' value you copied in the PowerShell and press enter . The command will run and remove Edge from your PC.
How do I stop Microsoft Edge from updating to Windows 10? ›- Press Windows key + S and type Services.
- Right-click the first result from the list and select Run as administrator.
- Double-click Windows Update.
- If the Service Status is Running, click Stop.
- Change Startup type to Disabled.
- Click Apply and OK.
Since Edge moved to Chromium, the browsers are very similar, and which one works better for you is a personal choice. However, in a few areas, Edge has the edge. If you prioritize speed or low resource consumption, you should choose Microsoft Edge over Chrome.
Is Microsoft Edge slowing down my computer? ›Edge can become slow due to the number of open tabs, so be sure to close all the tabs that aren't necessary. Your cache can also slow down the browser, so it's advised that you clean it from time to time. Certain extensions can also cause issues, so disable all unnecessary extensions.
Do I have to have Microsoft Edge? ›No you do not "need" Edge. It is a part of Windows 10/11. It is a browser application that replaces IE in Windows. You can install alternate browsers like FireFox or Opera, or others.
Why does Microsoft Edge open instead of Internet Explorer? ›You can disable this behaviour from Edge by going to Settings > Default browser > Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge and setting it to "Never". No need for disabling all addons or modifying the registry. You might need to restart IE after changing the setting for it to take effect.
Why can't I remove a Microsoft account from my computer? ›If you want to remove a Family user account but are unable to do so because of the missing Remove button, you can delete the account online. We have listed the process to do so. Launch the Settings app on your system. After that, click Accounts and select the Family & other users option from the left pane.
How do I completely remove a Microsoft account from Windows 10? ›
Select the Start button, and then select Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts . Under Accounts used by other apps, select the account you want to remove, and then select Remove. Select Yes to confirm.
How do I remove a Microsoft account from my device? ›...
Remove a device
- Sign in with your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com/devices/content.
- Find the device you want to remove and select Unlink.
- Review your device details and select Unlink.
- Go to Start > Settings .
- Select Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Turn off Automatically save my restartable apps when I sign out and restart them when I sign in.
Select the Start button, and then type Default apps. In the search results, select Default apps. Under Web browser, select the browser currently listed, and then select Microsoft Edge or another browser.
How do I stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background? ›- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the Settings and more (three-dotted) button from the top-right.
- Select the Settings option.
- Click on System.
- Turn off the Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed toggle switch.
If Microsoft Edge is still opening automatically, you should check the active tasks in Task Scheduler. There's a chance that an automated task on your computer is causing Edge to open automatically. Here's how you can check automated tasks in Task Scheduler: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
What happens if I delete Microsoft Edge? ›Windows will run happily even if Edge has been force-uninstalled. However, many auxiliary bits of the Windows 10 experience - store apps, some parts of control panel etc. - need a native program to render HTML content. Some still use IE, but not for much longer.
How do I stop Microsoft Edge from opening instead of Internet Explorer? ›- Launch MS Edge and click the top-right corner button. ...
- Pick Default browser from the list and enable all IE-related options as follows:
- Under Internet Explorer compatibility, click the Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge menu.
- Select Never.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- At the top right, click. Settings.
- On the left, click Privacy and Services. If you don't find this, first click the Menu. at the top left.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Address bar.
- In the “Search engine used in the address bar” drop-down, select Google.
- On your computer, click the Start menu .
- Click Settings .
- Open your default apps: Original version: Click System. Default apps. Creators Update: Click Apps. Default apps.
- At the bottom, under "Web browser," click your current browser (typically Microsoft Edge).
- In the "Choose an app" window, click Google Chrome.
Why is Microsoft Edge running in the background in Task Manager? ›
The new Microsoft Edge based on Chromium is the new browser from Microsoft. And similar to Google Chrome, depending on the extensions you have installed, they may continue to run in the background after closing it. That is the default setting after installing Edge.
Should you Uninstall Microsoft Edge? ›Don't uninstall Edge. It's not hurting anything by being there. It's integrated into Windows and you may run into issues if you uninstall it.
Is it OK to disable Microsoft Edge on startup? ›If you don't use Microsoft Edge (legacy), you should disable its startup processes to avoid wasting system resources as you sign in to Windows 10.
How do I disable Microsoft start? ›- Open the program and, click File > Options.
- Under Start up options, uncheck the Show the Start screen when this application starts box and close the program.