Microsoft Edge is no longer available.
Many people want to know how to uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 10. This isn’t surprising; while Microsoft Edge is the best browser ever shipped with Windows 10 (and will be with Windows 11 soon), it doesn’t necessarily appeal to all Windows PC and laptop users.
The new, Chromium-based Microsoft Edge is a vast improvement over the legacy version that shipped with Windows 10 when it was first released. Most consumers, however, should have their preferred browser by now. In fact, many of them still prefer Google’s Chrome browser. So, despite Microsoft’s strong push – to the point where Windows will remind you that Edge is apparently better if you dare to set a different default browser – many people will continue to use what they’re used to.
If you’re one of them and want to uninstall Edge from Windows 10, we’re here to help. It may not be the most straightforward application to remove, but where there is a will, there is a way.
Here’s how to do it, step by step.
How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge Beta, Dev, and Canary Channels in Windows 10
If you’re using the Beta, Dev or Canary channel builds of Windows 10, there’s only one way to uninstall Microsoft Edge. None of these are included with Windows 10, and you will have to obtain them separately from Microsoft, so if this does not apply to you, proceed to the next section.
If you did install one of those builds, you can uninstall it by opening the ‘Settings’ app on your Windows 10 PC first. Next, click on ‘Apps,’ and then look for the Microsoft Edge version in the list of apps.
It will be removed from your computer after you select it and click the ‘Uninstall’ button. What this method does not do is remove the default version that comes with Windows 10.
How to remove Microsoft Edge from Windows 10
You’ll need to get a little more technical to remove the default Microsoft Edge browser from Windows 10. However, assuming you’re comfortable using a terminal for a few moments, it’s still very simple to accomplish.
1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator
To begin, launch ‘Command Prompt’ as Administrator on your PC. If you can’t find it by right-clicking on your Start Menu, look in the ‘Windows System’ app folder. Simply right-click on it and select “Run as administrator” to open it as administrator. You must be in Command Prompt to do this; Windows PowerShell or PowerShell 7 do not appear to work.
2. Uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 10
Removing Microsoft Edge from Command Prompt requires two steps. To begin, use the following command to navigate to the correct folder:
cd %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Microsoft\Edge\Application\xx\Installer
When you type it, replace ‘xx’ with the current version number of Microsoft Edge installed on your PC. That information can be found in the ‘About’ section of Edge’s settings.
Your Command Prompt will now display that you are in the folder you navigated to earlier. Now type the following command:
setup --uninstall --force-uninstall --system-levelMicrosoft Edge will now be removed from your system without the need for a restart. It may still appear in the Start Menu, but it will not open anything, and the annoying ‘Restore recommended’ for web browsing in the Settings app will have vanished.
3. How to stop Microsoft Edge reinstalling automatically
Removing Microsoft Edge is only half the battle; if you don’t prevent it from being reinstalled automatically, you may find it reappearing during future updates. Most people find that editing the Registry is the simplest way to accomplish this, but touching it always comes with a warning. Making changes to the Registry is always risky and should be done with caution.
On the desktop, click the ‘Search’ button and look for ‘Registry Editor.’ Navigate to the following location after opening this. This can be copied and pasted into the Registry Editor address bar.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Right-click the ‘Microsoft’ folder and choose ‘New’, then ‘Key.’ Right-click on the key and name it ‘EdgeUpdate.’ Choose ‘New,’ then ‘DWORD (32-bit) Value,’ and name it.
‘DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium.’
After you’ve created the key, double-click it to open it and change its value to ‘1’. Once you’ve clicked ‘OK,’ you can safely close the Registry Editor. Microsoft Edge should no longer be reinstalled on your computer.
What should be done if future Windows updates fail?
Some of the most recent Windows updates have failed to install on machines that have removed Microsoft Edge. Fortunately, if you encounter this problem, there is a simple solution. Navigate to your C: drive’s ‘Program files (x86)’ folder and look for the ‘Microsoft’ folder. Open this and remove any Microsoft Edge-related folders.
You can now reinstall your Windows update, and it should go through without a hitch. If you also follow the steps above, Microsoft Edge will not be reinstalled.
Summary
Microsoft may want you to continue using Microsoft Edge, but no matter how good it is, you have every right to use something else. And having Edge pushed on you can be exhausting. It’s not easy to get rid of it, and it’s even more difficult to keep it from reappearing, but it’s not impossible and if you ever change your mind, you can always get it back.
