Recently, Microsoft has taken a more assertive stance in promoting Edge on Windows 11 and 10, almost to the point of badgering users with intrusive pop-ups to abandon Chrome. Despite setting Chrome as your default browser, Microsoft disregards this preference, rerouting system and application links to Edge. If you’re looking to completely remove Microsoft Edge from your Windows PC, we’ve developed an effective guide. Additionally, we’ve included a clever method to stop Microsoft from reinstalling Edge.
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Note:
Before you proceed with uninstalling Edge, ensure that Chrome or your preferred browser is already installed on your PC.
Despite my numerous attempts to uninstall Microsoft Edge from my Windows 11 PC running the latest 24H2 build, all my efforts proved futile. Neither Command Prompt hacks, PowerShell scripts, nor Registry modifications could achieve the desired result. At last, Wise Uninstaller came to my aid and performed exceptionally well. This program can be used to completely eliminate Edge from your system. Follow these steps to do so.
- Prior to implementing any modifications at the system level, I consistently advise users to establish a system restore point. This precaution allows you to revert your PC to a previously functional state should any issues arise.
- After completing that step, proceed to download and install Wise Uninstaller from their official website. You can be confident that this free application comes without any unwanted software.
- To begin, open the Wise Uninstaller application. Locate Microsoft Edge from the list and choose the Force Uninstall option. Ensure that Chrome or another browser of your choice is already installed on your computer before moving forward.
- Next, select Yes. This action will initiate a scan of Edge, searching for related files and Registry entries.
- Now, just click on Remove. The uninstallation process for Microsoft Edge on your Windows PC will take a few moments.
- Ultimately, select OK, then exit the application and reboot your computer.
- You’ll notice that Microsoft Edge has been entirely removed from your computer.
Prevent Microsoft Edge Reinstallation
Though the steps outlined above can effectively remove Edge, it is crucial to take measures to stop Microsoft from reinstalling it. Here’s the way to ensure it stays gone.
- To begin, access Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key and the letter ‘I’ simultaneously on your keyboard.
- Navigate to the Advanced options section within Windows Update.
Now, switch off the toggle for receiving updates for other Microsoft products. This action will stop Microsoft from downloading and reinstalling Edge on your computer.
- Next, open the Start Menu and type “registry” into the search bar. When the Registry Editor appears, select it and choose “Run as administrator.”
- Simply insert the path below into the Registry’s address bar and press Enter.
- Next, perform a right-click on the Microsoft folder and choose New, then Key from the menu.
- Name this key –
EdgeUpdate
.
- At this point, right-click on the newly created EdgeUpdate key and select New, followed by DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Now, now this –
DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium
.
- Simply double-click the file and modify the “Value data” to 1.
- At this point, you can exit the Registry Editor and reboot your computer.
The measure should now stop Microsoft from automatically reinstalling Edge on your PC. However, be aware that with upcoming annual updates, Edge might reappear. If that happens, you’ll need to follow the same steps once more.
Here’s the current method for uninstalling Microsoft Edge from Windows 11 and 10. In the past, users could leverage Command Prompt commands and PowerShell scripts to remove Edge, but Microsoft has since patched almost all of these workarounds.
Fortunately, the technique I described continues to be effective, even on the latest version. If you’re looking to streamline your Windows 11 PC, refer to our specialized guide. Should you encounter any problems, feel free to share them in the comments section below.