Introduction:
Microsoft Edge is the default web browser that comes pre-installed on Windows 11. While it's a capable browser with many features, some users may prefer to use a different web browser or want to free up space on their system by uninstalling it. Uninstalling Microsoft Edge is a bit different from other software, but it can be done. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to uninstall Microsoft Edge from your Windows 11 PC.
Before you Uninstall:
Before you decide to uninstall Microsoft Edge, here are a few things you should consider:
- Alternative Browsers: Make sure you have an alternative web browser installed on your PC. You don't want to be left without a way to browse the internet after removing Microsoft Edge.
- System Impact:Removing Microsoft Edge might affect certain system functionalities, such as Cortana and Windows Search, which rely on the browser for certain tasks. Be prepared for potential changes in how your system operates.
- Reinstallation:Keep in mind that you can always reinstall Microsoft Edge at a later time if you change your mind. You can download the latest version of Microsoft Edge from the official Microsoft Store.
How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge?
Follow these steps to uninstall Microsoft Edge from your Windows 11 PC:
-
Open Microsoft Edge and type
edge://settings/help
in the address bar and press Enter. - Click on About Microsoft Edge Button from the left side navigation bar and then copy the version of the microsoft edge.
- Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Click Yes from the User Account Control (UAC)prompt.
-
Type
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\Version Number\Installer
and press enter. Don't Forget to replace the version number that you have copied in step number 2. Example
cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\118.0.2088.69\Installer
-
Run the given command:
Setup –uninstall –force-uninstall –system-level
Restart your Device and you are done witn uninstalling the Microsoft Edge browser.
Stop Automatic Reinstallation of Edge Browser:
If you've uninstalled Microsoft Edge from your Windows 11 PC and found that it automatically reinstalls during system updates, you may want to prevent this from happening. You can stop the automatic reinstallation of Edge using the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit). Please follow this step-by-step guide to achieve this.
Before You Begin:
- Caution: Modifying the Windows Registry can cause system instability if not done correctly. Be sure to follow these steps carefully.
- Backup: It's strongly recommended to back up your system and registry before making changes. This ensures you can restore your system in case of any issues.
Steps to Stop Automatic reinstallation of Edge Browser:
- Open the Windows Registry Editor
-
Press
Win + R
on your keyboard to open the "Run" dialog. -
Type
regedit
and pressEnter
. This will open the Windows Registry Editor. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click "Yes" to allow changes. - Navigate to the Applicability Key
-
In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key using the left
sidebar:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate
- Create a New DWORD Value
- In the right pane of the Registry Editor, right-click anywhere, go to "New," and select "DWORD (32-bit) Value."
-
Name this new DWORD value:
DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithOrChromium
- Modify the New Value
-
Double-click on the
DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithOrChromium
value to modify it. -
In the "Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value" window, set the "Value data" to
1
and click "OK." - Restart Your Computer
- After making this change, it's essential to restart your computer to apply the registry modification effectively.
- Verify Edge Automatic Updates are Disabled
- To ensure that Microsoft Edge doesn't automatically reinstall, you can check the Windows Update settings:
- Go to "Settings" by pressing
Win + I
. - Click on "Windows Update."
- In the "Windows Update" window, click on "Advanced options."
- Scroll down to the "Choose when updates are installed" section, and ensure that "Update Microsoft Edge" is set to "Off."