How To Uninstall MS Edge On Windows 10 | Quick Fix Tips

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On Windows 10, Microsoft Edge cannot be fully removed; switch defaults, and only uninstall standalone or EEA builds when the option exists.

What You Can And Can’t Remove In Windows 10

Windows 10 treats the Chromium build of Microsoft Edge as a core part of the system. The browser underpins web content inside apps and parts of the shell. For most PCs, the Uninstall button is missing or grayed out because Edge ships as a system component. You can install other browsers, set one as default, and stop Edge from launching in the background.

There are two clear exceptions. If you installed Edge yourself from a standalone installer, you can remove that specific install. In the European Economic Area, newer builds allow removal on region-eligible devices set up as EEA PCs. Outside those cases, plan for removal of hooks and defaults rather than a full delete.

Before changes, take two quick steps that save time later. Create a restore point so you can roll back registry edits. Download your next browser’s offline installer and sign in to sync, so bookmarks and passwords follow you after the switch.

Method Works On Result
Settings → Uninstall Standalone or EEA-eligible builds Edge removed for that install
Installer Command Standalone installs Force uninstaller from the Installer folder
Switch Defaults & Disable All Windows 10 PCs Edge stays, but never opens unless you choose it

How To Uninstall MS Edge On Windows 10: Safe Paths

If you came here searching how to uninstall ms edge on windows 10, start with a quick check. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find Microsoft Edge, and see whether an Uninstall button is present. If you see it, use it. If it is missing, follow the disable and default steps below.

Method 1: Use The Settings Uninstaller

  • Open Settings — Press Windows+I, pick Apps, then Apps & features.
  • Find Microsoft Edge — Type “Edge” in the list search box.
  • Select Uninstall — Click Uninstall and confirm. Restart when asked.
  • Remove Extra Channels — If you see Microsoft Edge Beta, Dev, or Canary, remove those entries too.

Method 2: Run The Installer’s Uninstall Switch (Standalone Builds)

This applies only when you installed Edge with its own setup program. It will not remove the system copy that ships with Windows 10. If in doubt, try Method 1 first.

  1. Open An Elevated Terminal — Right-click Start, choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  2. Jump To The Installer Folder — Paste the line below and press Enter.
cd "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft\Edge\Application\\Installer"
  1. Run The Uninstaller — Replace <version> with the folder name you see and run:
setup.exe --uninstall --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstall

If the command reports that the product is not installed, the system copy is in place, which cannot be removed. On 64-bit PCs, check %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft\Edge\Application as well; the folder can exist in either location. Move on to switching defaults and turning off background activity.

Method 3: EEA Builds

EEA devices that were set up in an EEA country expose removal options others do not. The choice depends on build and region. If your PC was set up outside the EEA, changing the region after setup does not add the option. A clean install with an EEA selection is the only path that enables it.

Remove Microsoft Edge From Windows 10: What Actually Works

The goal is simple: make your chosen browser open every link and file, while Edge stays dormant. The steps below take care of web links, PDFs, and background processes. They also trim icons so Edge stops showing up on the taskbar and Start.

Set A Different Default Browser

  • Install Your Browser — Get Chrome, Firefox, Brave, or another trusted option.
  • Go To Default Apps — Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  • Switch Web Browser — Under Web browser, pick your new browser.
  • Map More Types — Still in Default apps, set .htm, .html, HTTP, HTTPS, and .pdf to the same browser or a PDF app.
  • Check Link Hand-Off — Open a link in Mail or Teams. Your new browser should launch every time.

Make PDFs Open Outside Edge

  • Set A PDF App — In Default apps, choose a viewer like Adobe Acrobat for .pdf.
  • Lock The Choice — In Acrobat, use Edit > Preferences > General, then choose Set as Default PDF Handler.
  • Check File Explorer — Right-click any .pdf file → Open with → Choose another app → tick Always use this app.

Trim Taskbar And Start Mentions

  • Unpin Icons — Right-click the Edge icon on the taskbar and choose Unpin from taskbar. Do the same on Start.
  • Clean Shortcuts — Remove any Edge shortcuts from the desktop and Start folders.
  • Review Startup Apps — Open Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off any entries that launch Edge helpers.

Disable Edge Background Activity And Auto-Start

Edge can keep helper processes active to speed up launch. You can turn that off inside Edge, or use policy on Pro and Enterprise editions.

Turn Off From Edge Settings

  • Open Edge Once — Press Windows, type “edge”, and launch it.
  • Go To System Settings — Visit edge://settings/system.
  • Disable Startup Boost — Toggle off Startup boost and Continue running background extensions. Close Edge.

Use Local Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise)

  • Install Edge ADMX — Download the Microsoft Edge policy templates and add them to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions if needed.
  • Open Local Group Policy Editor — Press Windows+R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.
  • Disable Startup Boost — Go to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Microsoft Edge, open Startup boost, set to Disabled.
  • Lock It Down — Use the same node to turn off background mode and preload settings your org does not need.

Registry Option (When Policy Editor Is Missing)

Create the policy key and set a value to block startup boost. Back up the registry first.

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v StartupBoostEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

To reverse, delete the value or set it to 1. Keep the key if you plan to manage more Edge policies later.

Edge In The EEA: Region Rules To Know

Some Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds in the European Economic Area allow full removal of Edge. The option depends on region settings at setup and the exact build. If your PC was set up outside the EEA, the option will not appear. You can reinstall Windows and choose an EEA country to get those choices, but most users will be better served by the default and disable path above.

  • Check Your Region — Open Settings > Time & Language > Language & region. If your device was set up as non-EEA, the uninstall choice will not show.
  • Know The Limits — The option can shift across builds. A feature that appears on one device may be missing on another outside the EEA.

Troubleshooting: Uninstall Button Grayed Out

  • Confirm Your Build — If you see no Uninstall button, you likely have the system copy that Windows 10 keeps as part of the platform.
  • Check For Standalone Installs — Look under Apps & features for extra Edge entries such as Beta, Dev, or Canary. Those can be removed.
  • Avoid Removing WebView2 — Many apps rely on the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime. Removing it can break app windows that embed web content.
  • Mind The Update Cycle — Even if you manage a one-off removal, Windows Update can bring Edge back on non-EEA builds. Keeping a different default is the steady path.
  • Use The Right Path — On some PCs, the Installer folder lives under %ProgramFiles% instead of %ProgramFiles(x86)%. Check both.
  • Run As Admin — The command line needs elevated rights. If it fails silently, relaunch the terminal as admin.

Verification Checklist

  • Open A Web Link — Click a link in Mail, Word, or any app. Your chosen browser should launch.
  • Double-Click A PDF — It should open in your selected viewer, not Edge.
  • Test File Types — Open .html files from the desktop and a network share. The new browser should take them.
  • Restart The PC — After a reboot, repeat the same checks to confirm nothing flips back.

A Note On Forced Edge Links

Some system features use special microsoft-edge: links. On many non-EEA builds, those links still open in Edge. Windows does not offer a native switch for that on those builds. Third-party deflectors come and go, and updates often break them. If this case matters to you, an EEA build brings deeper control, while the steps above still cover daily browsing.

Safe Housekeeping

  • Create A Restore Point — Press Start, search for Create a restore point, and make one before registry edits.
  • Keep Updates On — Leave Windows Update and Edge Update services alone. Your other browsers also rely on timely patches.
  • Back Up Browser Data — Sign in and sync, then export bookmarks as a file so you have a local copy.

Final Checks And Safe Cleanup

Two final notes help lock things down. First, set your chosen browser as the handler for web links and web files. Second, stop background activity so Edge stays dormant. If you still need a precise recipe for how to uninstall ms edge on windows 10, combine the Settings uninstaller for standalone or EEA builds with the disable steps here for every other case. That turns Edge into a silent passenger while your chosen browser takes the wheel.

Windows 10 is near the end of its service window. If your PC stays on Windows 10 for a while, keep your browser patched, update extensions, and back up settings. When you move to a new release or new PC, repeat the defaults and disable steps on day one so your web links open where you expect. If you move to Windows 11, repeat the same defaults process; the screens look slightly different, but the idea is the same.