Microsoft Edge soared in popularity after switching to the Chromium rendering engine. Although it offers useful add-ons like sleeping tabs, Collections, tab groups, and compatibility with popular extensions, many still prefer Google Chrome or Firefox on Windows 11. If you are among them, use the steps below to uninstall the default Microsoft Edge browser from Windows 11.
Lately, Microsoft has added gimmicks like Shopping, Bing Chat, news add-ons, and more. It’s also in the news for all the wrong reasons. The browser was found to be leaking visited websites. You should completely remove Microsoft Edge from Windows.
Uninstall Microsoft Edge on Windows 11
You can delete all your installed apps from the Windows Settings menu. However, that’s not the case with Microsoft Edge. When you head to Settings > Apps > Installed apps menu and scroll to Microsoft Edge, you will notice the ‘Uninstall’ option disabled. That’s because Microsoft doesn’t want you to delete the default browser in the first place. You need to rely on other methods to get rid of the Microsoft Edge browser.
Use Command Prompt App
Command Prompt is a powerful software on Windows 11 to make system-level changes. Follow the steps below to uninstall Edge from Windows 11 using the Command Prompt app.
First, you need to be aware of your Microsoft Edge build number.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge on Windows.
Step 2: Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner and open Settings.
Step 3: Select ‘About Microsoft Edge’ from the sidebar and copy the version number.
Step 4: Press the Windows key and search for Command Prompt. Hit Enter.
Step 5: Paste the following command and hit Enter.
cd Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\110.0.1111.11 \Installer
Step 6: Make sure to replace the build number with an actual Microsoft Edge version. Now paste the following command and press Enter.
setup.exe --uninstall --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstall
The command uninstalls Microsoft Edge from your computer.
Stop Microsoft From Installing the Edge Browser
Do you frequently notice the Windows system automatically installing the Edge browser? After a major Windows update, the system may install the default browser on your PC. It’s a known practice from Microsoft to keep you engaged with the Edge browser. However, there is a neat trick to stop the behavior on your desktop.
Use Registry Editor
You need to use Registry Editor on Windows to prevent Microsoft from installing Edge.
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Registry Editor. Run the app as administrator.
Step 2: Hit Enter to open the app. Head to the following path.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
Step 3: Right-click on the Microsoft folder and head to New > Key menu. Rename it as EdgeUpdate.
Step 4: Right-click on EdgeUpdate and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Step 5: Rename the file to ‘DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium’.
Step 6: Double-click on the value name, enter 1 in the value data, and click OK.
You can close Registry Editor, and the system won’t install the Edge browser on your PC.
Use Windows PowerShell Menu
You can uninstall Microsoft Edge using the PowerShell menu too. Go through the steps below.
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for PowerShell. Press Enter to open the app.
Step 2: Use the following command and press Enter.
get-appxpackage *edge*
Step 3: Select the text next to PackageFullName and copy it.
Step 4: Paste the following command and hit Enter.
Remove-appxpackage <PackageFullName>
Step 5: Replace the PackageFullName with the actual text copied above.
Step 6: Run the command PowerShell should delete Microsoft Edge from your PC.
Now that you have uninstalled Microsoft Edge from your PC, let’s take a quick look at some of the best alternatives.
Microsoft Edge Alternatives
Google Chrome is one of the best Microsoft Edge alternatives on Windows. It’s feature-rich, has excellent cross-platform availability, and lets you access dozens of extensions on the go. It’s infamous for being RAM-hungry, though. If you have a low-spec Windows PC, use Firefox or Opera browser.
If you want a privacy-focused option, go with the Brave browser. It’s another neat alternative to Microsoft Edge on Windows.
Get Rid of Microsoft Edge
Although Microsoft has done a commendable job with the Edge browser on Windows 11, some may find it an unnecessary add-on on the system. There is no direct way to remove the Edge browser. You can use Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell to completely delete the app.
