Can’t uninstall Microsoft Edge? Why, and what to do instead

Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10 with the current Microsoft Edge. The Beta, Dev and Canary versions of Edge are separate apps and can be uninstalled normally.

Why the Uninstall button is greyed out

Microsoft installs Edge as part of Windows, and other parts of Windows, such as help links, some widgets and some settings pages, rely on it. So in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, the Uninstall option for Microsoft Edge is unavailable, and on Windows 10 the Uninstall button under Settings > Apps > Apps & features is greyed out. This isn’t a fault on your PC, and there’s no setting that turns it back on outside the EEA.

If what you actually want is for Edge to stop opening, stop using resources, or stop showing up, the steps below get you there without removing it.

If you’re in the EEA: uninstall it from Settings

Because of the EU Digital Markets Act, Windows 11 PCs set up in the European Economic Area can remove Edge like any other app:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find Microsoft Edge, select the … menu next to it, and choose Uninstall.

This depends on the region Windows was set up with. If the option is still missing, make sure Windows 11 is fully updated. Changing the region in Settings after setup doesn’t always enable it. Install another browser first, so you aren’t left without one.

Step 1: Set a different default browser

Install the browser you want to use, then make it the default so links stop opening in Edge:

• Windows 11: go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, select your browser in the list, and choose Set default at the top. If you don’t see that button, set the browser for .htm, .html, HTTP and HTTPS one by one on the same page.
• Windows 10: go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, select the browser under Web browser, and pick yours.

Many browsers also offer a “make default” button in their own settings, which opens this page for you. Outside the EEA, some Windows features such as help links and widget news may still open in Edge regardless of your default browser.

Step 2: Stop Edge starting and running in the background

Edge can preload when Windows starts and keep running after you close it. To stop that, open Edge once and go to edge://settings/system (or Settings > System and performance):

• Turn off Startup boost.
• Turn off Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.

Then check Windows’ own list of startup apps: in Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Startup, and in Windows 10 open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the Startup tab. Turn off Microsoft Edge if it’s listed.

Step 3: Unpin and hide Edge

• Right-click the Edge icon on the taskbar and choose Unpin from taskbar.
• Open Start, right-click Microsoft Edge and choose Unpin from Start.
• Delete the Edge shortcut from the desktop if there is one. This only removes the shortcut, not the browser.

If Bing or another search engine keeps taking over your new browser, that’s a separate issue; see how to get rid of an unwanted search engine. If Copilot is the thing you want gone, see how to disable Copilot in Windows 11.

If Edge is broken: repair it instead

Some people try to uninstall Edge because it crashes or won’t open. Windows can repair it without touching your favourites:

1. Close Edge.
2. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Apps & features on Windows 10), select Microsoft Edge and choose Modify.
3. Select Repair and let it download and reinstall Edge.

For other fixes, see Microsoft Edge won’t open, and for tab crashes, the “Aw, Snap!” error, which covers Edge’s matching error too.

What about forced uninstall methods?

Guides online describe removing Edge with its setup program from the command line, registry edits or third-party removal scripts. We don’t recommend them:

• Microsoft doesn’t support them, and they often stop working with new Edge versions.
• Windows Update or the next Edge update can simply reinstall Edge.
• Parts of Windows that open Edge, such as some help and settings links, may show errors or do nothing.
• Scripts from unknown sites can change much more than Edge, which is a security risk.

Also leave Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime installed, even though it appears next to Edge in the apps list. It’s a separate component that many apps, including Microsoft Teams and the new Outlook, need in order to work.

Related guides

• Microsoft Edge won’t open? 7 fixes for Windows 11 and 10
• How to get rid of an unwanted search engine
• How to disable Copilot in Windows 11
• “Aw, Snap!” error in Chrome: what it means and how to fix it

Official sources: for more detail, see these Microsoft pages:

• Microsoft Support: Why can’t I uninstall Microsoft Edge?
• Microsoft Support: Change default apps in Windows

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to uninstall Microsoft Edge?

Where Windows offers the option (in the EEA), yes. Elsewhere, forcing it out isn’t supported and can break links and features that rely on Edge. Setting another default browser and turning off Edge’s background options gives you most of the benefit with no risk.

Will Edge come back after I remove it?

If it was removed with a forced method, it often comes back with Windows or Edge updates. An uninstall from Settings in the EEA is the supported route, so Edge shouldn’t return on its own.

Can I uninstall Edge on Windows 10?

Not with a supported method outside the EEA; the Uninstall button is greyed out. Use the steps above to set another default browser and stop Edge running in the background.

Does Edge slow down my PC if I don’t use it?

Very little once Startup boost and background running are turned off. Edge then only runs when something opens it.