How To Remove Edge From Windows 10 | Edge Workarounds

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You can only fully remove Microsoft Edge on some Windows 10 builds; on most PCs you instead change your default browser and hide Edge.

Can You Remove Microsoft Edge From Windows 10?

Before trying any removal trick, it helps to know what you can and cannot do on a normal Windows 10 system. Microsoft ships Edge as part of the operating system and treats it as core web plumbing for many features. On most editions you will not see a normal Uninstall button, and even command line tools may only remove parts of the browser while system components stay in place.

Microsoft describes Edge as a built in part of Windows and notes that some apps rely on it to show web content. Microsoft explains this in its own Edge help article. You can still install any other browser and set it as the default choice, but on most builds you cannot strip Edge out in a clean, officially backed way.

There is one big exception. In the European Economic Area, recent Windows 10 updates created by Microsoft to follow the Digital Markets Act give users an official way to remove Edge from the system. If your PC is in that region and fully updated, you may see a working Uninstall option in Settings for Edge while users in other regions never see that option at all.

Removing Microsoft Edge From Windows 10 Safely

Because Edge hooks into many parts of Windows 10, the safest plan is to start with official options. That means making another browser the default, then removing Edge only where Windows itself offers a clean uninstall. Anything beyond that moves into advanced territory with real risk of breaking built in features or later updates.

Step 1: Install And Set A New Default Browser

Pick the browser you actually want to use every day. Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Opera and other mainstream browsers still run on Windows 10 and continue to receive updates. Install your choice directly from the vendor site and dismiss any pop ups that try to pull you back to Edge.

  1. Download your chosen browser from its official site and run the installer.
  2. Open Windows Settings with the Win + I shortcut.
  3. Head to Apps and then choose Default Apps on the left side.
  4. Scroll to Web Browser and click the current entry, which is usually Microsoft Edge.
  5. Select your new browser from the list so Windows 10 uses it for links and web files.

This single change already removes most day to day contact with Edge. Links from email, chat apps and documents now open in your preferred browser instead.

Step 2: Try The Official Uninstall Option

Next, check whether your copy of Windows 10 even allows Edge removal. On PCs in the European Economic Area with recent system updates, Microsoft added a proper uninstall path in Settings. Users in other regions usually see a greyed out button here. For other apps, you can follow Microsoft’s uninstall instructions for Windows, even if Edge often appears as an exception there.

  1. Open Settings again and pick Apps.
  2. Choose Installed Apps or Apps And Features depending on your build.
  3. Search for Microsoft Edge in the list.
  4. Click the three dot menu next to Microsoft Edge.
  5. Look for the Uninstall entry and select it if it is clickable, then follow the prompts.

If you manage to remove Edge here, you are done. Windows used its own clean up path and will keep that state across updates. If the Uninstall entry is missing or greyed out, your build does not allow removal and you need to treat Edge as a system component that you only hide or disable.

Remove Edge With Command Line Tools On Windows 10

Some users prefer direct command line methods. On many versions of Windows 10, the Edge installer includes a hidden switch that can remove the browser at the system level. Results vary by build and region, and the method is not backed by Microsoft, so treat it as advanced and always set a restore point first.

Check Your Edge Version Folder

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.
  2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch Command Prompt as administrator.
  3. Paste this command and press Enter: cd %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Microsoft\Edge\Application
  4. Type dir and press Enter to list the folders in that location.
  5. Note the version folder that looks like 137.0.x.x or similar, then change into it with cd followed by the folder name.

Run The Forced Uninstall Command

  1. Change into the Installer folder with cd Installer after you open the version folder.
  2. Type this command and press Enter: setup.exe –uninstall –system-level –force-uninstall
  3. Wait for the process to finish and watch for confirmation that Edge has been removed.
  4. Restart Windows 10 and check the Start menu and taskbar for any remaining Edge icons.

This command often removes the visible Edge app from Windows 10, but some shared components and the WebView runtime may stay present for other apps. Later cumulative updates may reinstall Edge or restore parts of it, so be prepared to repeat the process or switch back to official methods if things start to misbehave.

PowerShell Removal For Legacy Edge

Older builds of Windows 10 shipped with the legacy UWP version of Edge. On that variant, some users use a PowerShell command to remove the app package. This only applies to systems that still show the old Edge logo and do not already use the Chromium based version.

  1. Press Win + X and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.
  2. Run this command to list Edge packages: Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftEdge*
  3. Copy the full package name if Windows lists one for Microsoft Edge.
  4. Use this removal command: Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftEdge* | Remove-AppxPackage
  5. Restart your PC and confirm whether the old Edge icon and app entry are gone.

Many modern Windows 10 builds already replaced legacy Edge with the Chromium version, and on those systems this PowerShell method no longer works. If PowerShell reports no matching package or shows an error, move back to the other approaches in this guide.

Hide Edge When You Cannot Remove It

If Windows 10 blocks every removal route, you can still push Edge out of sight so it no longer interrupts daily work. This path keeps the system stable while giving you a smooth experience with your chosen browser.

Clean Up Edge Icons And Pins

  • Unpin Edge from the taskbar by right clicking the Edge icon and choosing Unpin from taskbar.
  • Remove Edge tiles from Start by right clicking any Edge tile and choosing Unpin from Start.
  • Delete desktop shortcuts by right clicking Edge icons on the desktop and choosing Delete.

Stop Edge From Grabbing File Types

  1. Open Settings and go to Apps, then Default Apps.
  2. Scroll down and pick Choose Default Apps By File Type.
  3. Change .htm, .html, .pdf and similar entries so they open in your new browser, not Edge.
  4. Return to Default Apps and pick Choose Defaults By Link Type.
  5. Switch HTTP and HTTPS entries to your new browser as well.

Disable Edge Background Activity

  1. Open Microsoft Edge one last time.
  2. Click the three dots in the top right and pick Settings.
  3. Go to System And Performance in the left sidebar.
  4. Turn off Startup Boost and any setting that lets Edge run in the background.
  5. Close Edge and restart your PC so Windows applies the change.

These small moves keep Edge present only as a hidden part of Windows while your chosen browser handles real work.

What Removing Edge Means For Windows 10

Windows 10 relies on web technology in many built in apps. Even if you remove the Edge app, parts of its engine and the WebView runtime may remain so that other apps can render content. Microsoft plans to continue shipping Edge updates on Windows 10 through at least October 2028, which shows how closely tied the browser remains to the platform.

Because of this tight link, removing Edge through unofficial methods can create odd behavior. A few control panels may refuse to open certain pages, and later feature updates might fail or reinstall the browser without asking. Restoring from a system image or a clean install often fixes that, but that costs time.

Removal Options And Their Tradeoffs

Action What Changes Risks Or Tradeoffs
Change default browser only Links and files open in the browser you choose. No system risk, Edge stays installed but mostly out of view.
Use official uninstall in Settings Edge app is removed through Microsoft tools. Only available on some builds and regions, may still leave WebView.
Run command line removal Edge app and many files are deleted. Not backed by Microsoft, may break features or be undone by later updates.
Hide Edge and clean pins Edge no longer appears on taskbar, Start or desktop. Low risk, but Edge still exists as a hidden component.

Quick Checklist Before You Strip Out Edge

Edge removal on Windows 10 is less about one magic button and more about stacking small changes in a safe way. Use the list below as a last pass so you do not miss anything that matters to you.

  • Pick and install your long term browser instead of bouncing between several options.
  • Set that browser as the default for web links and common file types.
  • Try the Settings uninstall for Edge if your region and build expose it.
  • Use command line removal only if you accept the risk and have a fresh backup.
  • Hide every Edge shortcut from the taskbar, Start menu and desktop.
  • Turn off Edge background features so it no longer runs when you never open it.

With these steps in place, your Windows 10 system relies on your chosen browser for nearly everything while Edge fades into the background or disappears, depending on the tools your build allows.