Usually not. Outside the European Economic Area, Microsoft Edge can’t be uninstalled from Windows 10, because Windows and some apps need it to show web content. You can still use another browser. Set it as your default in Settings > Apps > Default apps > Web browser, and turn off Edge’s Startup boost so it doesn’t run in the background.
Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.
Why you can’t uninstall Edge
Edge is part of Windows. Apps and parts of Windows use it to show web pages, so it stays installed and keeps getting security updates through Windows Update. Commands and scripts that force it off can break those apps and aren’t supported, so we don’t recommend them.
Use a different browser instead
- Install the browser you want.
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Under Web browser, select Microsoft Edge, then choose your other browser.
Links you open now use that browser. Other file and app defaults are covered in setting default apps in Windows 10.
Move PDFs and other files away from Edge too
Setting a new web browser doesn’t change everything Edge opens. Edge is also the default PDF reader in Windows 10, and some file types and link types stay assigned to it. To switch them:
- Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Select Choose default apps by file type.
- Find .pdf, .htm, and .html, select Microsoft Edge next to each, and pick the app you want.
- Go back and select Choose default apps by protocol, then check that HTTP and HTTPS use your new browser.
If you don’t have another PDF reader, most browsers, including Chrome and Firefox, can open PDFs, or you can install the reader you prefer.
Keep Edge from running in the background
- Open Edge, select Settings and more (the three dots) > Settings.
- Select System and performance.
- Turn off Startup boost and Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.
The exception: the European Economic Area
Because of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Microsoft lets people in the European Economic Area remove Edge on PCs set up for that region. If you’re in the EEA, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select Microsoft Edge, and see whether Uninstall is available. If it’s grayed out, your PC doesn’t have the option. Even when Edge is removed, the separate Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime stays, because other apps use it to show web content.
Stop Edge from opening by itself
- Links from Windows features, such as widgets, help pages, and search results, may still open in Edge. That’s built into Windows 10.
- Remove Edge from Startup: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open the Startup tab, and disable any Edge entry.
- Unpin it: right-click Edge on the taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar, and remove its desktop shortcut.
Frequently asked questions
Will Edge still open sometimes?
A few Windows features always open web links in Edge. Everything else uses your default browser.
Can I change the search engine instead?
Yes. You can change the default search engine in Windows 10 and keep Edge as it is.
Is it safe to force-remove Edge with a script?
We don’t recommend it. Scripts that delete Edge can break apps that rely on it, such as Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Windows widgets, and Windows Update may reinstall Edge anyway. Setting another default browser gets you nearly the same result without the risk.
Does Edge use resources if I never open it?
Very little once Startup boost and background running are turned off. It still receives security updates, which is a good thing even if you don’t use it, because some apps open web pages through it.
What about Internet Explorer?
Internet Explorer 11 is retired on Windows 10. Opening it now launches Edge instead. If you need an old site that only works in Internet Explorer, Edge has an Internet Explorer mode you can turn on in its Default browser settings.
Can I uninstall Edge on Windows 11?
The same rule applies: usually not, except on PCs set up for the European Economic Area. On those PCs, the Uninstall button for Microsoft Edge appears in Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Will Edge come back after an update?
If you’re outside the EEA and remove it with an unsupported method, yes, often. Windows updates reinstall it.
Mainly bothered by Bing? Getting rid of Bing on Windows 10 is a separate fix. On a newer PC, uninstalling Edge on Windows 11 follows the same rules.
The official explanation is on Microsoft’s page Why can’t I uninstall Microsoft Edge?
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.