Windows 11 has no single switch that turns Microsoft Edge off. To stop Edge from running when you are not using it, open Edge, go to edge://settings/system, and turn off Startup boost and Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed. Then pick a different browser in Settings > Apps > Default apps so links stop opening in Edge.
Applies to: Windows 11 with the current Chromium-based Microsoft Edge. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.
What “turning off” Edge means in Windows 11
Edge is part of Windows 11, so most people cannot remove it like an ordinary app. What you can do is stop each of the ways it shows up. The table lists the common complaints and the setting that deals with each one.
| What you see | What to change | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Edge processes run when no Edge window is open | Startup boost and the background apps setting | Edge settings |
| Edge starts when you sign in to Windows | The Edge entry in your startup apps, if there is one | Windows Settings or Task Manager |
| Web links open in Edge | Your default browser | Windows Settings |
| The Edge icon sits on the taskbar | Unpin the icon | Taskbar |
You can do just one of these or all four. None of them deletes Edge, your favorites or your saved passwords, and every one can be reversed.
Before you start
- Install another browser first. If you plan to change the default browser, the replacement has to be installed before Windows will offer it.
- Use your own Windows account. The startup and default app settings apply to the Windows account you are signed in to, so sign in as the person who wants the change.
- Check whether the PC is managed. On a work or school computer, the organization can control these Edge settings by policy. See the troubleshooting section if a setting will not change.
Stop Edge from running in the background
Two Edge features keep it in memory after you close the window. Microsoft describes startup boost as a feature that keeps the browser running in the background with minimal processes so Edge opens faster. Background mode lets Edge processes start when you sign in and keep running after the last window is closed, so that extensions and web apps can keep working. Turn both off:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the address bar, type edge://settings/system and press Enter. The system settings page opens in the current tab.
- Find Startup boost and turn it off. If you do not see it, type edge://settings/system/manageSystem in the address bar instead, which is the address Microsoft gives for this setting.
- Find Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed and turn it off.
- Close every Edge window. From now on, closing the last window should close Edge fully instead of leaving it in the background.
The trade-off is small. With startup boost off, Edge may take a moment longer to open the next time you start it. With background mode off, Edge extensions and installed web apps stop working once Edge is closed.
Microsoft documents both settings in its startup boost help page and its guide to high CPU or memory usage in Edge.
Stop Edge from starting when you sign in
Windows keeps its own list of apps that start at sign-in. Edge is not always on that list, but if it is, you can switch it off there.
In Settings
- Select Start, then Settings.
- Select Apps, then Startup. Windows shows a list of apps with a toggle next to each one.
- If Microsoft Edge is in the list, set its toggle to Off. The change applies the next time you sign in.
In Task Manager
- Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
- Open the Startup apps tab.
- Select Microsoft Edge if it is listed, then select Disable.
Both routes change the same setting, so you only need one. Microsoft covers them in Configure startup applications in Windows, and our guide to changing startup programs in Windows 11 goes through the rest of the list.
If Edge is not listed, it is not registered as a startup app. In that case startup boost and background mode, covered in the previous section, are the settings that start Edge at sign-in.
Stop links from opening in Edge
Web links open in whichever browser Windows has set as the default. To move that job away from Edge:
- Open Settings and select Apps, then Default apps.
- Under Set defaults for applications, select the browser you want to use, such as Chrome or Firefox.
- Next to the line that offers to make that browser your default, select Set default.
Microsoft’s version of these steps is in Change your default browser in Windows. For file types such as PDF, and for what to do when the button is missing, see our full guide to changing the default browser in Windows 11.
Remove the Edge icon from the taskbar
Right-click the Edge icon on the taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar. This only removes the shortcut. Edge stays installed, and you can still open it from the Start menu.
Can you uninstall Edge instead?
Only in some regions. Microsoft made Edge removable on PCs in the European Economic Area (EEA) as part of its changes for the Digital Markets Act. Windows decides whether a PC is in the EEA from the region chosen during device setup, and Microsoft says that choice can only be changed by resetting the PC. Details are in Microsoft’s Digital Markets Act update for Windows.
Elsewhere, Windows 11 does not offer a supported way to uninstall Edge. Avoid guides that tell you to rename or delete Edge folders, edit the registry, or run a forced uninstall command. Microsoft does not document any of those methods, and changing system files or the registry by hand can cause problems that are hard to reverse. Turning off the background features and changing your default browser gets the same day-to-day result with settings you can switch back at any time.
How to check that it worked, and how to undo it
- Background running: close Edge, then right-click Start, select Task Manager and look through the list of running apps and processes. Microsoft Edge should no longer be there. If Edge was running in background mode before, its icon also disappears from the system tray at the right end of the taskbar.
- Startup: restart the PC and sign in. Edge should not open or appear in Task Manager until you start it yourself.
- Links: click a web link in an email or document. It should open in the browser you chose.
To undo any change, go back to the same place and reverse it: turn the two Edge settings back on, set the startup toggle to On, or select Microsoft Edge under Default apps and choose Set default.
Troubleshooting
Startup boost is missing
Microsoft says startup boost is only available on Windows devices with more than 4 GB of RAM, or more than 1 GB of RAM if the device has a modern drive such as an SSD. On a PC that does not qualify, the feature is not in use, so there is nothing to turn off.
A setting is locked or keeps turning back on
Organizations can set startup boost and background mode by policy. When they do, the choice is made for you and you cannot change it in Edge settings. This is normal on work and school PCs. Ask your IT administrator if you need it changed.
Edge still shows in Task Manager after you close it
Check both Edge settings again, because either one on its own keeps Edge in memory. If background mode was on, look for the Edge icon in the system tray. Microsoft notes that an open background process shows an icon there and can be closed from it. To see what is running inside Edge while it is open, press Shift + Esc to open Edge’s own Browser Task Manager.
Edge still opens for some links
Microsoft says some of its apps choose to open web content in Edge, whatever your default browser is. Changing the default does not affect those. It does cover ordinary web links and the web file types assigned to your browser.
Microsoft Edge is not in the Startup list
That is expected on many PCs. The Startup list only shows apps registered to start at sign-in. Use the Edge settings in the first method instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to turn off startup boost?
Yes. It is an ordinary Edge setting that Microsoft provides for this purpose. The only effect is that Edge may open a little more slowly the first time you start it after signing in.
Does startup boost use a lot of memory?
Microsoft describes its impact as limited, because it keeps only minimal processes running while Edge is closed and adds nothing when Edge windows are already open. If you never use Edge, though, there is no benefit to leaving it on.
Will turning these settings off delete my Edge favorites or passwords?
No. None of the changes in this article remove browsing data. Your favorites, history and saved passwords stay in your Edge profile.
Why does Edge keep running after I close it?
Because of startup boost, background mode, or both. Startup boost restarts Edge’s core processes in the background after the last window closes, and background mode keeps extensions and web apps active. Turning both off at edge://settings/system stops this.
Do I have to change the default browser to stop Edge from running?
No. The default browser setting only decides which browser opens links. Edge’s background settings are separate, so you can keep Edge as your default and still stop it from running when it is closed, or the other way around.
Can I turn Edge back on later?
Yes. Every change here is a toggle or a default you can set again. Nothing is uninstalled.
Start with the two settings at edge://settings/system, since they account for most cases of Edge running unasked. If links still open in Edge afterward, change the default browser next.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.