If your PC is set to a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), you can uninstall Edge in Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Everywhere else, Windows 11 grays out the Uninstall button for Edge. The supported option there is to set a different default browser and unpin Edge, so it stays out of your way.
Uninstall Edge (EEA Only)
- Install another browser first, so you still have a way to get online.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Select Apps, then Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft Edge and select the three dots next to it.
- Select Uninstall, then confirm.
If Uninstall is grayed out, your PC isn’t set up for an EEA region, and Windows doesn’t allow Edge to be removed. Microsoft describes the EEA changes, including that other Microsoft apps won’t keep asking you to reinstall Edge, on its Windows Insider blog post about the Digital Markets Act.
Get Edge Out of Your Way Everywhere Else
Online guides show ways to force Edge off by editing system files or running scripts. These aren’t supported by Microsoft and can break Windows features or come back after updates. These steps are safer:
- Set another default browser. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, select your browser, and select Set default. See how to change the default browser in Windows 11. If you keep Edge but would rather not use Bing, you can switch Edge’s search engine to Google.
- Unpin Edge. Right-click the Edge icon on the taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar. Do the same in the Start menu with Unpin from Start.
- Stop Edge from running in the background. In Edge, open Settings > System and performance and turn off Startup boost and Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.
Stop Edge From Opening When You Sign In
If Edge opens by itself every time you start your PC, Windows is usually reopening it from your last session. Microsoft’s fix:
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Turn off Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign in.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off Microsoft Edge if it’s listed.
The first step comes from Microsoft’s guide to stopping Edge from starting automatically. It also stops other apps from reopening at sign-in.
Stop PDFs From Opening in Edge
Edge is also the default PDF reader in Windows 11, so PDFs keep opening in it even after you change your browser.
- Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Type .pdf in the Set a default for a file type or link type box.
- Select Microsoft Edge under the result, pick another PDF app or browser, and select Set default.
For more on file types, see how to change file associations in Windows 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I uninstall Edge?
Outside the EEA, Microsoft treats Edge as part of Windows. Some Windows features use it to display web content, so the Uninstall option is blocked.
Will links still open in Edge?
Most links open in your default browser once you change it. A few Windows features, such as some Help links and widgets, may still open Edge. Outlook and Teams have their own link setting, covered in the default browser guide above.
Can I reinstall Edge later?
Yes. Download it from Microsoft’s Edge website using any browser.
Is it safe to use scripts that force Edge off?
We don’t recommend it. Those scripts change system files that Windows updates expect, and Edge often returns after the next update. Setting a new default browser and unpinning Edge gets nearly the same result without the risk.
Keeping Edge instead? Make sure you update Microsoft Edge to the latest version for security fixes.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.