How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge (and What to Do Instead)

If you've gone looking for an Uninstall button for Edge and found it greyed out, that's not a fault. Microsoft treats Edge as part of Windows, and outside Europe it won't let you remove it. The good news is you don't need to. You can stop Edge opening links, launching at startup and nagging you, which gets you almost all the way there without breaking anything.

Why Microsoft won't let you remove Edge

Microsoft's own support page says Edge is the default browser in Windows and a core component of the operating system. Parts of Windows and many apps show web content using the same engine, so removing Edge could break help pages, widgets and app sign-in windows. That's why the uninstall option is blocked, and why Edge is updated through Windows Update rather than like a normal app.

Uninstalling Edge in the European Economic Area

There's one exception. To comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, Microsoft lets people using Windows 11 in the European Economic Area remove Edge like any other app:

1. Open Settings and choose Apps, then Installed apps.
2. Find Microsoft Edge in the list.
3. Click the three dots beside it and choose Uninstall.
4. Install another browser first, so you're not left without one.

If the button is greyed out even in the EEA, make sure Windows is fully updated. The option depends on your PC's region, not just where you happen to be, so a laptop bought and set up elsewhere may not show it.

The practical alternative: make Edge disappear

Problem	Fix
Links open in Edge	Change the default browser in Settings, Apps, Default apps
Edge opens at startup	Turn off Startup boost and remove Edge from startup apps
Edge icon on the taskbar	Right-click it and choose Unpin from taskbar
PDFs open in Edge	Set another PDF reader as the default for .pdf files
Edge keeps asking to be default	Dismiss the prompt; your default sticks

Change your default browser

1. Install the browser you want to use, such as Chrome or Firefox.
2. Open Settings, then Apps, then Default apps.
3. Select your new browser.
4. Set it as default, or set it for HTTP, HTTPS, .htm and .html one by one.

Microsoft says plainly that Windows users can install other browsers and change their default at any time. Once you've done this, links from most apps open in your chosen browser and you'll rarely see Edge.

Stop Edge running in the background

Edge has a setting called Startup boost that keeps parts of it loaded so it opens faster. If you don't use Edge, turn it off: open Edge, go to Settings, then System and performance, and switch off Startup boost and the option to keep running background extensions and apps when Edge is closed. Then check Settings, Apps, Startup in Windows and switch Edge off there too.

Some links will still open in Edge

A few parts of Windows, such as some search results from the Start menu and certain help links, open in Edge regardless of your default. Outlook and Teams can also open links in Edge unless you change their own setting. In Outlook, look for the option about which browser opens links and pick your default browser instead.

Don't use removal tools from the internet

You'll find scripts and programs that promise to rip Edge out of Windows. I'd avoid them. They can break Windows Update, stop apps that rely on web content from working and leave you with an unsupported system that's harder to fix. Microsoft also reinstalls Edge through updates on many PCs, so the effort often doesn't last. If you want a lighter browser instead, my review of whether Brave is safe is a good starting point.

Edge on a Mac, iPhone or Android

Outside Windows, Edge is just a normal app and removes like one. On a Mac, quit Edge and drag Microsoft Edge from the Applications folder to the Trash. On an iPhone, press and hold the Edge icon and choose Remove App. On Android, press and hold it and choose Uninstall. Your synced favourites stay in your Microsoft account if you ever reinstall.

Bring your data over before you stop using Edge

If Edge has your favourites and passwords, move them first. Most browsers offer to import from Edge the first time you open them. Microsoft notes that Edge gives you control over importing data from other browsers, and the reverse works too, so you won't lose anything by switching.

My verdict

Outside Europe, accept that Edge stays and make it invisible: set a new default browser, turn off Startup boost, unpin it and fix Outlook's link setting. That takes five minutes and doesn't risk breaking Windows. If you're on Windows 11 in the European Economic Area, you can uninstall it from Installed apps, but install your replacement browser first. Choosing one? See my Arc browser alternatives for options.

Frequently asked questions

Can I uninstall Microsoft Edge?

On most PCs, no. Microsoft builds Edge into Windows. Windows 11 users in the European Economic Area can remove it.

Why is the Edge uninstall button greyed out?

Edge is a core part of Windows, so Microsoft blocks removal outside the EEA.

How do I stop Edge from opening links?

Change your default browser in Settings, Apps, Default apps.

How do I stop Edge running at startup?

Turn off Startup boost in Edge's settings and disable Edge in Windows startup apps.

Is it safe to remove Edge with a third-party tool?

It's risky. It can break Windows features and Edge may come back with updates.

Will Windows reinstall Edge?

Edge is updated through Windows Update, so it can return if you force it off.