How to Remove Microsoft Edge

Windows 10 Administrative Tools can help

By
Joli Ballew
Joli Ballew
Joli Ballew
Writer
  • University of Texas
Joli Ballew is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and Microsoft MVP, Lynda.com trainer, Microsoft Press author, and college professor.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on December 17, 2020

What to Know

  • Type C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application in File Explorer. Open the most recent folder, then the Installer folder.
  • Go to File > Open Windows PowerShell > Open Windows PowerShell as administrator.
  • Type or paste .\setup.exe -uninstall -system-level -verbose-logging -force-uninstall into the PowerShell window.

This article explains how to remove Microsoft Edge from your Windows 10 PC, even though the typical uninstall option isn't available. Instructions include using Windows 10 Administrative Tools or PowerShell to remove the browser, or setting another browser as the default as a workaround.

Uninstall Edge Chromium Using File Explorer

Finding the Edge installation folder is the key to uninstalling it with this method.

In a 2020 Windows System update, Microsoft rolled out a new version of the browser called Edge Chromium with no option to uninstall it.

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. Type or copy and paste C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application into the address bar of the File Explorer window and press Enter.

    File Explorer window

  3. Find and open the most recently modified folder with a numerical name, such as the folder shown here named 84.0.522.63.

    Microsoft Edge app folders

  4. Find and open the Installer folder.

    Edge Installer folder

  5. Go to File > Open Windows PowerShell > Open Windows PowerShell as administrator. Select Yes on the User Account Control prompt.

    File > Open Windows PowerShell > Open Windows PowerShell as administrator

  6. Type or paste .\setup.exe -uninstall -system-level -verbose-logging -force-uninstall into the PowerShell window and press Enter.

    PowerShell window

  7. Wait while the command runs. Edge should be removed from your computer.

Uninstall Edge Chromium Using PowerShell

If the first approach did not work as expected, there is another option to try.

  1. Begin typing powershell into the Windows Search box. When Windows PowerShell appears in the search results, select Run as an Administrator.

    The "Run as Administrator" command for PowerShell

  2. Select Yes on the User Account Control prompt. Windows PowerShell opens.

  3. Type or copy and paste get-appxpackage *edge* and press Enter.

    WIndows PowerShell command

  4. Find PackageFullName in the lines of data that appear. Select and copy the text that follows.

    Results of command in PowerShell window

  5. Type remove-appxpackage at the bottom of the PowerShell window and paste the text you copied from the PackageFullName line. Press Enter.

  6. Wait while the command runs. Edge Chromium should be removed from your computer.

Set a New Browser as Your Default

Decide which browser you want to set as your default instead of Microsoft Edge, for example, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera. If you don't have this browser, download and install it before proceeding.

To set a browser as the default in Windows 10:

  1. Open the Start menu.

    The Start button in Windows 10

  2. Select the Settings icon.

    The Windows 10 Start menu with Settings highlighted

  3. Choose Apps.

    Windows 10 settings with the Apps section highlighted

  4. Go to Default apps.

    The Apps screen in Windows 10 with the Default Apps heading highlighted

  5. Select the browser listed under Web browser.

    Default Apps in Windows 10 with the Web Browser heading highlighted

  6. In the Choose an app list, choose the desired default browser.

    Default Web Browser options in Windows 10 with the Choose an App window highlighted

  7. Close the Settings window.

Remove the Edge Icon From the Taskbar, Start Menu, or Desktop

If you don't uninstall Edge, you can still remove the Microsoft Edge icon. To remove it from the taskbar, right-click the Microsoft Edge icon and select Unpin From Taskbar.

There's an Edge icon in the left pane of the Start menu. While you can't remove this icon, you can remove the Edge icon from the Start menu's group of icons, if one exists. These are set off to the right. If you see an icon for Edge there, select Start, right-click the Edge icon, then choose Unpin from Start.

If there's an icon for Edge on the desktop that you want to remove, right-click it and select Delete.

Was this page helpful?