Microsoft Edge Updates: Tabs and Settings Guide

Microsoft Edge updates automatically in the background, and most of the time you won’t even notice. This guide explains how the update process works, what happens to your open tabs and saved settings during an update, and how to control when updates install. You’ll learn how to check your current version, force an update, and recover tabs or settings if something goes wrong.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer with Microsoft Edge installed
• An internet connection to download updates
• Administrator rights on the computer (usually required for the initial update installation, though Edge can update without them in some cases)

Step-by-Step

1. Understand how Edge updates itself. Edge uses a component called Microsoft Edge Update (similar to how Chrome uses Google Update). It checks for updates periodically—typically every few hours when the browser is running, and also when you launch Edge. Updates download in the background and install the next time you restart the browser, or sometimes without a restart if you’re not actively using it.
2. Check your current Edge version. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner, go to Help and Feedback, then select About Microsoft Edge. This page shows your version number and automatically checks for updates. If an update is available, it will start downloading immediately.
3. Force an update manually. On the About page, if an update is available, you’ll see a blue “Restart to update” button. Click it to close Edge, install the update, and reopen the browser. If no update is available, it will say “Microsoft Edge is up to date.”
4. Know what happens to your tabs during a normal update. When you click “Restart to update,” Edge closes all windows and reopens them with your previous tabs restored. This works because Edge saves your session (the list of open tabs) before restarting. If you had pinned tabs, they come back too. If you were in InPrivate mode, those tabs are not restored—InPrivate windows close completely and their history is cleared.
5. Know what happens to your settings. Your settings—bookmarks, passwords, themes, search engine, startup pages, and extensions—are stored in profile files on your hard drive. Updates do not touch these files. They only replace the program files that run Edge. So after an update, all your settings remain exactly as they were.
6. Handle a forced update (e.g., after a crash or when Edge won’t start). If Edge crashes or fails to open after an update, you can try to recover your session. When you reopen Edge, it usually shows a “Restore pages?” prompt on the new tab page. Click “Restore” to bring back the tabs from your last session. If you don’t see that prompt, press Ctrl+Shift+T (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+T (Mac) to reopen the last closed tab, and repeat to open more tabs from the previous session.
7. Set update policy (Windows only, for advanced users). If you want more control over when updates install, you can use Group Policy or the registry to set update policies. For example, you can set Edge to never update automatically, or to only update when you manually trigger it. This requires editing the Windows Registry or using the Local Group Policy Editor (available on Pro and Enterprise editions). Search for “Microsoft Edge update policy” in your favorite search engine for the exact registry keys—this is not something you should guess at.
8. Check for updates after a long time away. If you haven’t opened Edge in weeks, it will check for updates on launch. If a major version change occurred (e.g., from version 120 to 121), the update may take longer to install, but your tabs and settings will still be preserved.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming updates delete your data. Updates never delete bookmarks, passwords, or settings. If you lose data after an update, it’s usually because you were signed into a different profile, or because a sync issue occurred—not because the update removed it.
• Clicking “Restart to update” while you have unsaved work in a web app. If you’re typing in a web-based editor or form, the restart will close that tab. Edge will restore the tab, but unsaved changes in the page itself may be lost. Save your work before restarting.
• Ignoring the “Restore pages” prompt. If you dismiss it accidentally, you might think your tabs are gone. Use Ctrl+Shift+T to bring them back.
• Thinking InPrivate tabs will be restored. They won’t. InPrivate sessions are designed to be ephemeral. If you need to keep a tab, move it to a normal window before updating.
• Disabling updates entirely without a plan. If you set Edge to never update, you’ll miss security patches. If you must do this, make sure you manually check for updates at least monthly.

Tips

• Use tab groups for important sessions. Before a major update, right-click a tab and select “Add tab to group” to organize your work. This makes it easier to see which tabs were restored.
• Enable sync. If you sign into Edge with a Microsoft account and turn on sync, your bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs (if you enable “Open tabs” in sync settings) are backed up to the cloud. If anything ever goes wrong locally, you can restore from sync.
• Let updates happen automatically. The default behavior—auto-download and install on restart—is the safest. It ensures you get security fixes without interrupting your work.
• Check the version number after an update. On the About page, the version should have increased. If it didn’t, the update may have failed (see Troubleshooting).
• Restart Edge regularly. Updates often install when you close and reopen the browser. If you leave Edge open for weeks, updates download but don’t install until you restart. A weekly restart keeps you current.

Troubleshooting

• Update fails to download. Check your internet connection. If you’re on a corporate network, a firewall may block the update servers. Try using a different network (like your phone’s hotspot) and retry on the About page. If it still fails, restart your computer and try again.
• Update downloads but won’t install. This often happens when Edge is running. Close all Edge windows (including background processes). On Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), look for “Microsoft Edge” processes, and end them all. Then reopen Edge and check the About page again.
• Edge won’t open after an update. Try restarting your computer. If that doesn’t work, on Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Edge, and choose “Modify” or “Repair.” This reinstalls the browser while keeping your profile data. On Mac, you can re-download Edge from Microsoft’s website and install it over the existing copy.
• Tabs are missing after an update. Open a new tab and look for the “Restore pages” prompt. If it’s not there, press Ctrl+Shift+T repeatedly to cycle through your last closed tabs. If you had sync enabled, go to Settings > Profiles > Sync and check if “Open tabs” is on—you may be able to open tabs from another device.
• Settings appear reset. This is rare, but if your homepage or search engine looks different after an update, check if you’re signed into the correct profile. Click your profile icon in the top-right and verify you’re on the right account. If you have multiple profiles, the update may have opened a different one.
• Edge keeps showing “Update failed” errors. This can happen if the update service is disabled. On Windows, open Services (Win+R, type services.msc), find “Microsoft Edge Update Service,” and make sure it’s set to “Automatic” and is running. On Mac, check if you have a third-party cleaner that disabled Edge’s update agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will an Edge update close all my tabs? No. Edge saves your session before restarting and restores your tabs automatically. The only exception is InPrivate tabs, which are never restored.

Do updates change my bookmarks or passwords? No. Updates only replace the program files, not your profile data. Bookmarks, passwords, and settings are stored separately and remain untouched.

How often does Edge update? Edge typically receives a major version update every 4 weeks, with smaller security updates in between. The browser checks for updates automatically every few hours.

Can I stop Edge from updating? On Windows, you can use Group Policy or registry edits to disable automatic updates. On Mac, there’s no official supported way to disable it permanently. Disabling updates is not recommended because you’ll miss security fixes.

What happens if I’m in the middle of a download when Edge updates? The download is paused and will resume after the restart. The file isn’t deleted—it just pauses until Edge reopens.

Does updating Edge require a computer restart? Usually not. Edge can install updates when you close and reopen the browser. A full system restart is only needed occasionally, typically after a major version update or if the update process gets stuck.

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