Uninstall Chromium Edge Browser on Windows 10

This guide walks you through completely removing the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser from a Windows 10 PC. It covers the standard uninstall method, a PowerShell fallback for stubborn installations, and how to clean up leftover files and registry entries so no traces remain.

What You’ll Need

• An administrator account on the Windows 10 PC
• Backup of any Edge bookmarks, passwords, or settings you want to keep (these are not preserved during uninstall)
• Internet connection only if you plan to reinstall Edge later

Step-by-Step

1. Close all Edge windows and background processes. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager. Under Processes, look for any Microsoft Edge entries. Select each one and click End Task. Also check the system tray (arrow near the clock) for Edge icons and exit them.
2. Open Windows Settings. Press Win + I to open Settings, then click Apps and choose Apps & features from the left sidebar.
3. Locate Microsoft Edge in the list. Scroll down or use the search box to find Microsoft Edge. Note: the entry may appear as just “Microsoft Edge� without the word “Chromium� – that’s the one you want.
4. Click Uninstall. Select the Edge entry and click the Uninstall button. A confirmation dialog will appear; click Uninstall again. If Windows asks for permission, click Yes.
5. Wait for the process to finish. The uninstaller may take a minute. You might see a progress bar or a command window flash briefly. Do not interrupt it.
6. Restart your computer. Even if you don’t see a prompt, restarting ensures all Edge services and file locks are released.
7. Check if Edge is gone. Open the Start menu and type “Edge�. If it still appears, proceed to the PowerShell method below.
8. Use PowerShell to force uninstall (if needed). Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin). Run the following command to list all installed app packages related to Edge:
   Get-AppxPackage *Edge* | Select Name, PackageFullName
9. Remove the Edge package. Copy the exact PackageFullName from the output, then run:
   Remove-AppxPackage -Package ""
   For example: Remove-AppxPackage -Package "Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable_95.0.1020.40_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
10. Delete leftover folders. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following locations. Delete any folders named “Microsoft Edge� or “Edge� inside them:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Edge
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Edge
11. Clean up registry entries (optional but thorough). Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Edge and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Edge. Right-click each and delete them. Be careful not to delete anything else – only delete keys that are clearly Edge-related.
12. Verify removal. Restart your PC again, then search for “Edge� in the Start menu. It should be gone. If you still see a shortcut, right-click it and select Open file location, then delete the shortcut from the Desktop or Start Menu folder.

Common Mistakes

• Uninstalling the wrong version. Windows 10 also has a legacy Edge (EdgeHTML) that is built into the OS. The Chromium Edge is the one installed as a regular app. If you see two entries, remove the one that says “Microsoft Edge� without “Legacy� – but never try to uninstall the built-in legacy Edge via normal means; it’s part of the OS.
• Not closing background processes. Edge runs background tasks even when no window is open. If you skip step 1, the uninstaller may fail with a “file in use� error.
• Skipping the restart. Some files remain locked until reboot. Without a restart, you may see Edge icons or folders that won’t delete.
• Deleting the wrong registry key. The registry has many “Edge� entries, including EdgeUpdate and EdgeWebView. Only delete the ones under the exact paths listed above. Deleting unrelated keys can break other apps.
• Using the Settings app on an older build. On some Windows 10 versions, the Settings app doesn’t show Edge in the list. If you don’t see it, go straight to PowerShell.

Tips

• Export your data first. If you have bookmarks or passwords in Edge, go to edge://settings/exportdata and save them to a file before uninstalling. You can import them into another browser later.
• Use the official removal tool if available. Microsoft provides a “Microsoft Edge removal tool� that can automate the process. Search Microsoft’s support site for “remove Microsoft Edge� – it’s a small executable that does the cleanup for you.
• Consider disabling instead of uninstalling. If you only want to stop using Edge, you can change your default browser and disable Edge from starting at login via Task Manager > Startup tab. This avoids potential system issues.
• Keep the WebView runtime. Some Windows apps rely on the Edge WebView2 runtime. If you uninstall it, those apps may break. The uninstaller usually leaves it, but if you manually delete folders, don’t remove the “WebView� subfolder.
• Use a third-party uninstaller for thorough cleanup. Tools like Revo Uninstaller can scan for leftover files and registry entries after the standard uninstall. They are not required, but they make the process more complete.

Troubleshooting

Uninstall button is greyed out or missing. This happens on systems where Edge is set as the default browser or when the app is protected. Try the PowerShell method. If that fails, check if you have a Group Policy that prevents uninstallation: press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge. If “Prevent uninstallation� is enabled, set it to “Not Configured� and try again.

PowerShell says “Package cannot be removed because it is a provisioned package.� This means Edge is installed for all users. Run the command again after adding -AllUsers and ensure you are in an elevated PowerShell (Admin). If that still fails, you may need to remove the provisioning package with Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackageName inside DISM, but that requires the Windows ADK – a complex step best left to advanced users.

Edge reappears after a Windows update. Windows 10 may reinstall Edge during feature updates. To prevent this, you can temporarily block the update, but the simplest is to uninstall again after the update. There is no supported permanent block.

Deleting folders gives “Access Denied�. You need to take ownership of the folder. Right-click the folder, select Properties > Security > Advanced, change the owner to your user account, check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects�, then apply. After that, try deleting again.

Edge still appears in Start menu after uninstall. This is usually a leftover shortcut. Right-click the Start menu entry, select Unpin from Start or Delete. If it’s in the “All apps� list, it may be a cached entry – restart your PC and it should disappear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 10 completely? Yes, the Chromium Edge is a regular app and can be removed. However, the legacy Edge (EdgeHTML) is part of the OS and cannot be uninstalled through normal means – it’s hidden and rarely used.

Will uninstalling Edge affect my other browsers? No, it only removes Edge. Your Chrome, Firefox, or other browsers remain untouched. However, some apps that use Edge WebView2 may stop working if you delete the WebView runtime – the standard uninstaller keeps it.

Do I need to be an administrator? Yes, uninstalling Edge requires administrator privileges. If your account is not an admin, you’ll be prompted for an admin password during the process.

Can I reinstall Edge after uninstalling? Yes, you can download the installer from Microsoft’s website or reinstall it from the Microsoft Store. It will be installed as a fresh copy.

Is it safe to delete the registry keys? Only if you delete exactly the keys mentioned in the guide. Deleting the wrong key can cause system instability. If you’re not comfortable with the registry, skip that step – the leftover keys are harmless and small.

Why does Edge keep coming back after I uninstall it? Windows Update may reinstall Edge during major updates. This is by design – Microsoft includes Edge as part of the system. To minimize this, you can pause updates, but there’s no permanent way to stop it without third-party tools.

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