You can remove Microsoft Edge, but the process depends on your operating system
Microsoft Edge comes built into Windows 10 and Windows 11, and removing it is possible but not straightforward. On Windows 10, you can uninstall Edge through Settings like any other program. On Windows 11, Edge is more tightly integrated into the system, and Microsoft does not offer a standard uninstall option — though you can still remove it using command-line tools or third-party uninstallers if you are comfortable with those methods. On Mac, the process is simpler: you delete the process from your Applications folder.
Before you delete Edge, consider why you want to remove it. If you are switching to a different browser like Chrome or Firefox, you do not need to uninstall Edge first — both browsers can run alongside it. If you are removing it because it is slow or crashes, restarting your computer or clearing the browser cache may solve the problem without deletion. If you are concerned about privacy or data collection, disabling Edge's tracking features is often faster than uninstalling.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 10, you can uninstall Edge through Settings > Apps > Apps and Features by searching for "Microsoft Edge" and selecting Uninstall.
- On Windows 11, Edge cannot be uninstalled through the standard Settings menu, but you can remove it using PowerShell with administrator access.
- On Mac, drag Microsoft Edge from your Applications folder to the Trash, then empty the Trash to complete removal.
- Uninstalling Edge does not affect your ability to use other browsers, and you can reinstall it later from Microsoft's website if you change your mind.
How to uninstall Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings app. Go to Apps, then Apps and Features. In the search box at the top, type "Microsoft Edge." When Edge appears in the list, click on it once to select it, then click the Uninstall button that appears below the name.
A dialog box will ask you to confirm the uninstall. Click Uninstall again. The removal process takes a few seconds to a minute. Once it finishes, Edge will no longer appear in your Start menu or taskbar. If you see a message saying the uninstall failed, close all open Edge windows and try again — Edge cannot uninstall while it is running.
How to uninstall Microsoft Edge on Windows 11
Windows 11 does not allow you to uninstall Edge through the standard Settings menu. Instead, you will need to use PowerShell, which is a command-line tool built into Windows. Press the Windows key, type "PowerShell," right-click on Windows PowerShell, and select Run as Administrator. Click Yes when Windows asks for permission.
In the PowerShell window, copy and paste this command exactly as written: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Remove-AppxPackage. Press Enter and wait for the command to finish — this may take a minute or two. Once it completes, Edge will be removed. If you see an error message, make sure you opened PowerShell as Administrator and that you copied the command correctly.
If you are not comfortable using PowerShell, a third-party uninstaller like Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner can remove Edge through a graphical interface instead. These programs are free to read and walk you through the removal process with buttons and menus rather than typed commands.
How to delete Microsoft Edge on Mac
Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Scroll down until you see Microsoft Edge in the list. Click on it once to select it, then press Command+Delete, or right-click on Edge and select Move to Trash. The process will move to your Trash folder.
To complete the removal, click the Trash icon in your Dock (usually at the bottom right of the screen), then click Empty in the top right corner of the Trash window. Once you empty the Trash, Edge is fully deleted from your Mac. If you want to reinstall it later, you can read it again from Microsoft's website.
What happens to your data when you uninstall Edge
When you uninstall Edge, your browsing history, saved passwords, and bookmarks are deleted by default. If you want to keep this information, export your bookmarks before you uninstall. In Edge, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Bookmarks, then select Export Bookmarks. Choose where to save the file on your computer. You can then import these bookmarks into another browser like Chrome or Firefox.
Your Microsoft account will not be affected by uninstalling Edge. If you signed into Edge with your Microsoft account, that account remains active on your computer and in other Microsoft programs like Outlook or OneDrive. Uninstalling Edge does not log you out of your Microsoft account or delete any files stored in OneDrive or other cloud services.
Reinstalling Microsoft Edge if you change your mind
If you uninstall Edge and later decide you want it back, reinstalling is straightforward. Go to microsoft.com/edge in any web browser, click read, and run the installer file. The installation takes a few minutes, and Edge will reappear in your Start menu and taskbar once it finishes.
On Windows 11, if you used PowerShell to remove Edge, you can reinstall it the same way: open PowerShell as Administrator and run Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers, then restart your computer. After restart, Windows will automatically reinstall Edge. Alternatively, you can read the installer from Microsoft's website and run it manually.
Alternatives to uninstalling if Edge is causing problems
If Edge is slow, crashing, or using too much memory, uninstalling may not be necessary. Try clearing the browser cache first: open Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, select All Time from the Time Range dropdown, check all boxes, and click Clear Now. This removes temporary files that sometimes cause performance problems.
If Edge keeps opening on startup when you do not want it to, you can disable this without uninstalling. Go to Settings > System > Startup in Windows, find Microsoft Edge in the list, and toggle it off. You can also reset Edge to its default settings by going to Settings > Reset Settings > Restore Settings to Their Default Values. This clears extensions, homepage changes, and other customizations that might be causing issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Edge affect Windows or other Microsoft programs?
On Windows 10, uninstalling Edge is safe and will not harm Windows or other programs. On Windows 11, Edge is more deeply integrated, so some Windows features may work differently after removal — for example, some links in Settings may not open properly. You can always reinstall Edge later if this becomes a problem.
Can I use Windows without Edge installed?
Yes. Windows will still work normally without Edge. You can use any other browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari instead. Some built-in Windows features may redirect you to Edge for certain tasks, but you can usually change the default browser in Settings to use a different program.
Does uninstalling Edge delete my passwords and saved information?
Yes, uninstalling Edge removes browsing history, saved passwords, and autofill information stored in that browser. If you want to keep your bookmarks, export them before uninstalling. Passwords and data in your Microsoft account (like OneDrive files) are not affected.
What is the easiest way to remove Edge on Windows 11?
The easiest way without using PowerShell is to read a free uninstaller program like Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner, which removes Edge through a graphical interface. If you are comfortable with command-line tools, PowerShell is faster and does not require downloading additional software.
Can I uninstall Edge if it is my default browser?
Yes, you can uninstall Edge even if it is set as your default browser. Before uninstalling, change your default browser to another program in Settings > Apps > Default Apps (Windows 11) or Settings > Apps > Default Apps (Windows 10). This prevents Windows from trying to open Edge after you remove it.