Getting rid of Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 isn’t exactly a walk in the park — it’s kind of weird, but it’s doable if you know where to look. Normally, Windows makes it a little tricky because Edge is baked into the OS, but with some commands and a bit of patience, you can finally clear it out. This is especially useful if you’re tired of that nagging default browser or just want to keep things minimal. When you nail down these steps, you’ll be left with a system that only runs the browsers or tools you actually prefer. Just a heads-up: this isn’t officially supported by Microsoft, so be aware that things might behave differently on different setups, and it might break some Windows features, though most of the core stuff remains unaffected.
How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 11
In this walkthrough, we’ll cover a pretty reliable way to remove Edge using PowerShell or Command Prompt. It’s kinda technical, but it works once you get the hang of it. You’ll need admin rights and to execute some commands, but once done, Edge should no longer be lurking on your PC. Just don’t expect a clickable removal from Settings — this is more hands-on, and it helps to understand what’s happening behind the scenes. Also, on some machines, you may need to run commands twice or reboot a couple of times to really wipe it out. And if it’s not working on one machine, try a different approach or double-check your commands.
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator
- Right-click on the Start button or press Windows + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin). This gives you the elevated permissions needed for system tweaks.
- This isn’t just for fun — without admin rights, these commands won’t work. On some setups, you might find yourself running into permission errors without this step, and that’s frustrating as hell.
Once you open it, you’re ready to get into the guts of removing Edge. Remember, the exact commands can vary depending on the version, but the general idea is the same.
Find Your Edge Install Folder
- Type in or copy the command:
cd "%PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Microsoft\Edge\Application"and hit Enter. - Usually, under this directory, you’ll see folders with version numbers. Find the latest one — it’s kind of a pain, but on some systems, you might need to replace the version manually if auto-detection doesn’t work.
This path points to where Edge’s files are stored. On some setups, the folder location can be a bit different, especially if updates have changed paths or if you’re running a different build.
Run the Uninstall Command
- Type in the following command:
setup.exe --uninstall --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstalland press Enter. - This command forces Windows to uninstall Edge forcefully, skipping the usual prompts. Not sure why it works, but sometimes you need that force flag to really get rid of it.
Be aware that sometimes, this step might fail or leave traces behind. If that happens, reboot and try again, or consider tweaking the commands slightly, maybe run as admin again or check the folder path.
Reboot and Confirm It’s Gone
- Once the command completes, do a quick reboot — Windows + R, type
shutdown /r /t 0, and hit Enter. - After the restart, check in Settings > Apps & Features to see if Microsoft Edge is still listed. If not, congrats — it’s gone. If it’s stubborn, sometimes manually deleting leftover files in the installation folder helps, or you might need to run a repair or reset on Windows.
This whole process can be a bit finicky, so don’t be surprised if it fails once or twice. On some setups, Edge may resist uninstalling through this method, and you might need to use third-party tools or tweaks, but for most, this suffices.
Additional Tips & Warnings
- Always back up important data before messing with system files or uninstalling core apps.
- If you’re nervous or not super comfortable, try on a test machine or virtual environment first. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
- Reinstalling Edge later isn’t a big deal — you can grab it from Microsoft’s official site anytime.
- Keep your Windows updated. Sometimes, system updates can bring Edge back or cause your commands to fail.