Microsoft edge does not open.

Question

Microsoft edge does not open.

Albert Feuer 0

I have repaired it restarted computer and chrome still opens

Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-17T19:19:17.2433333+00:00

Tried this and none worked.
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-17T20:12:50.9233333+00:00

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Thank you for sharing the troubleshooting steps you've already tried.

Could you provide me with a screenshot of your current Windows OS Build?

To do this, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type winver and press Enter.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-18T16:55:52.5533333+00:00

I attach the desired screenshot
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-18T16:57:22.9666667+00:00

Let me try to attach the screenshot again/
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-18T17:00:20.5733333+00:00

Please provide the build number from the winver command instead.

Also, please share the troubleshooting steps you've already tried; this helps me avoid recommending them again later.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-18T17:38:50.5033333+00:00

I did send you the screen shot, The screenshot describes the Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8246). I tried all the AI recommendations. Repair overinstall. Start from start up menu. Verify shortcut properties of desktop icon
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-19T16:47:51.4533333+00:00

Does anyone have any suggestions beyond those of the AI generated content from Apr 17, 2026, 3:15 PM. This inability to open Edge has continued for about a month and there seems to be no indication that Windows was not update during any of that time. Nor have repeated computer scans found any evidence of malware/

Thanks for thinking about this issue.

4 answers

Your answer

Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-17T19:19:17.2433333+00:00

Tried this and none worked.
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-17T20:12:50.9233333+00:00

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Thank you for sharing the troubleshooting steps you've already tried.

Could you provide me with a screenshot of your current Windows OS Build?

To do this, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type winver and press Enter.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-18T16:55:52.5533333+00:00

I attach the desired screenshot
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-18T16:57:22.9666667+00:00

Let me try to attach the screenshot again/
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-18T17:00:20.5733333+00:00

Please provide the build number from the winver command instead.

Also, please share the troubleshooting steps you've already tried; this helps me avoid recommending them again later.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-18T17:38:50.5033333+00:00

I did send you the screen shot, The screenshot describes the Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8246). I tried all the AI recommendations. Repair overinstall. Start from start up menu. Verify shortcut properties of desktop icon
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-19T16:47:51.4533333+00:00

Does anyone have any suggestions beyond those of the AI generated content from Apr 17, 2026, 3:15 PM. This inability to open Edge has continued for about a month and there seems to be no indication that Windows was not update during any of that time. Nor have repeated computer scans found any evidence of malware/

Thanks for thinking about this issue.

Answer 1

Use these steps to get Microsoft Edge opening again on Windows 11:

Restart the device A running process can block Edge from starting.

Select Start > Power > Restart.
After restart, try opening Microsoft Edge directly from the Start menu (search for “Microsoft Edge”) instead of a shortcut or link that might be mapped to Chrome.

Repair Microsoft Edge (already done, but confirm full steps) If repair was not run from Settings, use this method:
Close all Edge windows for all users.
Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Find Microsoft Edge, select it, then choose Modify.
When prompted “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”, select Yes.
Ensure the device is connected to the internet and select Repair.
Reinstall Microsoft Edge If Edge still does not open after repair:
Open any working browser (for example, Chrome).
Go to https://www.microsoft.com/edge and download the latest Microsoft Edge installer.
Run the installer to reinstall Edge on top of the existing installation.
After installation completes, try launching Edge from the Start menu.
Check that Chrome is not set to open Edge shortcuts If clicking what appears to be an Edge icon opens Chrome, the shortcut may point to Chrome or Chrome is set as default:

Right-click the Edge icon on the taskbar, right-click Microsoft Edge in the jump list, and select Properties to confirm the Target is Edge, or pin a fresh Edge shortcut:
- Search for Microsoft Edge in Start, right-click it, and select Pin to taskbar.

If none of these steps work, repeat the repair/reinstall steps and ensure all Edge windows are closed for all users before running Modify/Repair.

References:

Answer 2

John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Independent Advisor

You have the latest version of Windows. Have you tried performing an in-place upgrade, as suggested by Lychee-Ng, a Microsoft External Staff Moderator?

Go to Settings > System > Recovery.

In "Fix problem using Windows Update", click "Reinstall now".
This will download Repair Upgrade and reinstall Windows similar to an In-Place Upgrade, preserving your apps, files, and settings.

The process will download and restart your PC several times. This may take some time, so please be patient and do not interrupt the process.

Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-21T14:49:24.5333333+00:00

Would this be like repair office which does not disrupt the current settings.

I have done this repair of office 2024 several times because I can not get outlook search to work but get the message Search performance will be impacted because the Windows search is turned off in elevated mode even though I have used services.msc and properties of windows search and set startup type it at either automatic or automatic(default). Niether fixes the issue.

Will this Windows repair address that issue?
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-21T15:00:00.0466667+00:00
Yes, it’s very similar to an Office repair, but at the Windows level.

It will reinstall Windows system files while keeping your apps, files, and most settings intact. So it’s not like a full reset.

Now, about your Outlook search issue, that message usually points to Windows Search service or indexing problems, not just Outlook itself.

An in-place repair can help if the issue is caused by:

Corrupted Windows Search components

Broken indexing

System file issues

But I want to set expectations, it’s not guaranteed to fix it 100%.

Before doing the repair, can you confirm this:

Is Windows Search service currently running? > Open services.msc > Check if Windows Search is Running

In Outlook, are you running it as administrator? (That “elevated mode” message usually appears when Outlook is run as admin)

Have you tried rebuilding the index? Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advanced > Rebuild

If these were already checked and the issue still persists, then yes, the Windows repair is a reasonable next step and may fix both Edge and the search problem.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-21T17:04:02.61+00:00

Thanks John. I have tried all three suggestions repeatedly for outlook. Still get the same message as at the start of searches. As I result I can't search in a limited time period and when the search starts it begins with the oldest messages rather than the modst current ones.

Any other ideas before I do the windows repair?

Albert
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-21T17:33:13.37+00:00
Glad to assist! And thank you for getting back to me.

That specific message “Windows Search is turned off in elevated mode” usually means Outlook is being run as Administrator, which disables normal search behavior.

Let’s double check this carefully:

Close Outlook completely

Check how it’s being launched:

Right-click your Outlook shortcut

Select Properties > Compatibility tab

Make sure “Run this program as administrator” is NOT checked

Also check the EXE itself:

Go to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

Right-click OUTLOOK.EXE > Properties > Compatibility

Again, make sure Run as administrator is unchecked

Now open Outlook normally (no admin)

Also:

Are you using Windows in S Mode or any security software that might restrict services?
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-21T17:51:35.8666667+00:00

Thanks for the prompt response. I am in office 2024

There is no compatibility tab, but the advanced tab in the short cut does not have a check in the run as administrator check box.

Went to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 then to OutlookAutoDiscover which has properties but no compatibility choice, In Security advanced tab I see Group or User Names that has an Administrators(DESKTOP-JGIFLPS\Administrator The administrators has permission for full control, but I see no indication the control has been exercised, Should I look someplace else?

No change in security software Malwarebytes and Windows Security.

Still same message and searches begin with oldest messages
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-21T18:25:37.6866667+00:00
Thanks for the update.

Before we continue, I just want to clarify your Office version, because this affects Outlook behavior.

You mentioned Office 2024, can you confirm the exact edition? For example: Office 2024 Home or Office 2024 Business / Professional

Also, where was it purchased? (Microsoft Store, retail key, company/work license, etc.)

The reason I’m asking:

Not all Office 2024 editions include the full Outlook desktop app. Some setups use the new Outlook (web-based) instead, which behaves differently and can cause search issues like this.

Quick check:

In Outlook, go to File > Office Account (if available) or share a screenshot of About Outlook
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-21T18:33:58.01+00:00

I attach the screenshot. Purchased from best Buy . Should have the Classic Outlook
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-21T19:13:45.39+00:00
I didn’t receive the screenshot yet, could you please try attaching it again?

In the meantime:

Just to summarize, we are looking at two separate issues:

Microsoft Edge opening Chrome instead

Outlook search not working properly

Since you mentioned it was purchased from Best Buy and should be Classic Outlook, I just want to confirm the exact license tied to your account.

Please check here: https://account.microsoft.com/services

Do you see your Office 2024 product listed there?

What is the exact name shown?
Deleted

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John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-21T20:48:59.2+00:00

Your screenshot contains personally identifiable information, such as an email address. Please edit your response and delete the image. Thanks.
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-21T20:52:53.44+00:00
Your screenshot contains personally identifiable information, such as an email address. Please edit your response and delete the image. Thanks.

Thanks, that screenshot helps.

I can see you’re using Office Home & Business 2024, but your Outlook is signed in with a school account (@yale.edu).

That’s important, because Outlook search behavior can be affected by account type and policies.

Let’s check this first before doing a Windows repair:

In Outlook are you using Exchange / Microsoft 365 (work or school) Or just added as a regular IMAP account?

Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings What type does it show for that account?

If it’s a work/school Exchange account, sometimes:

Search can be controlled or limited by the organization

Or behave differently depending on server vs local search

If the issue still happens even in a new profile, then yes, you can go ahead with the Windows repair.

But I’d like to rule this out first since you're using a school account.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-21T21:07:14.0633333+00:00

I deleted the comment. My email goes through the school but I am not using a school account for the outlook program
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T14:59:12.4466667+00:00

Repaired windows overnight. Seem to have fix Outlook search. No change in Edge behavior. Still opens in chrome when I use the desktop or the startup menu
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-22T18:02:50.8866667+00:00

Thank you for letting me know. We are making progress.

About Edge issues, could you test opening the Edge app via search? Does it open as expected?
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T18:31:03.1266667+00:00

Agree about the progress. What would you want me to search. I have done so from the list of apps and had no success.
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-22T18:34:26.75+00:00

Thank you for letting me know. At this point, it could be related to your university policy, you may need to contact your school to confirm.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T19:00:42.06+00:00

The issue can not be related to my university policy whose only relation to my computer is that they provide an alias email address. Edge used to work well until about a month or two ago when it became inaccessible
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-22T19:05:12.9933333+00:00

It could be that the policy updated just recently. Do other people in your university have any issues opening Edge?

Have you tried the suggestions from Q&A Assist answer earlier about repairing Edge?
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T19:32:39.6733333+00:00

Why would an email alias change the performance of a browser? There is no universal edge problem at the university.I again checked the shortcut, repaired edge and restarted. Still not functioning. I have tried everything other than reinstalling windows from scratch which would appear to create too many problems.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T19:48:18.86+00:00

I went to Program Files (x86)>Microsoft>Edge>Application and clicked on msedge, which avoids all shortcuts. Same result opens Chrome. Something is wrong with the application. No obvious fix in properties.
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-22T19:51:44.7933333+00:00
Thank you for letting me know.

Please check this just to be thorough:

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.

Search for Google Chrome and click Set default.

If that fails, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Edge, select Modify, and choose Repair to fix potential corruption.

Check for Corrupted Desktop Shortcuts:

Right-click your Edge shortcut and select Properties.

In the Target field, make sure it ends in msedge.exe. If it lists a website URL (like google.com), the shortcut is compromised; delete it and create a new one.

Let me know how it goes.
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-22T19:53:13.32+00:00

I missed your last response. You responded while I was possibly typing my suggestions earlier, please try again and let me know.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T19:58:27.6266667+00:00

Thanks for your patience. None of the checks revealed any problems. The edge target is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" As I wrote I went directly to that site and when I tried to open edge Chrome opened
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-22T20:05:43.5766667+00:00

Deleted....
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-22T20:10:25.3766667+00:00

Thank you for letting me know.

Please try to run Edge as administrator.

Click start and search Edge.

Right-click on it and select "Run as administrator" click yes.

Let me know how it goes.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-23T03:39:07.65+00:00

No change doing so either from Start menu of destop shortcut.

I did verify Malwarebytes permits Edge to operate from Startup. Niether Chrome nor Firefox have such explicit permission
John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-23T06:53:17.7266667+00:00

Thanks. Please test uninstalling Chrome, then check if Edge opens without any issues. After that, reinstall Chrome. Let me know how it goes.
Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-05-02T16:39:41.71+00:00

I have been reluctant to do this because I may lose some of my Chrome settings. Last time we tried that the passwords were retained, but I had to reload all for each website at the websites.

Answer 3

Hi Albert Feuer,

I understand how unproductive it is when Edge won’t open at all. Before getting further, I’d like to clear up one thing: when saying "Chrome still opens", did you mean links always opened in Chrome instead of Edge, or that Edge did nothing when clicked while other browsers open normally?

1 - If it’s the former case, the setup might be wrong:

Open Settings > Apps > Default apps > Microsoft Edge
Click Set default to Make Microsoft Edge your default browser.

2 - If it’s the latter case, let’s check with another Windows profile:

Open Settings > Accounts > create another local account
Sign into that account and see if you can open Edge there
If it works, your old Windows profile might be corrupted
Consider moving to this new account instead.

3 - If it doesn't work even in new profile, consider reinstallation repair options (keeping files and apps)

Use the built-in repair:
- Open Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update
- Click Reinstall now > follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall Windows.
Perform an in-place upgrade:
- Refer to Reinstall Windows with the installation media - Microsoft Support
- Navigate to the bottom of the page and expand In-place Upgrade.
- You can also check out the instructions from one of the Moderators here: How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A

Disclaimer: Both Windows reinstallation and in-place upgrade will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up first before making large system changes.

If after trying everything, Edge still does nothing at all when launched, then its core components are likely corrupted at the Windows level. Let me know in that case and we will look into some more nuclear options.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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Albert Feuer 0 Reputation points

2026-04-20T23:05:55.0633333+00:00

I mean when I try to open the Edge program Chrome opens. Changing Edge to the default for files does not change this behavior .

I am reluctant to reinstall Windows, which would seem to destroy many of my settings. I have already had to reinstall all the Chrome user names and passwords
Lychee-Ng 23,115 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-21T06:29:06.6766667+00:00

Hi, both of the reinstalls I suggested should not delete any of your files or data (including settings). They would just install a Windows on top of your current one, and patch up corruptions if any.

The one clearing your settings would be Reset PC (keeping files) option. And the nuclear one for cleaning the whole device is Clean Install. Fix Windows with installation and In-place upgrade won't clear your Windows settings.

Answer 4

Albert Feuer 0

This did not change the behavior of Edge

John Jefferson Doyon 76,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-18T17:30:32.16+00:00

Are you referring to the Q&A Assist answer earlier?

About the winver command, please share the build number you are seeing; I need to check if it is related to a Windows 11 update.