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error on line 1 at column 1: Start tag expected, '<' not found

Charles Upton 40 Reputation points
2025-12-09T17:15:43.15+00:00

My Edge will not open it gives me this error code error on line 1 at column 1: Start tag expected, '<' not found It just came on with no warning and i have tried everything I can to solve the problem. I did a clean install of window 11 home x64, i have tried to repair it, I tried to uninstall it but it wont do that I have updated the system but nothing works so I really would appreciate some help from a knowledgeable agent

Thank you

Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Edge development

3 answers

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  1. Damien Pham (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 1,755 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-12-10T11:02:40.85+00:00

    Hello @Charles Upton ,

    In order to assist you, can you provide more information about it:

    • Does this happen to Edge only, or any other browsers would have this issue?
    • Does this occur for a specific website?

    For now, my suggestion for you is trying these workarounds:

    • Try refreshing the page, or clear your browser cache and cookies
    • Try another browser or using private/incognito mode
    • Double-check the URL you’re trying to access, maybe there’s a typo, or the link points to a resource that’s not meant to be a webpage (e.g. a binary file or private endpoint).

    I hope this is helpful! If you have any question, please let me know.

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  2. AI answer

    2025-12-09T17:15:55.62+00:00

    The error message you are encountering, "error on line 1 at column 1: Start tag expected, '<' not found," suggests that there may be an issue with the way the content is being interpreted by Microsoft Edge. This can happen if the browser is trying to load a page that is not formatted correctly or if there is a problem with the browser itself.

    Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

    1. Clear Cache and Cookies: Sometimes, corrupted cache or cookies can cause loading issues. You can clear them by going to Edge settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
    2. Reset Microsoft Edge: You can reset Edge to its default settings. Go to Edge settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their default values.
    3. Check for Updates: Ensure that Microsoft Edge is up to date. Go to Edge settings > About Microsoft Edge to check for updates.
    4. Reinstall Microsoft Edge: If you are unable to uninstall Edge through the usual method, you might try using the command line to uninstall it. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and use the command: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --uninstall.
    5. Check Windows Features: Make sure that Internet Explorer 11 is enabled in Windows Features, as Edge may rely on it for certain functionalities.

    If none of these steps work, you may want to consider checking for any known issues with the current version of Microsoft Edge you are using, as there may be specific bugs affecting its functionality.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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