How to fix Microsoft Edge not launching

Question

How to fix Microsoft Edge not launching

Oluwafisayo 45

Hi,
I am unable to launch the Microsoft Edge. Each time I try to, it opens up my Google Chrome browser. I've gone to the App settings to check, but not able to uninstall/repair or modify the app.

What can I do please?

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4 answers

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Answer 1

Restee Miranda 14,030 Independent Advisor

Got it, thanks for trying that. The PowerShell command doesn’t restart your PC automatically, so you’ll need to manually reboot after running it. Once you restart, check if Edge launches normally. If it still opens Chrome, the next step is to clear Edge’s user data. Here’s how: open File Explorer, go to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge, and rename the User Data folder to something like User Data.old. Then try launching Edge again—it will create a fresh profile.

Can you give that a try and let me know if Edge opens after renaming the folder?

Oluwafisayo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-11T17:58:24.8033333+00:00

I've restarted the PC and also renamed the Edge user data folder, but Chrome still comes up after clicking Edge icon
Restee Miranda 14,030 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-11T17:59:28.1+00:00

Thanks for checking that. Since Chrome opens with its homepage, this looks like a shortcut or file association issue rather than Edge being broken. The Edge icon might have been replaced with a Chrome shortcut. Here’s what to do: right-click the Edge icon you’re using, choose Properties, and check the Target field. It should point to something like

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe.

If it points to Chrome’s path, that’s the problem. Delete that shortcut and create a new one by searching for “Microsoft Edge” in the Start menu, then pin it to your taskbar or desktop.

Can you check the Target path and let me know what it shows?

Answer 2

Restee Miranda 14,030 Independent Advisor

Thanks for letting me know. Since uninstalling Chrome didn’t change Edge’s behavior, and now Chrome won’t reinstall, this points to a deeper system issue. Possibly corrupted browser associations or Windows components. Here’s what I suggest next:

First, confirm the Edge shortcut path again. If it’s correct and still launches Chrome, we’ll need to repair Windows associations. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll down to Reset all defaults, and click Reset. This will restore all file and protocol associations to Microsoft defaults.

If that doesn’t help, the next step is running System File Checker to repair any corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

sfc /scannow

Let it finish, then restart your PC.

After that, try launching Edge again. If it still fails, we may need to reinstall Edge manually using the official installer from Microsoft’s site.

Quick question: when you search for “Microsoft Edge” in the Start menu and click it from there, does it also open Chrome? Or is this only happening with the desktop/taskbar shortcut?

Oluwafisayo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-13T17:45:19.67+00:00

I have used the System file checker to scan and restarted my PC. Searching for Edge in the start menu and clicking brings up something about Chrome. Also, Microsoft Edge is not in the Program files folder but in the Program files (x86). This is all confusing as I have uninstalled Chrome but still find a folder named Chrome in the Program files which I am unable to delete.
Restee Miranda 14,030 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-15T14:00:48.65+00:00
Thanks for sharing those details. The fact that Edge is in Program Files (x86) is normal for the 32-bit version, so that’s fine. The bigger issue is that Chrome still has remnants in Program Files and the Edge shortcut is somehow pointing to Chrome even after uninstalling it. That usually means the shortcut or registry entries were hijacked.

Here’s what I recommend now:

Delete any Edge shortcuts you’ve been using (desktop, taskbar).

Search for “Microsoft Edge” in the Start menu, right-click it, and choose Open file location. Check if the shortcut there points to msedge.exe in Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application. If not, delete it.

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll down, and click Reset all defaults.

Since Chrome’s folder won’t delete, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run: rd /s /q "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome" This forces removal of leftover Chrome files.

After that, download the latest Edge installer from Microsoft’s official site and reinstall Edge over the existing installation.

Can you check the shortcut target first and let me know what it shows? If it’s pointing to Chrome, that confirms the hijack and we’ll fix it.

Answer 3

Restee Miranda 14,030 Independent Advisor

You can uninstall Chrome first > reboot your PC > reinstall Chrome and test if Edge can lauch without opening Chrome.

Oluwafisayo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-12T14:57:16.2666667+00:00

Thank you for the recommendations so far. I was able to uninstall Chrome, but been finding it difficult to install back.
I have added the snipped response from Chrome. Edge is still not working
Oluwafisayo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-12T14:57:48.45+00:00

Answer 4

Restee Miranda 14,030 Independent Advisor

Hi Oluwafisayo, I understand how confusing that can be when Edge won’t open and Chrome pops up instead. This usually happens because the system is redirecting links to your default browser, or Edge itself might be corrupted. Let’s start simple: restart your PC and check for Windows updates. Then go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Edge, and try the Repair option. If Repair isn’t available, choose Reset. Also, check Settings > Apps > Default apps to make sure Edge is set for .htm, .html, HTTP, and HTTPS. If none of that works, we can try deleting Edge’s user data folder or reinstalling it through PowerShell. Before we go deeper, can you confirm if Edge shows any error message when you click it, or does it just immediately open Chrome?

Oluwafisayo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-11T17:43:20.6766667+00:00

Hi Rez, I have restarted my laptop 3 times, it still did not work. It opens up Chrome whenever I click Edge and it does not show any error message. Following this steps "Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Edge", I can see the Modify/Uninstall option but they are greyed out.
Restee Miranda 14,030 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-11T17:44:32.8833333+00:00
Thanks for confirming that. If the Modify and Uninstall options are greyed out, it means Edge is treated as a core Windows component, so we’ll need a different approach. Since restarting didn’t help and there’s no error message, the issue is likely with the Edge installation or a registry setting that’s redirecting links to Chrome. Let’s try this: open PowerShell as Administrator and run this command:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}

After it completes, restart your PC and try launching Edge again. If that still doesn’t work, we can delete Edge’s user data folder at %localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge and let it rebuild. Quick question: when you click the Edge icon, does Chrome open with a specific page or just its homepage? That will help me know if it’s a file association issue or a deeper system redirect.
Oluwafisayo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-11T17:49:20.2666667+00:00

Chrome opens just the home page. No specific page.

I copied and pasted that command in Powershell, it didn't restart my PC.

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How to fix Microsoft Edge not launching

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