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about:blank as default. Can't remove

DOLLY MOSSMAN 5 Reputation points
2026-03-18T21:57:14.71+00:00

All of a sudden, my browser page went to about:blank. Everything I am doing to fix it seems to be creating more issues

Microsoft Edge | Website issues | Windows 11
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  1. AI answer

    2026-03-18T21:57:29.2133333+00:00

    In Edge on Windows 11, about:blank usually appears when the browser cannot load or render the target page correctly, or when something (an extension, setting, or corruption) interferes with normal navigation.

    Try these steps in order and test after each one:

    1. Reset Edge settings (common fix for hijack/redirect issues)
      1. Open Edge.
      2. Go to Settings → Reset settings.
      3. Click Restore settings to their default values and confirm.
      4. Close and reopen Edge and test your home page and new tabs.
    2. Clear Edge cache (if pages or threads show as blank or not found)
      1. In the Edge address bar, enter: 
              edge://settings/clearBrowserData
      2. Set Time range to All time.
      3. Select at least Cached images and files (you can also select cookies if acceptable).
      4. Click Clear now.
      5. Close and reopen Edge and try again.
    3. Check for a browser “hijack” or unwanted redirect If Edge always opens to an unexpected page or about:blank even after reset:
      1. Confirm the reset in step 1 completed successfully.
      2. Check Settings → Start, home, and new tabs and verify:
        • When Edge starts is set to your preferred option (e.g., Open a new tab or Open these pages with only trusted URLs).
        • Home button (if enabled) points to the correct site.
      3. If the browser still behaves strangely, repeat the reset and then scan the device with Windows Security or another trusted antivirus.
    4. Disable or remove problematic extensions
      1. In Edge, go to Settings → Extensions → Manage extensions.
      2. Turn off all extensions.
      3. Restart Edge and test.
      4. If the problem is gone, re‑enable extensions one by one to find the one causing the issue.
    5. Update Edge and Windows
      1. In Edge, go to Settings → About Microsoft Edge and let it check for updates.
      2. Install any available updates and restart Edge.

    If the issue started after visiting a suspicious site or seeing fake “virus” pop‑ups, close the browser (use Task Manager if needed), then follow steps 1–4 above and avoid calling any phone numbers shown in such pop‑ups.

    References:

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  2. Clary-N 12,035 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-03-20T09:16:28.0266667+00:00

    Hi DOLLY MOSSMAN,

    If you’ve already tried the suggested steps above and the issue is still occurring, I’d like to suggest a few additional checks that can help narrow down the cause and avoid unnecessary changes. These focus on areas that aren’t always affected by a standard browser reset.

    Step 1: Check the Edge shortcut you’re using

    In some cases, Edge may be forced to open about:blank due to how it’s being launched, even when browser settings appear correct.

    1. Right‑click the Microsoft Edge shortcut you normally use.
    2. Select Properties.
    3. Under the Target field, confirm it ends with: msedge.exe
    4. If you see about:blank listed after msedge.exe, remove only that portion.
    5. Select Apply, then OK, and reopen Edge to test.

    This ensures Edge is not being instructed to open a blank page at startup.

    Step 2: Create a new Edge profile to test

    If the issue continues, the current browser profile may be corrupted, which can prevent settings from saving properly.

    1. Open Edge and go to Settings > Profiles.
    2. Select Add profile.
    3. Open Edge using the new profile and test the startup behavior before signing in or adding extensions.

    If Edge behaves normally with the new profile, it indicates the issue is isolated to the original profile rather than Windows or Edge itself.

    Step 3: Check for any Edge policies

    Occasionally, system‑level policies can override browser settings without being immediately visible.

    1. In the Edge address bar, type: edge://policy
    2. Review the page for any active policies, especially those related to startup or homepage settings.

    If any policies are listed, they may explain why the issue persists after a reset.

    Step 4: Repair Microsoft Edge from Windows settings

    This step repairs Edge at the application level without removing your data.

    1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
    2. Locate Microsoft Edge.
    3. Select Modify, then choose Repair.
    4. Allow the process to complete and restart Edge.

    Please try these steps when it’s convenient and let me know how things look afterward. I’ll be happy to continue helping you if the issue persists or if you have any questions along the way.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.

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