Edge keeps opening up randomly on its own

Ahmad Khattab (IT) 0 Reputation points
2025-04-02T10:39:42.5733333+00:00

This just started happening today. Edge keeps opening up by itself and while its open it keeps opening new tabs and goes to the MSN website. I have no clue how to stop this from happening or why its even happening. When I close it, a minute later it opens again and starts opening up tabs.

any idea or known issues?

Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge
A Microsoft cross-platform web browser that provides privacy, learning, and accessibility tools.
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  1. ShiJieLi-MSFT 12,326 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff
    2025-04-03T01:50:20.95+00:00

    Hi @Ahmad Khattab (IT) ,

    This is usually caused by NCSI service which upon connecting to a network checks if this network has Internet connection. You may have gone through a network change for some reason so the MSN site shows up in your default browser to check the Internet connection for you.

    You can turn off NCSI service by doing one of the following:

    • Enable the Group Policy: Edit group policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Internet Communication Management > Internet Communication Settings > Turn off Windows Network Connectivity Status Indicator active tests > Enabled
    • Create a REG_DWORD registry setting named NoActiveProbe in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\NetworkConnectivityStatusIndicator with a value of 1 (one).

    After you apply this policy, you must restart the device for the policy setting to take effect.


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    Best Regards,

    Shijie Li

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  2. Ahmad Khattab (IT) 0 Reputation points
    2025-04-09T05:27:47.9133333+00:00

    Hi

    we found that the NCSI services was sending prob checks to www.msftconnecttest.com directly and not properly maping the traffic thru proxy (we use pac file). as direct outbound traffic is blocked at our firewalls, the devices stopped determining if the computer is connected to the internet or not. we solved this by allowing outbound direct connection specific to this site www.msftconnecttest.com

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