Edge Chromium Update with UWF Turned On

Question

Hi
Does anyone know if it is possible/advisable to allow Edge Chromium to update with the UWF turned on by adding the relevant write through exclusions to the UWF.
If so do you know what the exclusions required are?
Alternatively a method that will ensure no updates happen automatically. I have disabled all of the Edge update services but it seems as if the user can still go into Edge settings, select 'About Microsoft Edge' and an update will still happen!
Thanks
Steve W

Answer 1

Hi @Stephen Wiggins ,

I have disabled all of the Edge update services but it seems as if the user can still go into Edge settings

Please see this link for other methods about Disable Microsoft Edge Update. For example method 4.
https://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-or-remove-microsoftedgeupdate-exe-process-running-in-task-manager/

The Unified Write Filter (UWF) is a feature that protects physical storage media from data writes. UWF intercepts all write attempts to a protected volume and redirects those write attempts to a virtual overlay. The virtual overlay is a temporary location that is usually cleared during a reboot or when a guest user logs off.
Edge Chromium is automatically updated by default, you need to disable its automatic update.
BTW, when you do the disable operation, did you turn off the UWF function first? Only turn off UWF first, your writing can be retained. Then turn UWF on.
In addition, this is the document of Microsoft Edge Update.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-update-policies#update

Best regards,
Seeya

---

If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. 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.

Answer 2

Thanks @Seeya Xi-MSFT

My first choice would be to add the required exclusions to the UWF configuration to allow Edge Chromium updates to be applied automatically.

My users will not be able to control access to the UWF so will be unable to turn it off to apply updates so allowing it to happen through exclusion would be preferred.

At the moment I have turned off all the Edge update services and I have also edited group policy to block access to url 'edge://settings'
May look into the firewall option.

Thanks for your advice.

Answer 3

Do you need Edge in your system? If not, have you tried to remove it?