Edit

Microsoft Edge stops responding or doesn't start

Summary

This article helps you troubleshoot Microsoft Edge if it doesn't start, shows a blank window, or stops responding (crashes) shortly after it starts. The article describes common causes, such as leftover background processes, graphics driver problems, a corrupted user profile, and a broken installation. It also lists the data to collect before you contact Microsoft Support.

Symptoms

You experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • After you try to start Edge, the msedge.exe process appears in Task Manager, but no window opens.
  • A blank Edge window appears briefly and then closes.
  • Edge becomes unresponsive immediately after the new tab page loads.
  • An Application Error event for msedge.exe is logged in Event Viewer.

Solution

Work through the following sections in the given order. After each section, restart Edge, and check whether the problem is fixed before you continue.

End all existing Edge processes

Background processes that remain from a previous session can prevent a clean start. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. End every msedge.exe task.
  3. Restart Edge.

Turn off graphics acceleration

Graphics driver problems can cause a blank window. To rule out this problem, turn off graphics acceleration:

  1. If Edge opens long enough to let you access Settings, go to edge://settings/system, and turn off Use graphics acceleration when available. If your organization manages this setting, see HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled.
  2. Restart Edge.
  3. If this change fixes the problem, update your GPU driver, and then turn graphics acceleration back on.

Start by using a temporary profile

A corrupted profile or extension can cause Edge to fail before the program window appears. To isolate the problem, start Edge by using a temporary user data folder.

Open a Command Prompt window, and then run the following command:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --user-data-dir="%TEMP%\edge-test-profile"

If Edge starts cleanly by using the test profile, the original profile is the cause of the problem. Continue to Create a new profile. Otherwise, move on to Repair Microsoft Edge.

Note

For profile sign-in problems, see Troubleshoot common sign-in problems.

Create a new profile

Follow these steps:

  1. Close all Edge windows.
  2. Go to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data.
  3. Rename the Default folder to Default.old.
  4. Start Edge to create a fresh Default profile.
  5. If Edge is stable, close it, and then copy any data that you want to keep (such as Bookmarks) from Default.old to the new Default profile.

Repair Microsoft Edge

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Select Microsoft Edge > Modify > Repair.

For installation, update, or rollback errors, see Install, update, or roll back failures for Edge and Edge WebView2.

Data collection

If you have to contact Microsoft Support for more help, collect the following diagnostic information to include with your support request:

  • Microsoft Edge version: Go to edge://version, and note the full version number.
  • Application Error events: In Event Viewer, go to Windows Logs > Application, filter to source Application Error together with the faulting module, msedge.exe, and export the matching entries.
  • Crash ID: Go to edge://crashes, and note the most recent crash ID.

Related content

  • Last updated on