Did the Microsoft Edge work fine on your Windows computer last night and won’t even open this morning? Well, you are not alone.
Thousands of users, including myself, experienced this odd behavior where some processes are running in the background but nothing in front.
Worry not! This guide will provide you with different methods to fix the Microsoft Edge not opening issue once and for all.
Let’s have a look, shall we?
How to Fix Microsoft Edge Won’t Open
Microsoft Edge does not open when files associated with this app get corrupted. Sometimes the third-party antivirus on your computer may detect the Edge browser as a suspicious program and block it entirely. Also, heavy cache files may also prevent the Edge browser from opening.
To fix Microsoft Edge’s won’t open problem, try updating Windows, removing malware, running a system integrity check (SFC scan), repairing Microsoft Edge, and erasing old cache files. One of these measures will surely fix any launch error of Microsoft Edge.
Below, I’ve discussed each method elaborately to restore Microsoft Edge.
1. Restart Edge Browser and Your Computer
While you root for a permanent and effective fix for Microsoft Edge to work flawlessly, restarting the computer and the browser itself happens to be the quickest solution possible. This will eliminate temporary bugs and glitches.
Restart your computer and then do the following to restart the Edge browser.
To restart Microsoft Edge:
- Hold down Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Windows Task Manager.
- Switch to the Details tab.
- Scroll down and right-click on msedge.exe.
- Select End process tree.
- Choose the End process tree again from the next prompt window.
Now, open Microsoft Edge again. And it should launch fine and take you to the default home page. These steps are also effective to stop the edge from running in the background.
2. Clear Microsoft Edge Cache & Browser History
See, piled up cache and heavy browser history often prevent Microsoft Edge from opening correctly. Also, it helps to wipe off any damaged or corrupted files related to Edge. The steps I’m about to show will clear the cache and cookies too on Microsoft Edge.
Here’s how you can delete Microsoft Edge Cache & browser history:
- Press Win + R to open the Windows Run console.
- Copy and paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge and press Enter.
- Delete the User Data folder.
- Navigate to This PC > C: > Users > Your username > AppData > Local > Packages folder.
- Delete all the folders linked to Microsoft Edge.
- Restart your computer.
With this, all the previous session histories, cookies, and data are completely wiped out. The result?
Well, Microsoft Edge not opening issue is sorted out.
One thing to note, doing this will remove all saved passwords and bookmarks in your browser. Though, you can fix password remember issues on MS Edge if this turns out to be a problem in the future.
3. Scan and Remove Malware
Malware or viruses tamper with the original files of any program. And that does not leave Microsoft Edge alone. As it turns out, frequently the browser simply stops responding altogether due to malware damage.
Following steps show how you can use the default antivirus program on Windows 11/10 to remove malware:
- Click on the Windows Search bar on the Taskbar.
- Type virus and open Virus & threat protection from the search result.
- Click on Scan options.
- Choose Full scan and press the Scan now button at the bottom.
This will examine every file on your computer to detect damaged and corrupted files. The time required to complete the scan is subject to change according to how many files are on your storage drive. Though typically it takes 1-3 hours.
Once you see the scan report, delete suspicious and corrupted files. Try to launch Microsoft Edge and it should pop up just fine.
4. Make Sure Third Party Antivirus Programs are Updated
It may sound a bit unusual, but third-party antivirus can create conflict with Microsoft Edge. That being so, it may not launch at all.
Now, this happens as a result of frequent updates to the Edge browser. The antivirus on the other hand causes compatibility issues for the most part. So, you need to update the antivirus once Microsoft Edge gets updated each time.
As soon as newer versions go hand in hand, you should not experience any issues opening Microsoft Edge.
5. Run System File Checker (SFC) Scan
Do you know you can examine the integrity of any system file on Windows? Well, it’s a simple yet powerful method to fix any problems on Windows. Which eventually works like a charm when the Edge browser doesn’t open on your machine.
Run an SFC scan to fix problems in Windows file integrity with the following steps:
- Right-click on the Start 🪟 button.
- Choose Windows Terminal (Admin).
- Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
The file checker will commence its operation to find and repair damaged and corrupted files. It will take 15-20 mins to complete.
On the next attempt, Microsoft Edge will open and function properly.
6. Repair Microsoft Edge
If the system file checker doesn’t come out as effective as expected, you can specifically repair Microsoft Edge. Most of the time, it fixes all the issues such as launch errors, not responding, or random crashes.
Below is the detailed walkthrough to repair Microsoft Edge:
- Press Win 🪟 + I on your keyboard to open Windows Settings.
- Navigate to the Apps > Installed apps.
- Type edge in the search bar above to locate the Microsoft Edge browser.
- Click on the three-dot icon and choose Modify.
- Press the Repair button from the next floating window.
The system will now start looking for a fresh copy of Microsoft Edge and download it for you. This may take several minutes depending on your internet connection speed. Hence, all launch issues such as edge not opening or won’t open will be eliminated.
7. Check for Windows Update
It may sound a bit cheesy but trust me your outdated Windows OS may be the culprit to prevent Microsoft Edge from opening. The good news however is that you can update Windows, breaking no sweat at all.
Simply press Win 🪟 + I > Navigate to Windows Update > Click on Check for updates > Select Download & install once updates are found. Your system may restart several times during the installation, so don’t panic.
After finishing the update process, open Microsoft Edge and start surfing the web again!
Ending Remarks
So, wraps the fix guide on Microsoft Edge not opening the problem. Execute them and check which one turns out effective on your machine. If you have any further queries or confusion, let me know in the comments section.
Have a nice day!
