Reset Microsoft Edge in Windows 10

Addressing Performance Issues with Microsoft Edge

While still relatively new, Microsoft Edge can sometimes encounter issues. Users may experience diminished performance, unexpected crashes, or the unwelcome presence of adware, toolbars, or pop-up advertisements.

When these problems occur, resetting Microsoft Edge can often restore its functionality. However, the process differs from resetting other web browsers.

Understanding Edge's Integration with Windows

Unlike many browsers, Microsoft Edge is deeply integrated into the Windows operating system. Consequently, a complete uninstallation of Edge is not possible.

Several approaches can be taken to resolve issues, but it’s recommended to begin with the simplest solutions before proceeding to more advanced troubleshooting steps.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Before attempting a full reset, consider these preliminary actions. These can often resolve minor glitches without requiring a more extensive procedure.

Clear browsing data: Remove cached images, files, cookies, and browsing history.
Disable extensions: Problematic extensions can frequently cause performance issues or unwanted behavior.
Scan for malware: Run a comprehensive scan with your preferred antivirus software.

If these initial steps don't resolve the problem, a reset of Microsoft Edge may be necessary to restore optimal performance.

Restoring Microsoft Edge to Default Settings

Initiate the “Settings” menu within Microsoft Edge by selecting the three horizontal dots located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the dropdown menu, choose “Settings” to access the configuration options.

Clearing Browsing Data

Navigate to the “Clear browsing data” section. Click on “Choose what to clear” to reveal advanced options, then select “Show more” to expand the list of available data types.

A comprehensive selection of data types will be displayed. Ensure all options are selected to perform a thorough reset. Subsequently, click “Clear” to begin the data removal process.

Following the completion of the clearing process, a system restart is recommended. Re-launching Microsoft Edge after the restart will provide a browser instance operating with default settings.

This method effectively provides a clean slate for your browsing experience, resolving potential issues caused by accumulated data or conflicting configurations.

Important: Selecting all data types ensures a complete reset.
Restarting your PC is crucial for the changes to take full effect.

Resolving Microsoft Edge Issues with the System File Checker

Microsoft Edge is deeply integrated into Windows 10, functioning as a system component rather than a standalone application. Should errors arise, particularly those stemming from file corruption, Windows’ built-in System File Checker (sfc.exe) offers a potential solution.

A comprehensive system scan can be initiated using this tool. To do so, right-click on the Start menu and choose "Command Prompt (Admin)".

Then, execute the following command:

sfc /scannow

This command instructs the System File Checker to verify the integrity of protected system files and replace incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

Further details regarding the execution of System File Checker commands are available in our dedicated guide on the topic. Should the initial SFC scan prove unsuccessful in resolving the issue, consider utilizing the more robust DISM command or the System Update Readiness Tool, as detailed in our comprehensive guide.

Following a system restart, Microsoft Edge should ideally function as expected.

Resetting Microsoft Edge via PowerShell

Should the previously mentioned troubleshooting steps prove ineffective, a more comprehensive approach may be necessary. Utilizing PowerShell, the core components of Microsoft Edge can be removed and subsequently re-registered. Prior to proceeding, it is crucial to create a complete system backup and/or a system restore point. This precautionary measure safeguards against potential issues.

Begin by accessing and emptying the contents of the following directory:

C:\Users\%username\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe

(Ensure you substitute %username with your actual username.)

Following this, right-click the Start menu and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)". Then, copy and paste the subsequent code into the PowerShell window and execute it by pressing Enter:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose}

Successful completion of this process will typically be indicated by a confirmation message.

Upon launching Microsoft Edge after this procedure, the browser will have reverted to its default settings. In the event of errors, the following command can be used to view logged events: