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When I launch Edge, a Chrome window opens. I have uninstalled Chrome and cannot delete, repair, or reinstall the Edge program.

Diamond8784 20 Reputation points
2025-12-05T14:53:32.02+00:00

Two days ago, I sat down to do bills and household stuff. When I opened Edge (which I always use and have several Microsoft profiles with), a Chrome browser window opened with old bookmarks/favorites that I haven't used in years. No matter how I tried to open Edge (from search bar, from desktop, from taskbar), the Chrome window always came up. Edge is set as my default browser in settings.

I launched Firefox, which is my secondary browser (used often), and it also opened a Chrome window. I was able to uninstall and reinstall Firefox, and it now works correctly.

I only installed Chrome years ago because a transcription company I wanted to work for required it. But I didn't stay with them, so I never use Chrome. Two days ago, I uninstalled Chrome from my Control Panel, but it still opened the Chrome window when I launched Edge.

Two days ago, while looking back through Microsoft software update history, I managed to open an Edge page with access to my Microsoft profiles/bookmarks. I was able to access my profiles and bookmarks. I pinned it to the taskbar, specifically as a Microsoft profile, but when I closed the page, the Edge profile windows dropped from the taskbar and a Chrome icon replaced it.

Today, I deleted all Edge shortcuts from my desktop and taskbar. I tried to uninstalled Edge to redownload and install, but it would only let me click on "Repair." Even then, I hit a wall going that route and cannot reinstall or repair Edge.So now, in order to access my Microsoft profiles (several of them for personal and business use), I have to go to Settings/Windows Update/Update History and click on one of the "Learn More" tabs. Then it gives me my usual Edge browser page. There may be another way to get there, but I haven't found it.

I have researched and cannot find anyone else with this specific issue. Can someone please help? I'll gladly answer any follow-up questions.

Microsoft Edge | Open the browser | Windows 11
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  1. Noel Macadangdang 6,275 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-05T15:30:00.65+00:00

    Hi Diamond8784,

    Thank you for sharing your question. It does sound weird and annoying! From what you've said, plus what Microsoft and some forums say, I am here to help.

    If opening Edge fires up Chrome (even after you got rid of Chrome), it's usually because:

    Messed-up shortcuts or how files are linked: Your Edge shortcuts probably got switched around to point to Chrome.

    Some other software like MSEdgeRedirect, or bits of Chrome left in the system, are stealing how your browser starts.

    Windows weirdness: Edge is part of Windows, so dumping Chrome doesn’t always get rid of all its ties.

    What to Do, Set Edge as Default, Head to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.

    Make sure Microsoft Edge is the go-to app for web stuff (HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, .html) and PDFs.

    Scrub any Chrome settings that are still hanging around.

    Look at Shortcuts

    Right-click your Edge shortcut (either on your desktop or in the bar at the bottom) and hit Properties.

    Make sure the Target points to msedge.exe (usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application).

    If it goes to Chrome or something else, ditch the shortcut and make a new one.

     

    I hope this helps.

     

    Best Regards,

    Noel

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-05T14:53:47.4766667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you're experiencing a significant issue with Microsoft Edge launching a Chrome window instead of the Edge browser itself. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

    1. Check Default Browser Settings: Ensure that Microsoft Edge is set as your default browser. You can do this by going to Settings > Apps > Default apps and confirming that Edge is selected as the default for web browsing.
    2. Clear Edge Data: Sometimes, corrupted data can cause issues. You can clear your browsing data by going to Edge settings, navigating to Privacy, search, and services, and then selecting "Choose what to clear" under Clear browsing data.
    3. Repair Edge: Since you mentioned that you can only click on "Repair," try this option again. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find Microsoft Edge, and select "Modify" to repair it.
    4. Reinstall Edge: If repairing doesn't work, you may need to reinstall Edge. However, Edge is a core part of Windows, and you might not be able to uninstall it completely. Instead, you can try to reset Edge settings to their default by going to Settings > Reset settings.
    5. Check for Malware: Sometimes, malware can cause browsers to behave unexpectedly. Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or any other trusted antivirus software.
    6. Create a New User Profile: If the issue persists, consider creating a new user profile in Windows. This can help determine if the problem is related to your current user profile.
    7. Update Windows: Ensure your Windows operating system is up to date, as updates can fix bugs and improve performance.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.

    References:

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