Uninstall Microsoft Edge If Uninstall Button is Grayed Out

Microsoft has started delivering Microsoft Edge to users of Windows via Windows Update. The update is provisioned for users of Windows 10 version 1803 and above, and replaces the classic Edge app once installed. The browser, when delivered with KB4559309, makes it impossible to uninstall it from Settings.

Once installed, the update replaces the classic Edge and hides it from the app list. Check out how to have them installed side-by-side.

The change affects only consumer editions of Windows 10. Enterprise user have to install it manually, or deploy it using MSI installers (see below).

Contents hide

What's new in the Microsoft Edge update

Microsoft ships the update with the following key notes:

Start menu pins, tiles, and shortcuts for the current version of Microsoft Edge will migrate to the new Microsoft Edge.
Taskbar pins and shortcuts for the current version of Microsoft Edge will migrate to the new Microsoft Edge.
The new Microsoft Edge will be pinned to the taskbar. If the current version of Microsoft Edge is already pinned, it will be replaced.
The new Microsoft Edge will add a shortcut to the desktop. If the current version of Microsoft Edge already has a shortcut, it will be replaced.
By default, most protocols that Microsoft Edge handles will be migrated to the new Microsoft Edge.
The current version of Microsoft Edge will be hidden from UX surfaces in the OS. This includes settings, applications, and any file or protocol support dialog boxes.
Attempts to start the current version of Microsoft Edge will redirect to the new Microsoft Edge.
The First Run Experience (FRE) will auto-launch the first time that a device restarts after the new Microsoft Edge is installed.
Data from earlier versions of Microsoft Edge (such as passwords, favorites, open tabs) will be available in the new Microsoft Edge.
The new Microsoft Edge does not support the removal of this update.

As you can see, the last line explicitly indicates that Microsoft is not allowing removal of the update. The company is interested in getting the market share as big as possible for its newest browser. However, it is actually possible to uninstall it. There is a special uninstall command we can use.

To Uninstall Microsoft Edge If the Uninstall Button is Grayed Out,

Open File Explorer.
Navigate to the following folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application .
There, you will find a subfolder that matches the current version of the installed Edge browser, e.g. 83.0.478.58 .
Under it, you will find the Installer folder, e.g. 83.0.478.58\Installer , which contains the setup.exe file.
Click on the address bar of File Explorer, type cmd.exe and hit the Enter key to open the command prompt in the current folder.
Enter the following command and hit Enter: setup.exe --uninstall --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstall .
This will remove the Edge browser from the OS.

Note: If you see an error message when running the command above, you should try to restart the OS and then run the command again.

Thanks to deskmodder.de for this tip.

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Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube. View all posts by Sergey Tkachenko

Author Sergey Tkachenko Last updated on: Last updated on: July 9, 2020 Categories Microsoft Edge Tags Uninstall Microsoft Edge

19 thoughts on “Uninstall Microsoft Edge If Uninstall Button is Grayed Out”

Michael Petzak says: This set of instructions worked perfectly. Thank you so much for providing this! Gareth says: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\ folder doesn’t exist Michael Hastings says: Outstanding … thank you so much!! Shari R says:

You are brilliant, thank you. I removed Edge previously. However, I noticed that when I updated window 10 yesterday, it reappeared. I might just go back to Kubuntu. I am tired of Microsoft’s Gestapo tactics!

Yuru says: It worked. Thank you so much. ~marilyn says:

That was great, thanks. When I updated my laptop the Microsoft Edge Installer page came up automatically, covering my entire desktop so I could not get at any of my work, would not move, resize or go away until I installed it. This is definitely dirty pool and I’m getting as far away from all M$ products as I can.

sebas says: It worked only if I run the command in CMD as an administator. Jay says:

I thought I had stopped windows updating but found edge sitting on my system this morning again, This worked like a charm. Thank you!

Paul Edwards says: Worked well, Edge now gone. Thanks. Regan says:

Alas, even as administrator my laptop w/ windows 10 wouldn’t allow the command prompt to work. Edge is killing my laptop, overheating, slowing every function down to a crawl despite running every sort of maintenance or clean up process I could find. I also applied every possible way to disable, disallow edge’s invasive, disabling effects upon everything which previously functioned well. I appreciate your efforts to help the millions of people who have this problem. Thank you, Regan

A Bailey says:

Thank you! This also leads you out of the “s” mode. That allows you to finally install chrome as well. Shame on Microsoft for this.

bohrsmodeld says: It didn’t work. It’s still there. Grrr. bohrsmodeld says: Oops. Nevermind. It worked when I copied and paste your commands in prompt. Rich says:

I followed the steps, and an Edge Window pops up asking permission to make changes with YES or No choices. Clicking either one sends me back to the prompt screen. Constant cycle nothing changes!

Roman says: Same by me reza says: VAL says: Didn’t work for me in Windows 11. Sven says:

This method does not work for a while now. Microsoft no longer makes the browser optional. It is now integrated to be part of the OS Why can’t I uninstall Microsoft Edge? https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/why-can-t-i-uninstall-microsoft-edge-ee150b3b-7d7a-9984-6d83-eb36683d526d Microsoft Edge is the web browser recommended by Microsoft and is the default web browser for Windows. Because Windows supports applications that rely on the web platform, our default web browser is an essential component of our operating system and can’t be uninstalled. To provide our users with compatibility, compliance, accessibility, and performance, we’ll continue updating Microsoft Edge through the browser installer or Windows updates. Microsoft Edge gives users full control over importing personal data from other browsers. In addition, Windows users can download and install other browsers and change their default browser at any time.

Daniel W Siddall says: Why are you bootlicking Microsoft Edge? F**K off!

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