Frustrated with Microsoft Edge hijacking your default browser or slowing down your system? You're not alone! Millions of Windows 10 users want to ditch it for Chrome, Firefox, or something lighter. But standard uninstallers won't touch this stubborn Chromium-based beast β it's a system-protected app. Enter PowerShell: your secret weapon for a clean removing Microsoft Edge via PowerShell on Windows 10.
This guide delivers a precise, battle-tested method using the latest up-to-date commands. We'll walk you through every click, copy-paste, and verification step. β οΈ Warning: This removes Edge for the current user and system-wide where possible. Back up data first, and know Microsoft might reinstall it via updates. Ready to reclaim control? Let's dive in! π
Why Remove Microsoft Edge? Quick Benefits
- β Faster PC: Frees up ~500MB RAM and storage.
- β
Custom Freedom: Set any browser as default without interference.
- π No More Intrusions: Stops auto-updates and telemetry nagging.
Prerequisites Before Starting
| Requirement |
Why Needed |
Check It |
| Windows 10 (Build 19041+) |
Supports modern Edge packages |
Win + R β winver |
| Admin Rights |
PowerShell needs elevation |
Right-click PowerShell β Run as Admin |
| Backup |
Safety net |
Use File History or external drive |
Got these? Perfect. Time for the magic. 
π₯ Step-by-Step: Removing Microsoft Edge via PowerShell on Windows 10
- 1οΈβ£ Open PowerShell as Administrator
Hit Win + S, type "PowerShell", right-click, and select "Run as administrator". Confirm UAC prompt. Blue window? You're golden!
- 2οΈβ£ List All Edge Packages
Copy-paste this command and hit Enter:
Get-AppxPackage *edge*
You'll see packages like Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable. Note the PackageFullName β we'll nuke them next. Pro tip: Screenshot this for reference.
- 3οΈβ£ Remove Edge for Current User
Run:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable | Remove-AppxPackage
No errors? Edge shortcuts vanish. But wait β system-wide removal coming up!
- 4οΈβ£ Nuke All Users' Edge Packages
Powerful one-liner for total domination:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge.Stable | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
This targets every profile. Patience β it scans profiles.
- 5οΈβ£ Handle Legacy Edge (If Present)
Old EdgeHTML? Zap it:
Get-AppxPackage *MSEdge* | Remove-AppxPackage
Repeat for -AllUsers if needed.
- 6οΈβ£ Block Reinstallation (Registry Magic)
Prevent updates from resurrecting it. Run:
New-Item "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate" -Force; New-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate" -Name "DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium" -Value 1 -PropertyType DWORD -Force
Boom β updates blocked!
- 7οΈβ£ Restart Explorer & Verify
Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) β Processes β Restart Windows Explorer. Check Start Menu: Edge gone? π

- 8οΈβ£ Clean Leftovers (Optional Polish)
Delete folders:
Remove-Item "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Edge" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
And "$env:PROGRAMFILES(x86)\Microsoft\Edge". Reboot for full effect.
β
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Stuck? Here's your fix-it table:
| Error |
Solution |
| "Access Denied" |
Re-run as true Admin (disable UAC temporarily) |
| Package not found |
Use Get-AppxPackage * and filter manually |
| Edge reinstalls |
Run reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate" /v DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f |
| WebView2 blocks |
Remove via Get-AppxPackage *WebView* |
For deeper dives, check Microsoft's official AppX docs: PowerShell Remove-AppxPackage.
Post-Removal: Level Up Your Browsing
Edge out? Install your fave: Chrome for speed, Firefox for privacy. Set defaults via Settings β Apps β Default apps. Feeling empowered? Share your success in comments below β did this removing Microsoft Edge via PowerShell on Windows 10 guide save your day? π
Pro Tip: Monitor updates β if Edge sneaks back, repeat steps 3-6. Stay in control! Questions? Drop 'em β we've got your back. Happy browsing! π