How to deal with Microsoft Edge not opening on Windows 10

Microsoft Edge has been nothing short of exceptional since the move from EdgeHTML to Chromium. However, this did not make the browser immune to problems. A while back, we talked extensively about resolving Microsoft Edge when it freezes or becomes unresponsive. This time we will turn our attention to a more serious error: finding a solution for when Microsoft Edge when it stops opening on Windows 10.

There are several possible reasons that can prevent Microsoft Edge from opening in Windows 10. Bugs and glitches, an outdated browser cache, a corrupt Edge installation, etc. are just a few of them. Let's find out what you can do to fix when Microsoft Edge works on Windows 10.

Warning: If you haven't already synced your browsing data, such as passwords and autofill data, with a Microsoft account, some of the solutions below may permanently erase them.

End the Microsoft Edge process

Sometimes, Microsoft Edge may just crash on startup and fail to load its graphical user interface (GUI). Since the browser is already running in the background, repeated attempts to open it will fail. However, it can be useful to manually end Edge-related processes using Task Manager.

Step 1: right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.

Step 2: do click More Details.

Step 3: in the Processes tab, select Microsoft Edge in the Apps section and click End Task. Repeat for all Edge-related processes displayed in the Background Processes section.

Step 4: exit the Task Manager.

Step 5: start Microsoft Edge.

Restart your computer

Despite the termination of all Microsoft Edge-related processes, your browser may continue to crash indefinitely unless you restart your computer. Then restart your computer. After signing back into the desktop, try reopening Microsoft Edge.

Clear cache

An outdated Microsoft Edge browser cache can cause all kinds of problems. Deleting that data can help. Since Microsoft Edge cannot be opened to clear the cache, use the following File Explorer-based workaround instead.

Step 1: press Windows + R to open the Run box.

Step 2: copy and paste the following path and click OK:

appdata/Local/Microsoft/Edge/User Data/Default/Cache

Step 3: press Ctrl + A shortcut to select all files and folders within the folder.

Step 4: Right-click on any selected file or folder and select Delete to delete the Microsoft Edge cache.

Step 5: try opening Microsoft Edge.

Delete default user profile

A corrupted user profile is another reason that can prevent Microsoft Edge from opening on your computer. Try to clear the data. If you're using a Microsoft account, you'll need to sign in to your browser again later.

Notice: you will permanently lose all unsynced browsing data in Microsoft Edge.

Step 1: press Windows + R to open the Run box.

Step 2: copy and paste the following path and click OK:

appdata/Local/Microsoft/Edge/User Data

Step 3: right-click on the folder named Default

Step 4: select Delete.

Step 5: try to start Microsoft Edge.

Update Windows

Despite being built into Windows 10 itself, Microsoft Edge doesn't rely on Windows Update to stay up to date. However, the Windows 10 build should be updated periodically. This provides the browser with a trouble-free platform when running. To update Windows 10, use the following steps.

Step 1: open the Start menu, select Settings, and then select Update & Security.

Step 2: do click Check for Updates.

Step 3: do Click Download and Install to apply the latest Windows 10 updates.

Run System File Checker

If you're still having trouble opening Microsoft Edge, try running System File Checker to check for and repair instances of corrupted system files on your computer.

Step 1: open the Start menu, type command prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: type the following command in the command prompt console with elevated privileges and press Enter:

sfc / scannow

Step 3: exit the command prompt console after the SFC scan is complete.

Step 4: restart your computer.

Step 5: try to reopen Microsoft Edge.

Reinstall Microsoft Edge

You can try reinstalling Microsoft Edge as a last resort to fix any problems that prevent it from opening in Windows 10. Because the browser is built into the operating system, you need to use a Windows PowerShell command to remove it from your computer. You can then re-download and install it as normal using the EdgeHTML version of Edge.

Step 1: open File Explorer and go to the following location:

Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Microsoft > Edge > Application > [version number] > Installer.

Final report: the [version number] tab in the file path above indicates the current version of Microsoft Edge, for example 87.0.664.60.

Step 2: open the File menu in File Explorer, choose Open Windows PowerShell and select Open Windows PowerShell as administrator.

Step 3: copy and paste the following command and select Enter:

.setup.exe -uninstall -system-level -verbose-logging -force-uninstall

Step 4: wait a few minutes and exit Windows PowerShell. Then, restart your computer.

Step 5: open the Start menu, type Microsoft Edge and select Open to load the EdgeHTML version of Microsoft Edge.

Step 6: copy and paste the following URL into the browser address bar and press Enter:

https://www.microsoft.com/it-it/edge

Step 7: select the Download button for Windows 10 to download and reinstall the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge.

Hopefully, the solutions above have helped you get back to using Microsoft Edge. If you know of other solutions that can help you fix the problem when Microsoft Edge won't open on Windows 10, share in the comments.