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Microsoft Edge can be made the default browser from your operating system’s default-app settings. The exact path depends on whether you use Windows, macOS, Android, or an iPhone or iPad.
Changing the default browser only changes which app opens web links and supported browser files. It does not uninstall Edge. Uninstalling Edge on Windows is a separate, region- and build-dependent option.
Set or remove Edge as the default browser in Windows 11
Set Edge as the default browser
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps > Default apps.
- Search for Microsoft Edge, then select it.
- Select Set default.
This is the supported Windows 11 method. It changes the browser associations Windows exposes for web links and browser-related file types.
Remove Edge as the default browser
- Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Search for and select the browser you want to use instead.
- Select Set default.
If a link or file still opens in Edge, change its association individually. On the Default apps page, search for one of these protocols or extensions:
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| Association | Used for |
|---|---|
HTTP and HTTPS |
Web links |
.htm and .html |
Web pages saved as files |
.pdf |
PDF documents |
Select the current app beside an association and choose your replacement browser. Windows supports setting defaults by application, file type, and protocol.
Windows 11 behavior in the European Economic Area
On current Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds in the EEA, choosing Set default can set more associations than it does elsewhere, provided the browser registers for them. These may include:
- Link types:
ftp,http,https, andread - File types:
.htm,.html,.mht,.mhtml,.shtml,.svg,.xht,.xhtml, and.xml
A browser that registers for PDF files may also show a separate one-click option for becoming the default PDF app. Windows may additionally offer options to pin the selected browser to the taskbar and Start menu. These changes began rolling out to retail Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs in July 2025, but availability depends on the installed build and staged rollout.
Set or remove Edge as the default browser in Windows 10
Set Edge as the default
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Under Web browser, select the current browser.
- Choose Microsoft Edge.
Remove Edge as the default
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Under Web browser, select Microsoft Edge.
- Choose the browser you want to use instead.
Windows 10 might not change every association automatically. If necessary, return to Default apps and change the HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, .html, or .pdf associations individually.
Set or remove Edge on macOS
macOS Ventura 13 or later
- Open the Apple menu.
- Select System Settings.
- Select Desktop & Dock.
- Scroll to Default web browser.
- Choose Microsoft Edge, or select another browser to remove Edge as the default.
macOS Monterey 12 or earlier
- Open the Apple menu.
- Select System Preferences.
- Select General.
- Open the Default web browser menu.
- Choose Edge or another installed browser.
macOS requires the user to approve a default-browser change. An application cannot silently change this setting through ordinary programmatic means.
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Set or remove Edge on Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap Default apps or Choose default apps. The wording varies by phone manufacturer and Android version.
- Tap Browser app.
- Select Microsoft Edge to make it the default, or select another browser to remove Edge as the default.
If the menus do not match these names, use the Settings search box for Default apps or Browser app. The relevant control is the system browser-app default.
Set or remove Edge on an iPhone or iPad
- Update iOS or iPadOS if the Default Apps menu is missing.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps > Default Apps.
- Tap Browser App.
- Select Microsoft Edge to set it as the default, or choose another browser to remove Edge as the default.
Edge must support Apple’s default-browser capability to appear in the list of available browsers.
Does changing the default browser uninstall Edge?
No. Changing the default browser changes which application opens web links and related file types; Edge remains installed.
Uninstall Edge outside the EEA
Microsoft’s general Windows support position is that Edge is a core Windows component and cannot normally be uninstalled through the Windows interface outside the EEA. You can install another browser and make it the default instead.
Do not try to remove Edge by deleting its folders, registry keys, DLLs, or executable files. Edge is used by Windows web-based applications, and its installation and updates are managed by Windows and Microsoft Edge Update. Manual deletion can break dependent features and leave the update system in an inconsistent state.
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Uninstall Edge in the EEA
Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers in the EEA may provide an official uninstall option:
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Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Edge > ... > Uninstall
Microsoft documents this option for Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 version 23H2 or later. Whether the button appears depends on the device’s region configuration, installed updates, and any Edge Update policies applied to a domain-managed computer.
Removing Edge can affect Windows applications, widgets, or Progressive Web Apps that depend on it. If the Uninstall option is not shown, changing the default browser is the supported alternative.
Why Edge may keep becoming the default on a work computer
A company-managed computer can be configured to control Edge’s default-browser behavior. Two relevant Microsoft Edge policies are:
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| Policy | Policy value | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Set Microsoft Edge as default browser | DefaultBrowserSettingEnabled |
When enabled, Edge checks on startup whether it is the default and registers itself as default where possible. |
| Enables default browser settings campaigns | DefaultBrowserSettingsCampaignEnabled |
Controls prompts encouraging users to make Edge the default browser and Bing the default search engine. |
On Windows, these policies are under:
SOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftEdge
A value of 1 enables DefaultBrowserSettingEnabled; a value of 0 prevents Edge from checking and disables the related user control. If a work or school device resets the browser after you change it, contact the organization’s administrator rather than editing the registry.
Administrators can also deploy default associations through Group Policy or mobile-device management. For example, a managed association file can assign Edge Stable to HTML, HTTP/HTTPS, and PDF files:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DefaultAssociations>
<Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier=".html"/>
<Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier=".htm"/>
<Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier="http"/>
<Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgeHTM" Identifier="https"/>
<Association ApplicationName="Microsoft Edge" ProgId="MSEdgePDF" Identifier=".pdf"/>
</DefaultAssociations>That XML is intended for enterprise deployment, not as a consumer workaround. It has no effect if Edge is not installed.
Default browser and default search engine are different
Making Edge the default browser does not force Bing to be the only search engine used by Edge. The browser default determines which app opens links. The search-engine setting controls searches typed into Edge’s address bar.
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- Select Settings and more (…), then Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services.
- Select Search and connected services.
- Select Address bar and search.
- Choose a search engine under Search engine used in the address bar.
Windows S mode limitation
On Windows 10 or Windows 11 in S mode, Microsoft says Edge is always the default web browser and Bing is always the default search engine. Chrome or Firefox cannot become the default while the device remains in S mode.
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Switching out of S mode is permanent. After switching, install the browser you want and select it from Windows’ Default apps settings.
FAQ
How do I change the default browser from Edge to Chrome in Windows 11?
Open Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for Chrome, select it, and choose Set default. If some links still open in Edge, change the HTTP and HTTPS associations individually on the same page.
Does removing Edge as the default browser remove Microsoft Edge?
No. It only changes the app used for web links and browser-related file types. Edge remains installed unless Windows provides a supported uninstall option, such as the region-dependent option available on some EEA devices.
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Why is there no Uninstall button for Microsoft Edge?
Outside the EEA, Microsoft generally treats Edge as a core Windows component and does not provide a normal uninstall option. In the EEA, the button depends on the Windows version, region configuration, updates, and device-management policies.
Can I stop Edge from opening PDF files?
Yes. In Windows, open Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for .pdf, select the current app, and choose another PDF-capable application. On some systems, a PDF may open in Edge because no other suitable app is installed.
Does making Edge the default browser change Bing?
No. Browser selection and search-engine selection are separate. Change the search engine in Edge under Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Search and connected services > Address bar and search.
Why does Edge become the default again after I change it?
A work or school administrator may have enabled the DefaultBrowserSettingEnabled policy or deployed default associations. On a managed device, ask the administrator to change the policy rather than using registry hacks.
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The Bottom Line
Use your operating system’s Default apps or Default web browser setting to switch to or away from Microsoft Edge. On Windows, this changes browser associations but normally does not remove Edge. An official uninstall option is available only on qualifying Windows builds and configurations, including supported EEA devices.
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