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Microsoft Edge can appear to ignore your home page when it is actually following a different setting. Edge separates the page opened by the Home button, the page or tabs loaded when the browser starts, and the layout shown on a new tab. Windows can also launch Edge separately at sign-in, while a failed website, extension, cache, or damaged installation can make the correct page look as though it was never configured.
Work through the checks below in order. The first section fixes the common configuration mistake; the later sections deal with Edge and Windows problems that can override or interfere with normal startup.
1. Check the startup setting, not just the Home button
Changing Show home button on the toolbar only controls what happens when you click the Home icon. It does not necessarily control what Edge displays when it launches.
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- Open Edge and select Settings and more (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Open Start, home, and new tab page. In some Edge builds or Microsoft help pages, the individual section is labeled On startup.
- Choose the startup option that opens a specific page or pages.
- Select Add a new page, enter the complete address, such as
https://www.itechguides.com, and save it.
Close every Edge window and open Edge again to test the change. If you want several pages at launch, add each address as a separate startup page.
2. Configure the Home button separately
If your complaint is that clicking the house-shaped Home button opens the wrong page, configure that control in the same settings area:
- Go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Start, home, and new tab page.
- Turn on Show home button on the toolbar.
- Select New tab page, or select Enter URL.
- Enter the address you want and confirm it.
These are two independent tests:
| What you do | Setting that matters |
|---|---|
| Start Edge from its icon | Startup behavior under Start, home, and new tab page or On startup |
| Click the Home button | Show home button on the toolbar and its selected destination |
| Open a new tab | New tab page settings |
3. Make sure Edge is not restoring the previous session
Edge may be set to restore your previous tabs. In that mode, reopening Edge can bring back the tabs from the last session instead of opening the URL you selected.
Return to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Start, home, and new tab page, or open the On startup subsection. Check whether the browser is configured to restore the previous session. Change it to the option that opens a specific page or pages, then fully close and relaunch Edge.
This is particularly easy to miss after a crash, forced restart, or Windows update, because the restored tabs can make it look as if Edge has ignored the configured address.
4. Do not confuse the new tab page with the home page
A new tab is a third behavior. It may show a news feed, a search box, a background image, or a customized layout even though your startup URL and Home button destination are set correctly.
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To change it, open a new tab, select Page Settings (the gear icon), and adjust the layout, background, and content options. This changes the new-tab experience; it does not necessarily change the URL Edge opens when the browser starts.
5. Test whether the configured website itself is failing
Open the same URL in another browser. If the page fails there too, the problem is probably the website or network connection rather than Edge’s home-page setting.
Other possible causes include:
- A temporary outage or DNS problem affecting the website.
- A corporate firewall, proxy, VPN, or third-party security product blocking the address.
- Malware or unwanted software changing browser behavior.
- Low available memory, especially with many tabs or applications open.
- An extension redirecting pages or opening its own tab.
Try a known-good address such as https://www.microsoft.com. If that loads but your selected site does not, investigate the site’s availability, its URL, and any network filtering before changing Edge settings again.
6. Disable extensions temporarily
An extension can redirect a startup page, open a tab, or interfere with Edge while it is launching. To test this, open:
edge://extensions/
Turn off extensions, close Edge completely, and start it again. If the configured page now appears, re-enable extensions one at a time until you identify the conflict. Remove an extension you do not recognize or no longer need.
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Microsoft also notes that an extension which opens a browser window when no browser is present conflicts with Startup boost. Edge automatically turns Startup boost off when it detects that type of extension.
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7. Check Startup boost, but do not mistake it for a home-page setting
Startup boost keeps selected Edge processes running in the background so the browser can launch faster. It does not choose your home page and does not tell Windows to open Edge when you sign in.
You can inspect its setting at:
edge://settings/system/manageSystem
Startup boost was introduced with Edge Build 88 and is primarily relevant on supported Windows installations. If you are troubleshooting a startup extension conflict, turn it off temporarily, restart Windows, and test Edge again. Do not expect this setting alone to fix a wrong startup URL.
8. Stop Windows from launching a separate Edge window
Sometimes Edge is being opened by Windows rather than by its own normal startup configuration. Windows has a restartable-app feature that can reopen applications after you sign in.
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To disable it, open:
- Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Turn off Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign in.
Also check Windows startup applications:
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Look for Microsoft Edge or an unfamiliar application that may launch it, and turn it off for testing.
You can also check Task Manager > Startup apps. This matters when Edge appears immediately after Windows sign-in, before you have manually opened it. That launch is separate from Edge’s Home button and startup-page settings.
9. Inspect the Startup folders for an unwanted shortcut
A shortcut in a Windows Startup folder can launch Edge with a particular URL or command-line argument. Press Windows key + R, enter one of these commands, and press Enter:
| Command | Folder checked |
|---|---|
shell:startup |
Startup items for your user account |
shell:common startup |
Startup items for all users |
The corresponding paths are:
%userprofile%AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartup
%ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartupRemove only shortcuts you recognize as unwanted. A broken entry can produce We couldn’t find this app, particularly when the original application was uninstalled or was stored on a removable or network drive.
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10. Check Windows startup registry entries only if necessary
Programs can also start from Windows registry Run keys. The relevant locations include:
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HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunDo not delete registry values casually. Back up the registry first, and investigate the exact command or program name before changing anything. If the entry belongs to a work or school computer, ask the administrator instead. An unwanted Edge launch at sign-in can be caused by a policy or management tool rather than a personal setting.
11. Clear Edge’s cached data
Cached files can cause a configured page to display incorrectly, load an old version, or fail during startup. To clear the relevant data:
- Select Settings and more (…) > History.
- Select Open history page.
- Select Delete browsing data.
- Set the time range to All time.
- Select Browsing history and Cached images and files.
- Select Clear now.
Clearing cookies may sign you out of websites, so do not select additional categories unless you need to remove them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.12. Update or repair Microsoft Edge
An outdated or damaged installation can cause startup and page-loading problems.
First, check for updates at Settings and more (…) > Settings > About Microsoft Edge. Install any available update and restart the browser.
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If the problem remains, repair Edge:
- Close Edge.
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft Edge and select Modify.
- Approve the Windows permission prompt.
- Make sure you have an internet connection and select Repair.
Microsoft says repair should not affect your browser data or settings. If Modify is unavailable, an organization may have installed or managed Edge; contact the system administrator rather than trying to replace the installation manually.
What to check on Android
On the Edge mobile app, the controls are different from the Windows desktop controls. On Android, select … > Settings > Home page, choose New tab page or A specific page, enter the address if needed, and select SAVE. Do not use Windows desktop paths in the mobile app.
FAQ
Why does Edge open my old tabs instead of my home page?
Edge is likely configured to restore the previous session. Open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Start, home, and new tab page, or the On startup section, and select the option to open a specific page or pages.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhy does clicking Home work, but Edge still opens another page at launch?
The Home button destination and startup behavior are separate controls. Configure the startup page under Start, home, and new tab page; changing Show home button on the toolbar only changes the page opened by the Home button.
Does Startup boost control which page Edge opens?
No. Startup boost keeps Edge processes ready in the background to improve launch speed. It does not select or override the configured startup page.
Why does Edge start when I sign in to Windows?
Windows may be restoring restartable apps, a startup entry may be enabled, or a shortcut may exist in a Startup folder. Check Sign-in options, Settings > Apps > Startup, Task Manager > Startup apps, and the shell:startup folders.
Will repairing Edge delete my bookmarks and settings?
Microsoft says the Repair option should not affect browser data or settings. Close Edge first, then use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Edge > Modify > Repair.
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Start by setting the launch behavior under Settings and more (…) > Settings > Start, home, and new tab page. Then check that Edge is not restoring the previous session. Remember that the Home button, startup page, and new tab page are different controls. If the setting is correct but the wrong window still appears, test the website, disable extensions, check Windows sign-in and startup entries, clear cached data, and repair Edge if necessary.
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