On a Windows PC, Microsoft Edge launching repeatedly can be an unpleasant issue. Undoubtedly, even if Edge is your preferred web browser, you would not prefer such trouble. The affected customers claim that Edge launches automatically each time they turn on their PC, whereas other users claim that Edge launches automatically whenever they work on the computer. So, if you are trying to figure out how to stop Microsoft Edge from opening itself, we will share some solutions with you.
Fix: Microsoft Edge Keeps Opening Itself on Windows
Given below are seven methods you can use to fix Microsoft Edge opening by itself on your Windows PC:
- Stop Microsoft Edge From Starting Automatically
- Disable Edge From Startup
- Repair Edge
- Disable Spotlight Images on the Lock Screen
- Stop Edge From Opening Automatically via the Registry Editor
- Create New Profile in Edge Browser
1] Stop Microsoft Edge From Starting Automatically
After a system restart, Windows 11 and 10 offer the option to automatically reload several stock apps, including Microsoft Edge. So, to stop Windows from automatically restarting apps, do as follows:
- Open Settings and click on the Accounts option from the left pane. Scroll down and choose the Sign-in options on the right.
- Under Additional settings, toggle off the Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in option.
This will prevent Windows from automatically restarting apps.
2] Disable Edge From Startup
Startup apps are applications that Windows launches automatically and without user intervention. Edge will keep running as a start-up application if you have previously set it to do so. You can look at a list of startup programs in Task Manager and remove Edge from there. This is how you do it:
- Press the Ctrl + Shift +Esc keys together to open Task Manager and click on the Startup tab.
- Please scroll down and locate Microsoft Edge from the list of programs, right-click on it, and choose the Disable option from the context menu. This will disable Edge from opening up during startup.
You must also ensure that Edge is not included in the Windows startup folder and remove it from the Task Manager. This is how to check:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box, type shell:startup into the text box, and click OK.
- Check if there is a Startup folder with a shortcut labeled Microsoft Edge. Right-click it and choose Delete from the context menu if it is there.
3] Repair Edge
In this method, you can try repairing Microsoft Edge app via Windows Settings to prevent it from opening by itself. Here is how you repair Edge:
- Open Settings and click on the Apps option on the left pane. Next, choose the Installed Apps option.
- Under the Apps list, please search for the Microsoft Edge app, click on the three dots menu next to it, and click Modify. Click Yes in the User Account Control window.
- On the Repair Microsoft Edge window, click on the Repair button. This will download and install Microsoft Edge. It will also update your Edge browser to a newer version.
Now, check whether Microsoft Edge keeps opening by itself.
4] Disable Spotlight Images on the Lock Screen
Regardless of your standard browser settings, the Windows Spotlight suggestions on your PC’s lock screen load in Microsoft Edge. Consider turning off Windows Spotlight if you often enable them. This is how you turn off spotlight images on the lock screen:
- Open Settings. Click the Personalization option on the left pane and choose the Lock screen option on the right.
- Click on the drop-down menu next to the Personalize your lock screen option and change the Windows Spotlight option to either the Picture or the Slide show option.
5] Stop Edge From Opening Automatically via the Registry Editor
By creating a key in Windows Registry Editor, you can prevent Edge from opening automatically. Making a system restore point, and a registry backup before moving forward is advised. This is how you stop Edge from opening automatically using the Registry Editor:
- Open Registry Editor, copy and paste the path given below, and press Enter:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate\Clients\{56EB18F8-B008-4CBD-B6D2-8C97FE7E9062}\Commands\on-logon-autolaunch
- Now, check if the AutoRunOnLogon Value is there on the right side. If not, you will have to create it.
- To do this, right-click in the blank space on the right and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value from the context menu.
- Rename the newly formed Value to AutoRunOnLogon by using the right-click menu. Its Value data should initially display 0 by default. If not, right-click it, choose Modify, and type 0 into the Value data field. To save the changes, click OK.
6] Create New Profile in Edge Browser
If nothing else works, you can create a new profile and check if that helps. If there is anything corrupt or misbehaving with the current profile, a new one should be able to fix. Here is how to create a new profile in the Edge browser:
- Open your Edge browser and click on your profile icon at the top right corner of your browser. Next, click on Other profiles > Add profiles. Click on the Add button again when prompted. You now have a new user profile.
- You can sign in and sync data from your previous profile.
Now, check whether Edge automatically opens on Windows.
Conclusion
After Chrome, Microsoft Edge is the second most popular browser, although it still has some problems. The Microsoft Edge profile error is the one that has received the most attention recently.
Fortunately, you can quickly troubleshoot the issue by attempting the abovementioned methods. In the worst-case scenario, you might think about using a different browser if none of the fixes work to fix the issue.
How Do I Stop Microsoft Edge From Opening Multiple Tabs Automatically?
Microsoft will never open multiple tabs unless you have pressed Ctrl + Tab multiple times. However, if it’s happening, it’s best to repair or reinstall Microsoft Edge or create a new profile. Make sure to update Microsoft Edge to the latest version to fix any corrupt files.
How Do I Stop Edge From Hijacking My Browser?
If you do not want to use Microsoft Edge, remove it from the default browser selection, and choose another browser. The setting is available in Settings > Default Apps. Select any browser, and change the default behavior to Chrome or any other browser.
