[Fix] Prevent or Remove Microsoft Edge Automatic Installation in Windows 7 and 8.1

A few months back, Microsoft released new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser for Windows and Mac operating systems. Microsoft Edge is a new web browser from Microsoft which is based on Chromium project. Chromium project’s rendering engine Blink also powers many popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi.

This new Microsoft Edge browser can be manually downloaded and installed in Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 7 and MacOS.

Recently Microsoft started pushing new Microsoft Edge browser to Windows 10 devices automatically. It was automatically downloaded and installed in Windows 10 devices via Windows Updates. We posted a tutorial to block automatic delivery of Microsoft Edge browser in Windows 10. You can read about it at following link:

[Windows 10 Tip] Block or Prevent Automatic Installation of Microsoft Edge Browser

Now Microsoft has started pushing Microsoft Edge browser to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices. If you are using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 in your computer system, Microsoft Edge may be automatically downloaded and installed in your system via Windows Updates in coming days.

Following screenshot shows Microsoft Edge web browser running in Windows 7 after being installed from Windows Update:

If you like the new Microsoft Edge browser and want to use it, then you should not worry about the automatic delivery. But if you don’t want to use Microsoft Edge browser and want to block the automatic installation, this tutorial will help you.

First of all let’s share some details about the automatic installation of Microsoft Edge browser in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 computers:

So if you still want to prevent/restrict automatic download and installation of Microsoft Edge web browser from Windows Update in your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computer, following steps will help you in blocking the automatic delivery of Microsoft Edge web browser:

CASE 1: Prevent/Restrict Automatic Delivery of Microsoft Edge from Windows Update

STEP 1:

First of all we’ll modify Windows Update settings to disable automatic installation of new updates. We’ll set Windows Update to check for updates but notify and ask us before downloading and installing them so that we can decide which update should be installed and which should not.

1. Open Control Panel and click on Windows Update icon. Alternatively, you can direct launch Windows Update using wuapp.exe command in RUN dialog box or Start search box.

2. Now click on “Change Settings” link present in left sidebar. It’ll open Windows Update settings page.

PS: You can directly launch Windows Update settings page by running following command in RUN dialog box:

3. Now first disable “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates” option. If you disable this checkbox, recommended/optional updates will not be automatically downloaded on your computer.

4. Now also change “Important updates” option to “Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them” from the drop-down box. This way, all future updates will not be downloaded automatically. Instead Windows will notify you that new updates are available and then you can select which updates you want to install. I always keep this option selected in all computers. In my opinion that’s the best and safest way to install Windows updates in any computer.

Now Windows will never automatically download and install any update in your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 device without your knowledge or permission. It’ll notify and alert you if an update is available for download.

STEP 2:

Now you can manually check for updates or wait until Windows notifies you about the new KB4567409 update which will bring new Microsoft Edge browser in your system.

Once you see KB4567409 update available in Windows Update, right-click on the update and select “Hide Update” option.

That’s it. You have successfully blocked KB4567409 update from automatically installing Microsoft Edge in your system.

Now Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will not download and install this update in your computer system.

NOTE: In future if you decide to allow automatic installation of Microsoft Edge web browser from Windows Update in your computer, you can restore the KB4567409 update using Windows Update page in Control Panel.

CASE 2: Remove Automatically Installed Microsoft Edge from Your Computer

There might be some Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 users who have already received this new KB4567409 update and Microsoft Edge has been installed in their computer systems. Don’t worry! You can still uninstall or remove Microsoft Edge using following steps:

METHOD 1:

You can uninstall Microsoft Edge using Programs & Features page of Control Panel. Microsoft Edge is listed under installed programs list. You can select Microsoft Edge and click on Uninstall button and it’ll uninstall the new browser from your system.

METHOD 2:

You can uninstall the KB4567409 update from your system which will automatically remove Microsoft Edge browser from your system.

Go to Control Panel -> Programs and Features -> View installed updates page, select KB4567409 update and click on Uninstall button. It’ll remove Microsoft Edge browser from your system.

PS: Now you can follow STEP 1 and 2 as mentioned above to block the automatic delivery of KB4567409 update in your computer system so that Microsoft Edge doesn’t get automatically installed again in your system.

Also Check:

[Tip] Google Chrome Tips-n-Tricks Which Also Work in Microsoft Edge Browser

Download Microsoft Edge Full Standalone Offline Installer

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[Tip] How to Disable / Remove Windows 7 End of Support Notification Message

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