[Windows 10 Tip] Block or Prevent Automatic Installation of Microsoft Edge Browser via Windows Update
UPDATE: In December 2019, we told you that the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser will be automatically delivered to Windows 10 machines via Windows Updates. Now the time has come. Microsoft has started rolling out chromium-based Microsoft Edge from Windows Updates on Windows 10 devices (the updates are KB4541301, KB4541302 and KB4559309). The new Microsoft Edge will replace the old UWP based Microsoft Edge version. If you want to block or prevent this automatic and forceful download and installation of chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser in your Windows 10 device, this article will help you.
Microsoft is going to release final stable version of Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser to public on January 15, 2020 as mentioned here. Microsoft Edge browser will be automatically downloaded and installed on all Windows 10 devices via Windows Update. If you don’t want this forcefully installation of Microsoft Edge browser in your Windows 10 computer, this tutorial will help you in blocking/disabling the automatic delivery of Microsoft Edge browser from Windows Update.
By default, the UWP version of Microsoft Edge browser comes preinstalled with Windows 10 and Microsoft has decided to replace the existing UWP version of Microsoft Edge with the new Chromium-based version in Windows 10.
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The new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser is based on popular Chromium project. Chromium project’s rendering engine “Blink” is also used by many popular web browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi. So you’ll find similar features and functionality in new Microsoft Edge browser which is present in Google Chrome, Opera and Vivaldi browsers.
Once Microsoft Edge browser’s stable version is released by Microsoft to public, it’ll start downloading and installing automatically via Windows Update on all Windows 10 devices running Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803 or RS4) and newer.
If you don’t want to install new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser in your Windows 10 computer, you can prevent or restrict Windows 10 from automatically downloading and installing it from Windows Update.
There is a Registry tweak available from Microsoft which will block the automatic delivery of Microsoft Edge browser via Windows Update.
You just need to apply following registry trick in your Windows 10 device to disable automatic download and installation of Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser via Windows Update:
1. Press WIN+R keys together to open RUN dialog box. Now type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.
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2. Now go to following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
3. Now create a new key under Microsoft key and set its name as EdgeUpdate
4. Select EdgeUpdate key and in right-side pane, right-click on empty area and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value option. Set the new DWORD name as DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium and set its value to 1
That’s it. Restart your computer and Windows 10 will NOT automatically download and install new Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge browser in your system.
PS: If you decide to unblock delivery of Microsoft Edge browser in your system, delete the DWORD created in Step 4.
NOTE: If you are not familiar with Registry editing tasks, we are providing ready-made Registry script to do the task automatically. Download following ZIP file, extract it and run the .REG file. It’ll ask for confirmation, accept it. Restart your computer to take effects:
The ZIP file also contains extra registry script to unblock delivery of Microsoft Edge browser.
Also Check:
[Fix] How to Uninstall New Microsoft Edge in Windows 10? Uninstall Button Grayed Out or Disabled
[Fix] Prevent or Remove Microsoft Edge Automatic Installation in Windows 7 and 8.1
[Tip] How to Restore Old Legacy Microsoft Edge Browser After Installing New Edge in Windows 10
[Windows 10 Tip] Prevent / Restrict New Microsoft Edge from Replacing and Disabling Old Legacy Edge
[Tip] Prevent “Microsoft Search in Bing” Extension Automatic Installation in Google Chrome
Thanks for this update.
Thanks Vishal!
2 Questions:
• Will Legacy Edge be obliterated either way?
• Will one be able to obtain a copy of Edge Chromium after the fact?
^^ Once new Chromium-based Edge is installed, it’ll hide the legacy Edge browser from everywhere. I’ll post a tutorial to run both versions of Edge side-by-side in Windows 10 once stable version is released to public.
Edge chromium will be available as a standalone download as well for interested users and you’ll be able to install it in Windows 10 even if you applied the above mentioned registry trick.
Thanks for this! I used the link to download the script, and it seemed to work fine.
I don’t want to install the new Edge because I use a great little program called EdgeManage that let’s me make changes to my Edge Favorites easily. Unfortunately, that program only works on the Legacy version of Edge.
Thanks for the tip!
The Chromium-based browser installed itself this morning (2020-06-16) and now the fonts are terrible. I suspect, based on others’ comments that there are other undesirable “features”.
It turns out that the original Edge is still there, but not accessible! It is still in C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
I was able to revert to the standard Edge by deleting edge from the start menu, all icons, and the Edge and EdgeUpdate folders in the C:\C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft directory.
Then in the search bar, I typed “Explorer”, and it gave me the option of “upgrading” to the older version of Edge!
Thankyou! Third lot of updates came last night (2 November 2020) and MS had made Edge my default browser (as well as deleting my widgets again), and was insisting I set it up for myself. NO!! But you fixed it for me. I shall bookmark you.
This appeared to no longer work after the new update. Can you please revise the article, as your tips was very helpful for me?
Will this fix work on the new Edge? I ask because it has worked great for me for over a year, but now Microsoft is trying to install the new Edge and everytime it does I have to go through a blue screen waiting for it to uninstall. I never use Edge and I don’t like the way Ms keeps trying to push it on me. Should I wait for a new regedit/tool or maybe just do this again?
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this. Edge updated when I tried to install the MS store Facebook app, but both would not work on my old PC. This has restored the old version.