9 Fixes When Microsoft Edge Keeps Crashing

Microsoft Edge is the default browser in Windows 10. It was designed to replace Internet Explorer and compete with current browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. 

If you’ve had an issue with Microsoft Edge crashing, there are a few steps you can take. 

In this article, we’ll cover how you can prevent Microsoft Edge from crashing. We’ll start with the easiest fixes and progress to more time consuming approaches, so progress through this list in order to (hopefully) save time. 

Why Is Microsoft Edge Crashing? 

The most common reason for Microsoft Edge crashing is browser extensions causing incompatibilities with the browser itself. Crashing can also be caused by corrupted Windows files, corrupted Microsoft Edge field, or a corrupted browser cache. 

Change the Default Search Engine from Google

For some reason, having Google as the default search engine in the Microsoft Edge browser can cause it to crash. 

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the menu at the upper right corner (the three dots).

3. Select Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services.
4. Scroll down to the bottom and select Address bar and search.
5. Click on the drop down box and select an option other than Google. 

Turn Off Search Suggestions

Some users have noted that turning off search suggestions prevents the Microsoft Edge browser from crashing. 

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the menu at the upper right corner (the three dots).
3. Select Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services.
4. Scroll down to the bottom and select Address bar and search.
5. Click the two boxes next to Show me search and site suggestions using my typed characters and Show me suggestions from history, favorites and other data on this device using my typed characters.

6. Restart Microsoft Edge

Clear Cache and Cookies

As noted above, a corrupted cache can cause Microsoft Edge to crash. Here’s how to clear your cache. 

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the menu at the upper right corner (the three dots).
3. Select Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data > See all cookies and site data.

4. Select Remove all.
5. Restart Microsoft Edge.

Note: You can also use the option Clear on exit to ensure that your cookies and site data are cleared every time you close Microsoft Edge. 

Update Windows

Out-of-date or corrupted Windows files can cause the Microsoft Edge browser to crash. Updating Windows should correct this issue. To check if your Windows is up-to-date, follow these steps. 

1. Select the Start button and select Settings.

2. Select Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

Note: Sometimes Windows updates can get stuck. Follow these tips if this happens to you. 

Disable Microsoft Edge Extensions

Sometimes Microsoft Edge extensions, like ad-blockers, can develop incompatibilities with other extensions or with the browser itself. To see whether this is the cause of your crashing, disable all of the extensions at once and see if it fixes the crashing. If it does, you can then enable extensions you need one-by-one. 

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the menu at the upper right corner (the three dots).
3. Select Extensions.
4. Disable or remove all extensions by clicking the blue bar or selecting Remove.

Reset to Microsoft Edge Default Settings

Follow these steps to reset your Microsoft Edge to its default settings. 

6. Open Microsoft Edge.
7. Click on the menu at the upper right corner (the three dots).
8. Choose Settings.
9. Select Reset settings from the left side-bar.
10. Select Restore settings to their default values.

11. Restart Microsoft Edge.

Repair Microsoft Edge in App Settings

If the previous fixes didn’t work, repairing Microsoft Edge via the Apps & features menu might help. 

1. Click the Start menu, right-click on Microsoft Edge, select More and then Add or remove programs.
2. Scroll down and find Microsoft Edge.
3. Click on Microsoft Edge and select Modify.

4. A user account control notification will pop up asking you to allow permission to make changes to your device.
5. Select Yes > Repair.

6. Allow the installer to repair the app and then restart Microsoft Edge.

Reinstall Microsoft Edge

Because Microsoft Edge is part of Windows, you cannot uninstall and reinstall it via Add or Remove Programs. This is the most involved method for fixing browser crashes and all other fixes should be attempted before this one. It’s recommended that you create a system restore point before attempting this fix. You will need to restart your PC in safe mode. 

Step 1: Restart your PC in safe mode

1. Press the Windows + I keys together. This should open the Settings app. 
2. Select Update & Security.

3. Select Recovery in the left sidebar.
4. Under Advanced Startup select Restart now. 

5. Your PC will restart into the Choose an option screen. 
6. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

7. Type 4 to enter safe mode.

Step 2: Delete the Microsoft Edge Package folder

1. Press Windows + R. This should open the run command box. 
2. Type: %localappdata%\Packages\ and hit enter.

3. Find the folder “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” and delete it.

Note: You can also simply rename this folder to something else.

Step 3: Restart Windows and Reinstall Microsoft Edge

First, restart Windows in normal mode. 

Windows may automatically reinstall Microsoft Edge. You can check if this is the case by opening Microsoft Edge once. If it crashes and closes, attempt to open Microsoft Edge one more time after a brief break. If it opens and runs smoothly then it’s been reinstalled. If not, proceed with the following steps. 

1. Hit Start and type Powershell.
2. Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.

3. Type the following command into the PowerShell window and then press Enter: 

Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | ForEach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

4. Close PowerShell and restart your computer one more time. 
5. Open Microsoft Edge and see if it runs without crashing.

Change Your Browser

Okay, this one’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, but if Microsoft Edge isn’t working for you, there’s plenty of other options out there. Take a look at Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera. 

Hopefully, one of these 9 fixes help you stop Microsoft Edge crashing. If one of these tips worked for you, let us know in the comments below.