How to Reinstall Microsoft Edge Browser

How to Reinstall Microsoft Edge Browser in Windows 10

Edge Browser driving you crazy? …
Problem with Microsoft edge?

Windows 10 is an awesome operating system, however, there are still some issues which creep up, now and then. One of them is, the problems users face with Microsoft’s new Edge Browser.

• Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 not working
• The MicrosoftEdge Browser wont open, or Microsoft Edge Browser will not open at all when clicked.
• It is missing from the start menu
• It is not listed under the Windows Apps
• You cannot find it anywhere within Windows 10

Sometimes, the web pages may open in Edge Browser when you search the web from Cortana. But there is no way to launch the Edge Browser manually. You try in another user account and it is working absolutely fine. Or It may not be working at all in another user account. A Windows 10 Update or a system restore for another issue could’ve caused it to disappear.

What causes Microsoft edge not opening issues?

How to fix Microsoft edge?

Repair or Reset Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 via Settings

It is recommended to repair Microsoft Edge or reset Microsoft Edge before attempting to reinstall it.

Windows 10 Version 1709 (Fall Creators Update Codenamed “Redstone 3” Release Date: September 2017) and later has options to Reset and Repair the Edge browser with a simple click via Settings.

1. Firstly, Right-Click Windows Start button => Click on Settings
2. Next, Click on Apps => Under Apps & features, Search for Microsoft Edge and Click on it.
3. Click on the Advanced options link to open it.
4. Scroll down and you will see Repair and Reset Buttons.

You can try the Repair option first. Click the Repair button to start the repair.
(The Apps’s data won’t be affected, Your Edge data will remain safe)

If the Repair option does not resolve the problem, you can now try the Reset option. Click the Reset button to start the reset.
(This action will reset your Edge browser settings, your favorites will remain safe, however, you’ll lose some data like browsing history)

Is Microsoft Edge Browser still not working?

What do you do?

You may find its link under C:WindowsSystemAppsMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbweMicrosoftEdge.exe, But it cannot be launched from that location.

Uninstall Microsoft edge and or Windows 10?

Frustration sets in!

No Problem! Whatever the Cause or reason for this buggy situation,  you don’t have to reinstall Windows 10. You don’t have to create another user account.

We have a Fix. A Simple Fix! An excellent fix for Microsoft edge not responding problems. A fix to repair Microsoft edge browser using PowerShell commands.

Copy and Paste the below command in PowerShell in Windows Admin Mode and Hit enter.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}

Read on for more in-depth steps, if the above command does not fix the problem.

Please Note:
Trusteer Rapport Security Software from IBM is known to cause problems with the Microsoft Edge Browser. If you have this Software, Try Uninstalling or Turn Off Trusteer Endpoint Protection for Edge to work.

Reinstalling Microsoft Edge Browser to its Default

Reinstalling the Edge Browser is pretty easy if you follow the below steps. Just a reminder,  you may lose all favorites. If you have favorites saved elsewhere or in other browsers, you can easily import it back to the Edge Browser. It is good practice to create a system restore point before starting any troubleshooting. It will help to get back to where you started, just in case you mess up. To create a restore point, Type create a restore point in Windows search and hit enter. Click the Create… Tab and follow the instructions.

Step 1

Hidden items have to be enabled – (Click on the “View” Tab in File Explorer and put a check mark on “Hidden items”)

Step 2

Navigate to C:Users%username%AppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe and Delete the “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” Folder

(Where “%username%” is the name of your user account)

Deleting this folder may take some time. It takes about a minute or two to start initializing the deletion. It will delete all the files in that folder except 2 or 3 files and the parent folder. The “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” may not get deleted. It will ask for administrator privileges at the end, even though you are the administrator of the account. It doesn’t matter. Hit “Ok” and then select “skip”  to skip the remaining file deletion. Hit “Ok” once again.

Updated – 18 January 2016:

In some cases, if a few files inside the “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” folder is corrupted, it may prevent the re-installation of the Edge browser. It may prevent Folder Over-write / deletion and we may not know that it is file corruption that is preventing the Folder Over-write / deletion. It is better to rename the “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” to “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.OLD” to prevent such issues.

Updated – 15 August 2016:

Keep in mind, when it comes to deleting or renaming files, Microsoft Edge behaves differently in Microsoft account vs a local account.

If you are on a local user account the Microsoft Edge folder can be renamed or deleted easily after closing the browser or restarting the computer. In a Microsoft user account, just by restarting the computer or closing the Edge browser will not allow renaming of the folder.

The Microsoft Edge folder can be renamed if the “RoamingState” subfolder is first deleted.
(C:Users%username%AppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbweRoamingState)

The Microsoft Edge folder can be deleted if the “RoamingState & “AC” subfolders are first deleted. (Restart the computer first to be able to delete the AC folder)
(C:Users%username%AppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbweAC)

You can also sign in to another user account and then easily delete or rename the respective Microsoft Edge folder. But it is time-consuming.

You can skip Step 2 and proceed straight to Step 3 to rename the “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe Folder.
Come back and read the above notes if you get stuck deleting /renaming the folder.

Step 3

Updated – 18 January 2016:

Restart the Computer.

(The computer has to be restarted, to make sure no folders or files related to edge browser are open – if not we cannot rename it.)

Launch Command Prompt in Admin mode

(To Launch Command Prompt in Admin Mode: Right-Click The Start Menu > Select Command Prompt (Admin))

Copy and paste the below command to first delete the “RoamingState” folder.
(“thf” is the username in this example – Substitute it with your account name)

RD /S /Q “C:UsersthfAppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbweRoamingState

Hit Enter

Then, Copy and paste the below command:

REN "C:UsersthfAppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe" "Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.OLD"

Hit Enter

Once again, Copy and paste the below command:

REN "C:UsersthfAppDataLocalPackagesMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe" "Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.OLD"

Hit Enter

(“thf” is the username in this example – Substitute it with your account name)

We run this command twice or until you see the message in the command prompt window that says “The system cannot find the file specified” so that we can make sure the folder is in fact renamed. If you get “Access is denied” message go to step 2 and read notes under “Updated – 15 August 2016″

Step 4 

Now, Microsoft Edge has been removed. To bring it back, to install Edge on Windows 10, we need to reinstall it through an Admin ‘PowerShell” prompt.

To Launch PowerShell, Type “Power Shell” in Windows search. Right Click and Run as Administrator  The “Windows PowerShell” – Desktop app

Step 5

The Default Directory listed would be as – PS C:WINDOWSsystem32>

(Please make sure this blog post you are reading is in English before copying the below commands.
Go to the Top Right of this web page and Ensure the Translation drop down is set to English.)

We need to change the directory to reflect the current user account. I am showing it step by step to prevent confusion for the not so Techie guys.

1. Type – cd c: – Hit enter
2. Directory Changes to – PS C:>
3. Type – cd users – Hit enter
4. Directory changes to – PS C:users>
5. Type – cd thf – Hit enter
6. Directory changes to – PS C:usersthf (“thf” is the username in this example – Substitute it with your account name)

You can change the directory in one shot, if you wish, with the following command – cd c:usersthf  (“thf” is the username in this example – Substitute it with your account name)

(If your username consists of two words, ensure it is enclosed within Double Quotes  ” “. For example: If John Monroe is the user name, then the command would be cd c:users“John Monroe”)

Step 6

Then, Copy and Paste this Command in the PowerShell: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}

Hit enter and wait for some time. Once it says operation completed … Type “exit” and Hit Enter.

Step 7

The Edge Browser is back in Windows 10. Restart the computer to complete the Process.

Happy Browsing once again with the Microsoft Edge Browser!

Step 8

If you get any errors like ‘Package could not be registered’, ‘The system cannot find the file specified.’ etc.
Example errors –   “Add-AppxPackage: Cannot find path ‘C:AppXManifest.xml’ because it does not exist.”Then,

Please Navigate to C:WindowsSystemApps and Rename the Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe Folder to Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.OLD
(You may have to take ownership to let Windows allow you to rename the folder)

Next, Open the command prompt in admin mode and run the following command. (It will take some time to execute the command)

sfc /scannow

Hit Enter

Once it says, Verification 100% complete.
(It does not matter if it fixed corrupted files or not as long as it has rebuilt the Edge Folder)

Type Exit to Quit Command Prompt Window.

It would’ve rebuilt a fresh copy of the Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe Folder with all the required files.

Try to open the Edge Browser. it should work 50% of the time.

If not working, Then Launch PowerShell in Windows Admin Mode and run the below cmdlet command:

(If you performed Step 2 or Step 3 in the Blog, then you need to run the below cmdlet command)

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

Now the above cmdlet command would run without any errors.

Try opening the Edge Browser.
The Edge Browser should launch without any issues.

In case you face any issues in resolving the problems, Please post in the comments section, and I will get back ASAP

---

The Next Major Update of Windows 10 is Due by August 2nd, 2016!

It will be a Global free roll out starting from August 2nd for Windows 10 users.
Might take some time before all devices get the Anniversary update due to the sheer volume of devices to update.

Let’s Hope that the majority of issues will be taken care by this Anniversary Update! Code-named Redstone.

Those who have not upgraded their Windows 7  & Windows 8.1 systems to Windows 10, July 29th, 2016 is the last date to get a free upgrade.

---

The Windows 10 November (2015) Update has not fixed the recurring issues with Edge, Cortana or Start Menu, etc. In fact, after the Windows 10 November update, running the generic PowerShell cmdlet to fix issues with Windows 10 Apps like Edge, Cortana, Start Menu, screws up 15 other Windows  Apps. Go here to Find the Ultimate solution to fix that Problem.

The specific PowerShell cmdlet as used in this Blog is fine.

Good News for Windows 10 Anniversary Update users!

Running PowerShell cmdlet commands in Windows 10 Anniversary update (version 1607) or the Windows 10 Creator’s Update (version 1703) does not mess up Windows apps.
Microsoft has fixed the issue in these versions.

---

What is the newest version of Windows ?

Windows 10 April Update Version 1803 (Code-Name: Redstone 4) was launched in the last week of April 2018. It was earlier known as the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update. It brings to the table a lot of features.

However, a few Users reported that after they have updated to this Version 1803, an extra new partition of 449MB was automatically created. Windows will also keep prompting you that this partition is full which is very annoying. This is a bug which Microsoft is aware and would be fixed in a subsequent update. To resolve this problem right away, Go here => Fix Windows 10 Version 1803 creates an extra Disk Partition

You can download the new windows 10 creators update for free from the official Microsoft website: Windows 10 spring creators update download. You can either use the Update Assistant or the windows 10 media creation tool download to get the latest version of Windows 10.

Related Post: How to fix Microsoft Store Refreshing itself in a loop when you try to download from the Store.

---

Please Share this Solution. It will help friends who face problems with Microsoft Edge Browser.
Bookmark this web page, you may need it to fix issues with Microsoft edge in future too.

For info about WannaCry attack, go to Prevention and Removal of WannaCry Ransomware

Download this Post in PDF Format

A Short Video on Fixing your Microsoft Edge Browser within 5 Minutes
Watch it, if you need to see how it is done.

Please find the YouTube link to the above Video: https://youtu.be/bsO_nriptkI

Check out this email sequence of a Real-time MicrosoftEdge Browser Troubleshooting 1

PSA: Petya Ransomware “GoldenEye” Affecting Critical Systems Globally: A vaccine has been found.