Unable to uninstall Edge

antspants · Jun 15, 2024

If you set your default browser as Firefox, and you do a taskbar search and you get a web result, apparently (and in my experience) it opens in Edge. The HTTP/S is being manipulated to produce microsoft-edge:https://

Web links by default obviously don't have microsoft-edge:// hard coded to the base of the HTTP/S so Microsoft is placing it there.
For Microsoft to say “yeah sure you can set your own default browser,” and then throw that protocol at the beginning of links at it’s own whim, that is forcing us to default to their own browser, would pass a senate test, surly not?

Am I going crazy or wasn’t this dealt with in United States vs Microsoft Corp?

And also, “sure you can uninstall Edge” but at a cost.

BamaInArk · Jun 15, 2024

The one to Outlook does allow a change. It was just included to show more of the screen shot. The rest do not allow anything other than Edge.

antspants · Jun 15, 2024

BamaInArk said:
The one to Outlook does allow a change. It was just included to show more of the screen shot. The rest do not allow anything other than Edge.

You're collecting badges

Congrats on the advancement

kelper · Jun 16, 2024

I tried to redirect the microsoft-edge protocol to another browser but it's not possible (unless there is a registry setting that could be edited).
But the links in Windows Settings are of no interest to me, so I don't care.

antspants · Jun 16, 2024

kelper said:
But the links in Windows Settings are of no interest to me, so I don't care.

What links in Windows Settings?
They’re links viewed via Teams, Outlook — unless changed and that’s not a given. Taskbar search results, probably more that I’m not aware of.

kelper · Jun 16, 2024

@antspants

Like this one! When I click on the blue text 'Reinstalling Bluetooth Devices'.

It's the same for any blue text under 'Related Settings' or 'Related Support'.

Edwin · Jun 23, 2024

Apparently, if you successfully uninstall Edge, and all it's affiliates, completely and properly...,
the Related support links...

... no longer appear in the Settings App...
(I guess that's what is meant by breaking the system)

kelper · Jun 23, 2024

I used Revo to uninstall Edge. Web links in Settings are still there, they just don't work. But nothing else seems affected.

BUT, I see today that Edge has reinstalled itself without my say so. GRRRR.

kelper · Jun 23, 2024

How can I prevent Windows from reinstalling Edge?

Edwin · Jun 23, 2024

kelper said:
How can I prevent Windows from reinstalling Edge?

Did you try the ShadowWhisperer thing from @FreeBooter 's post #3?

glasskuter · Jun 23, 2024

I usually try to restrain from giving my opinion on this, but it's 6AM & I haven't consumed my required 4 cups of coffee yet., I'm grumpy and more opinionated than usual.

I'm not a regular Edge user either and detest Bing but I dislike Chrome even more so I use FF. My bank won't let me use anything but Edge or Safari, though. I never have been able to understand the why of folks getting bent out of shape about having Edge installed.. No one has to use it. One can stop it from auto-starting. Icons can be removed. One does not have to see it. Yet, it's still there for anything MS has deemed dependent on it and as a backup browser for me. The presence of Edge is such a non-issue.

There, I said it. Please don't judge me. I'll be nicer in about 2 hours.

kelper · Jun 23, 2024

glasskuter said:
There, I said it. Please don't judge me. I'll be nicer in about 2 hours.

I've set a timer!

kelper · Jun 23, 2024

Edwin said:
Did you try the ShadowWhisperer thing from @FreeBooter 's post #3?

No, can't stand watching instructional videos! I've found a registry tweak to stop it.

i wonder if SFC was responsible for reinstalling Edge?

NormanF · Jun 23, 2024

Microsoft wants to use their browser with their software.

Don't like it, you aren't forced to use Windows.

Josey Wales · Jun 23, 2024

cereberus said:
What is the obsession with removing Edge - why bother? You do not have to use it.

In The EU one is supposed to be able to do this.

XxXxX · Jun 23, 2024

@kelper
i found this it maybe of use.

Redirecting

Hope this helps. Best wishes. Steve ..

kelper · Jun 23, 2024

XxXxX said:
@kelper
i found this it maybe of use.

Redirecting

Hope this helps. Best wishes. Steve ..

No, that addresses a problem I don't have.

kelper · Jun 23, 2024

NormanF said:
Go here to find your Microsoft Edge removal tool:

GitHub - ShadowWhisperer/Remove-MS-Edge: Uninstall Microsoft Edge silently, through an executable or batch script.

Uninstall Microsoft Edge silently, through an executable or batch script. - ShadowWhisperer/Remove-MS-Edge

github.com

I used it to remove a beta Edge when I wanted to install Edge for Business.

Works when you can't uninstall the browser through Installed Apps or though Control Panel Programs and Features applet.

VirusTotal says the files each contain a Trojan. The author is aware and says VT is wrong. Still, I won't be running it!

Kees · Jun 23, 2024

Josey Wales said:
In The EU one is supposed to be able to do this.

That is correct: After the Windows update of April 2024 MS Edge can be removed from the system.
Tried that on my VirtualBox testsystem (it has the last updates until now) and it does function.
But.. the MS Edge updater stays, cannot be removed (neither in the settings app nor in Revo).
So good chance that Edge will come back next month...
And that I will not test, I have the same opinion as @glasskuter in #31 (using Firefox too) and have edge just for cases where some site does not want to load in FF. Mostly it doesn't in Edge as well, but sometimes there is something blocking functions in FF and not in Edge.