Edge keeps crashing after starting? do not worry! These are the fastest and most effective solutions to the problem that caused the error.
Microsoft Edge is a browser from Microsoft that is replacing Internet Explorer in Windows 11, providing a simple and easy-to-use interface. It will not take up system resources like other browsers. However, as with any software, you may also encounter problems with the Edge browser.
You may not mind if your browser lags or freezes every fifteen days, but unforeseen crashes are worrying. In some cases, it suddenly crashed while working. In addition, many users report that they cannot access it at all because it crashes within a few seconds after launching.
Anyway, there are some known fixes that have worked wonders for Edge users. But before we introduce you to the solution, you must understand the various issues that cause the browser to crash.
Why does Edge Keep Crashing?
There are several potential issues that can cause Edge browser to crash, so you need to understand this well before troubleshooting.
- Damaged browser files
- Incompatible or not working browser extensions
- Third-party antivirus software
- Broken browser cache
- Too many applications running in the background
- Damaged system files
Listed below are some of the most effective solutions in order to solve common problems first. Therefore, please run the fixes in the order listed for a quick and easy troubleshooting experience. Also, if Edge crashes immediately after launching, you may not be able to run all of these, so skip these.
1. Clear Cache
By downloading certain items (such as images, fonts, and code) for the first time, caching helps reduce the loading time of the website on subsequent visits. For various reasons, this cache may become corrupted over time and may cause Edge to crash.
To clear the cache in Edge, click the “Settings and more” option near the upper right corner of the browser.
Then select “History” from the list of options to view your browser history. Alternatively, you can press CTRL + H to start the browser history.
In the History flyout menu, click on the ellipsis at the top, and select ‘Clear browsing data’.
Finally, select “Time Range” from the drop down menu, set the “Time Range” to “All Time”, select the “Cached Images and Files” option and click “Clear Now” at the bottom .
After clearing the cache, check if Edge works fine. In case it still crashes, move to the next fix.
2. Change Default Search Engine
If you set Google Chrome as your default search engine, your browser may crash. So try changing it and see if it works.
To change the default search engine, click the “Settings & More” option near the top right corner of Edge.
Next, select ‘Settings’ from the menu that appears.
You will now find a list of tabs on the left, select ‘Privacy, search, and services’,
Next, scroll down to the bottom and select the ‘Address bar and search’ option.
Finally, click the drop-down menu next to “Search engine used in the address bar” and select “Bing” from the search results. You can choose other options, but since Edge recommends Bing, it’s best to use it.
Restart Edge and check if the error is fixed.
3. Disable Search Suggestions
For many users, disabling search suggestions is also an effective solution. If the other methods mentioned above don’t work, you can give it a try.
To disable search suggestions, navigate to the “Privacy, Search and Service” service and select “Search and Address Bar” as described above. Here, disable the “Use the characters you enter to display search and site suggestions” toggle switch.
Restart Edge and check if it fixes the error.
4. Disable/Remove Extensions
In many cases, it can be an incompatible extension, which can cause the Edge browser to crash. Disabling such extensions is known to solve this problem. Adblocker extensions are known to cause this error, but there may be other extensions.
First, disable the extension and check if it solves the problem. If Edge’s crash problem persists, remove the extension entirely. You can remove them all and add them one at a time while checking if it will cause instability.
To disable / remove extensions from Edge, click the “Settings & More” icon near the upper right corner and select “Extensions” from the menu.
To disable an extension, turn off the toggle next to it.
Related: How To Fix Arrow Keys Not Working In Excel
If disabling the extensions doesn’t work, you can try removing them altogether.
To remove an extension, click on the ‘Remove’ option under it.
Next, click on ‘Remove’ in the confirmation box that appears at the top.
Check if disabling or removing the extensions fixes the issue.
5. Update Edge
If you haven’t updated Edge for a while, it’s time to check for available updates. Since the error in the current version may be fixed through an update, you may also encounter this error.
To update Edge, click the “Settings and more” option near the upper right corner.
Next, hover the cursor over ‘Help and feedback’ in the list of options that appear and select ‘About Microsoft Edge’.
Edge will now automatically check for available updates and, if any are available, download and install them. If you are using the latest version, it will show “Microsoft Edge is up to date”, in which case you can proceed to the next solution.
6. Repair Edge
Edge repair helps to fix many errors in the browser, including the error that caused it to crash. You can easily repair the browser through the application settings on your system without installing any third-party software or running Edge. If you cannot access the browser and run other fixes, this fix will help a lot.
Note: Before proceeding, please make sure your system is connected to a stable internet connection.
To repair Edge, press WINDOWS + S to launch the “Search” menu, enter “Settings” in the text field at the top, and click the relevant search result to launch the application. Or, you can press WINDOWS + I to start the setup application.
In Settings, select ‘Apps’ from the tabs listed on the left.
Next, click on ‘Apps & features’ from the list of options on the right.
Now, locate ‘Microsoft Edge’ from listed apps, click on the ellipsis next to it, and select ‘Modify’.
In the ‘Repair Microsoft Edge’ window, click on ‘Repair’ and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process.
This process will reinstall the browser, although the browser data and configured settings won’t be affected.
7. Update Windows
Running older versions of Windows can also cause instability. Also, bugs in the current version can cause bugs. If this is the case, you should check if an update is available, because the bug is more likely to be fixed in a later update.
To update Windows 11, launch the “Settings” application described above and select “Windows Update” from the tabs listed on the left.
Next, click the “Check for Updates” option on the right to check for available updates.
If any update for Windows 11 is available, you can download and install it. Restart your computer after installing the update and check if Edge is working properly.
8. Run SFC Scan
Corrupted system files can also be the possible cause of Edge crash. SFC (System File Checker) scans to identify corrupted system files and replaces them with cached copies. You can run the analysis using simple commands at an elevated command prompt.
To run an SFC scan, search for “Windows Terminal” in the “Search” menu, right-click the corresponding search result, and select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
If you have not set “Command Prompt” as the default profile, the “PowerShell” tab will open by default. To open the “Command Prompt” tab, click the down arrow at the top and select “Command Prompt” from the list of options. Alternatively, you can press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to start the command prompt.
Next, enter the following command and press ENTER to execute it. This command runs the SFC scan.
sfc /scannow
The scan will begin in a few moments and will take a few minutes to complete. You can work on the system while the scan runs in the background.
After the scan is run, you would be informed if any corrupt files were found. Launch Edge and check if it still crashes or runs efficiently.
9. Uninstall Third-party Antivirus
If none of the above fixes work, then third-party antivirus software installed on your system is likely the culprit. If you have it installed, uninstall it and verify that it fixes the error.
To uninstall third-party antivirus software (or any application), press WINDOWS + R to start the run command, enter “appwiz.cpl” in the text field and click “OK” at the bottom or press ENTER to start “Programs and Features” window.
Now, select the third-party antivirus software from the list of applications and click “Uninstall” at the top. If a confirmation box appears, select the appropriate answer.
After uninstalling the app, Edge should start working fine and not crash.
10. Switch Browser
If none of the above fixes work, you can always choose to switch to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, which are the two best browsers available today. After switching, continue to check for Edge and Windows updates, install them, and then check if the error is fixed, or you can switch to the above browser permanently.
After running the above fix, Microsoft Edge will no longer crash, and you can use it without worrying about losing unsaved data.
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