How to Enable or Disable Open Microsoft Edge at Startup in Windows 11
Microsoft Edge can sometimes open automatically when you start your Windows 11 PC. This browser, built into Windows, works like Google Chrome to help you safely visit websites quickly.
You can easily control whether Microsoft Edge starts with Windows or prevents it from doing so. This guide shows you two simple methods to manage when Microsoft Edge launches.
One approach changes the startup behavior just for your account, while the other affects all user accounts on the computer.
To enable or disable Microsoft Edge opening at startup, open Edge, go to Settings > Start, home, and new tabs, and toggle the ‘On Windows device start’ option. This personal setting affects only your user account.
Change Your Personal Edge Startup Setting
Open Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge opens on your computer. You can find the Microsoft Edge program in your Start menu or on your taskbar. Opening Microsoft Edge allows you to access web pages.
Go to Edge Settings
With Edge open, locate the three dots (...) in the top-right corner. Click these dots, then select ‘Settings’ from the list that appears. This is where you can modify many browser options.
Find Startup Settings
In the Settings menu, look for ‘Start, home, and new tabs’ on the left side. If that list isn’t visible, don’t worry. You might need to click the three lines (☰) in the top-left corner of the Edge window. Sometimes, making the window wider by dragging its sides also helps.
Turn the Startup Option On or Off
You can easily turn Microsoft Edge on or off at startup right from your Windows settings. Look for the option that says ‘On Windows device start, automatically open Edge when you sign into Windows’ and simply flip the switch to ‘On’ if you want it to open every time you log in, or ‘Off’ if you don’t.
Close Settings
You can now close the Settings tab in Edge, or close the browser entirely. Your adjustment is saved automatically.
Control Edge Startup for Everyone (Requires Admin Rights)
If you need to control whether Microsoft Edge opens at startup for all users on a computer, you can use a more advanced method that requires administrator rights. This involves using a special file called a Registry file, or ‘.reg’ file, which helps manage Windows settings for everyone on the device.
This option utilizes a policy setting for Microsoft Edge, which allows computer administrators to control how applications function. It works with newer versions of Edge (version 152 and above).
Choose What You Want to Do
When using advanced settings to manage Microsoft Edge startup, you generally have three main options. You can choose to enable Edge to open automatically for all users, disable it from opening for everyone, or reset the setting to default, which allows each user to manage Edge startup individually through their own settings.
- Enable Edge to open at startup for all users.
- Disable Edge from opening at startup for all users.
- Reset to default. This lets each user control Edge startup through their own Edge settings, like we showed earlier.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge. This is the path where Windows looks for rules that govern how apps behave. The setting being changed is LaunchEdgeOnWindowsStartupEnabled. Setting it to 1 enables it. Setting it to 0 disables it. If you remove this setting entirely, it reverts to the default, allowing each user to manage it independently.Summary
You can control whether Microsoft Edge opens automatically when you start Windows. For a personal preference, use the Edge settings menu. For a setting that applies to all users on a computer, you can employ advanced techniques involving policy settings, which require administrator privileges.
How do I turn off Microsoft Edge first start?
Click User Configuration/Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge. Double-click Hide the First-run experience and splash screen .
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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