Microsoft Edge Not Working in Windows 11: How to Fix [10+ Methods]

Sadique Hassan•Updated Jan 5, 2022

In this guide, we will show you numerous methods to fix the Microsoft Edge not working issue on your Windows 11 PC. Out of all the Chromium-based browsers out there, it is the one from Microsoft that has managed to grab the lion’s share of the userbase. So much so that even Google Chrome users are making a switch over to this browser. One major reason for the same is that you will be getting all the Chrome goodies but without the usual lags and sluggishness.

Furthermore, now that this browser is deeply integrated into the new iteration of the OS build, you could expect much better-optimized performance from it. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case for many users. A slew of complaints is lined up across various forums where users have voiced their concerns that the browser isn’t working along the expected lines. For some, the issue is much more concerning as they aren’t even able to launch Edge in the first place.

So keeping all these points in mind, this guide will make you aware of various methods that shall help you fix the Microsoft Edge not working issue on your Windows 11 PC. Since there are a few users who aren’t able to access the browser, we will make sure that the below-mentioned fixes don’t require any interaction with the browser from your end.

Table of Contents

How to Fix Microsoft Edge Not Working in Windows 11

Do note that there’s no universal fix as such. You will have to try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and see which one works best in your favor. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Run Edge in Compatibility Mode

Your first course of action should be to run the browser in a compatibility mode pertaining to an older version of Windows. For that, you will need to have the Edge shortcut on your desktop.

If you don’t have it, then go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, right-click on the Edge icon, and select Show More options. Then select Send To > Desktop (Create Shortcut). This should create the Edge shortcut on your desktop and you may now proceed with the below steps.

Right-click on the Edge icon present on the desktop and select Properties.
Then go to the Compatibility tab and checkmark “Run this program in compatibility mode for”.
Select Windows 8 from the list and hit Apply > OK.
Now launch Microsoft Edge and check if it is working on your Windows 11 PC or not.

FIX 2: Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

Windows comes with quite a few troubleshooter apps, and one of them focuses specifically on app compatibility-related issues. As of now, we will be using this app to identify the issues related to Edge and subsequently get hold of the ways to resolve those issues as well. Follow along.

To begin with, bring up the Settings menu via Windows+I shortcut keys.
Then select System from the left menu bar and go to Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooter.
After that, scroll to the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter and click Run next to it.
Now select Microsoft Edge from the list and hit Next.
The troubleshooter will now run, scan for underlying issues, and will then bring up the associated fixes.
Click on the fix to implement it and then restart your PC for the changes to take place.
Once your Windows 11 PC boots up, launch Microsoft Edge and check if it is working or not.

FIX 3: Open Edge via Run

Rather than launching the Edge from the desktop shortcut icon or Start Menu, you could try accessing the browser by launching its executable file via the Run dialog box. Here’s how:

Bring up the Run menu via Windows+R shortcut keys.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
```
msedge.exe
```
Check if it spells out any success for you or not.

FIX 4: Disable Edge Extensions via Run

Extensions are notoriously infamous for causing conflicts with the proper functioning of the browser. Therefore, you should consider disabling all these extensions and then try accessing the browser. But since we aren’t able to open Edge, let’s disable these extensions via the Run menu. Here’s how. [NOTE: If you are able to access the browser, then you could also disable the extensions from the edge://extensions/ page].

Use the Windows+R shortcut keys to open Run.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter
```
msedge.exe --disable-extensions
```
If it fixes the Microsoft Edge not working issue on your Windows 11 PC, then the culprit was indeed an extension.

So keep all these extensions disabled and then enable them one at a time (from the chrome://extensions page) until you are able to re-create the issue. Once that happens, go and check out the last enabled extension- and you have caught the culprit. It’s better to keep that extension disabled or rather remove it from the browser.

FIX 5: Open Edge in Incognito via Run

Not just the third-party add-ons, but the stored cookies and cache could also lead to a few issues in some instances. Therefore, you should consider using the Incognito Mode so that the browser doesn’t end up collecting cookies and at the same time, all the extensions stand disabled. But since you might not be able to use the Ctrl+Shift+N shortcut keys to open a private window, let’s use the Run menu for this task.

Open Run via Windows+R shortcut keys.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
```
msedge.exe -incognito
```

If the browser now opens in this mode, then the issue was with the corrupt data or extensions. Since we have already dealt with extensions in the fourth fix, let’s now turn our attention towards dealing with corrupt data.

So use the Ctrl+Shift+Del shortcut keys to bring up the Clear Browsing Data window.
Then checkmark Cookies and other site data and Cached Images and Files.
Finally, click on the Clear Data button and wait for the process to complete.
Once done, it should have fixed the Google Chrome not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 6: Delete Edge User Data

In case the stored browser data gets corrupted, then its negative consequences will be felt by the browser. From favorites to bookmarks, or cookies and cache, issues with any of its data would lead to issues with the browser as a whole. Therefore, you should consider deleting all these data and letting the browser repopulate them from scratch using your Google account. Here’s how:

Open File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut keys and go to the below location:
```
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data
```
Copy this User Data folder and paste it somewhere else (it will act as a backup).
Now delete this User Data folder from the Edge directory.
Check if it fixes the Microsoft Edge not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.
If it doesn’t, then paste the User Data back to the Edge directory to get all your data back and then move over to our next fix.

FIX 7: Disable Windows Firewall

In some cases, the Windows Firewall might raise a false positive and could end up blocking legitimate traffic from apps that are having access to the internet. And more often than not, it is the browser apps that get stuck in this roadblock. To verify if that is the case this time around and hence rectify it, here’s what you need to do.

Head over to the Start menu, search Windows Defender Firewall and open it.
Then click on Turn On/off Windows Defender Firewall from the left menu bar.
After that, select Turn off under both the Public and Private networks.
Now launch Microsoft Edge and check if it is working on your Windows 11 PC or not.
If your answer is in a negative tone, then re-enable the firewall and then move over to our next fix.

FIX 8: Delete DNS Cache

If a lot of Domain Mame Server records get accumulated over the due course of time, then the browser might have an issue or two in loading web pages. In some cases, the burden of data might make it difficult for the browser itself to open properly. Therefore, you should consider deleting these records from your PC. Are there any risks in deleting DNS? Well, not really.

It’s just that you might notice a one-second delay when the website loads as the browser wouldn’t have any data to pick up from its phonebook (DNS Records). However, this is delay is only for the first time as the DNS data will be repopulated once the site loads. So with that in mind, here’s how you could delete the DNS on your Windows 11 PC.

Head over to the Start Menu, search CMD, and launch it as an administrator.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
```
ipconfig /flushdns
```
You will now get the message “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache”.
Now restart your PC and then check if Microsoft Edge not working in Windows 11 has been fixed or not.

FIX 9: Reset Network

If you are facing problems with numerous apps that require the usage of the internet, then the issue might be with your PC’s network rather than each of those individual apps. So in that case, you should consider resetting your Windows 11 PC network setting. However, that will delete all the saved WiFi networks as well, so take their backup beforehand and only then proceed with the below steps:

Use the Windows+I shortcut keys to bring up the Settings menu.
Then select Network & Internet from the left menu bar and go to Advanced Network Settings.
Scroll to the end of the page and click on Network Reset.
Finally, click on the Reset Now button and wait for the process to complete.
Once done, verify if the Microsoft Edge not working issue on your Windows 11 PC is fixed or not.

FIX 10: Reinstall Microsoft Edge

If Chrome’s configuration or settings have got corrupted then deleting its data might not be enough. In such cases, you will have to uninstall and then reinstall the browser on your PC. However, since Microsoft treats it as a system app (well, kind of), you wouldn’t be able to uninstall it the normal way (aka from Control Panel/Settings menu). For that, you will have to instead make use of the Powershell window.

So refer to our detailed guide on How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge in Windows 11.
Once the browser has been uninstalled, head over to the Microsoft official site and download the latest build of Edge.
Then launch the setup and proceed with the on-screen instructions to install it.
Once installed, launch Microsoft Edge and check if it is now working on your Windows 11 PC or not.

FIX 11: Try Edge Beta/Dev/Canary

Apart from the stable Chrome version, Google also runs the Beta, Developer, and Canary builds. These are mostly intended for testing developmental features before being rolled out for the general audiences. On paper, they are generally less stable but I have been personally using them and there’s not much of a stability issue as such. On the good side, you will always be the first in line to welcome new features.

So if the stable build is not working along the expected lines, then you could try out the Edge Beta (recommended), Developer, or Canary build (least stable) and check if it works out for you. If your answer is still in a negative tone, then you have no choice but to temporarily switch over to another Chromium-based browser and wait until Microsoft releases a new update for its browser.

With this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the Microsoft Edge not working issue on your Windows 11 PC. We have listed ten different methods for the same. Do let us know in the comments section which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, all your queries are welcomed in the comments section below.

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