How to Disable Microsoft Edge from Launching at Startup in Windows

There are two main reasons why someone might want to prevent Edge from launching automatically every time a user signs into Windows. Firstly, it helps save resources and facilitates a faster startup process. Secondly, that someone is likely annoyed, aren’t they?

Either way, if you or someone isn’t a fan of how Microsoft Edge opens at startup on its own, check out this guide on how to disable this behavior.

💡 Note: These methods below works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. While some menu labels or layouts may vary slightly between versions, all Registry edits, Group Policy paths, and startup management options behave the same across both operating systems.

Methods for preventing Microsoft Edge from opening on startup

Managing startup preferences helps streamline the user experience and boost productivity, but before all that, take these access and system requirements into consideration:

• Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) must be installed.
• Administrative access is required for Registry or Group Policy configuration.

🥷 Note: Group Policy Editor is only available in Windows 10 or 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Windows Home users can use the Registry Editor, Microsoft Edge settings, or the Task Manager instead.

Here are the ways to update the startup preferences on a workstation or personal device:

Method 1: Configure startup behavior via Settings (GUI)

For these steps, you’ll only need to make changes to the browser settings.

1. Open Settings from Search or press Win + I.
2. Navigate to Apps → Startup and look for Microsoft Edge.
3. Toggle on or off to change startup preferences.

Method 2: Disable Edge from startup via Task Manager

Alternatively, the Task Manager provides another quick way to modify startup preferences.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup tab.
3. Look for Microsoft Edge in the list of programs.
4. If Edge is listed, right-click on it and select Disable.

Method 3: Registry Editor (Prevent AutoLaunch Behavior)

⚠️Warning: Making unwanted changes to the Registry Editor can affect your system’s performance and stability. Learn how to back up the Windows Registry to save and restore the database when needed.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit in the dialog box, and tap OK to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate or copy and paste this path into the Registry address bar:
   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
3. Right-click or create a new Key → MicrosoftEdge.
4. Under it, create a new PreventLaunchEdge DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Edit the Value data and set it to 1.

You may restart your computer to confirm if the startup preferences have been updated.

Method 4: Configure via Group Policy (Enterprise Control)

For this method, you’ll need Edge ADMX templates to be imported into Group Policy.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc in the dialog box, and tap OK to open Local Group Policy.
2. Navigate to Computer → User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Microsoft Edge.
3. In the right column, find the Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed policy, then open it.
4. In the pop-up window, select Disabled, click Apply, then click OK to confirm.

You may need to run gpupdate /force to enforce the new settings in endpoint devices. Check out this guide on how to enforce Group Policy updates.

Additional considerations when disabling Edge on startup

Here are some behaviors that might force Edge to launch automatically despite previous changes to startup preferences.

• Windows Spotlight or News Feed might launch Edge by default as it’s tied to Search or Taskbar widget results.
• Review Task Scheduler for any MicrosoftEdgeUpdate entries set to trigger on login.
• New settings may need to be set for each user profile or via GPO in multi-user environments.

Looking out for these related behaviors or possible gaps will help you enforce the new startup policy more seamlessly across all user endpoints.

Practical benefits of disabling Edge on startup

In general, managing startup preferences is a solid IT practice for streamlining user experience and workflow in managed environments. It can also limit log-in delays in production and unintended browser access in kiosk environments.

Overall, this policy warrants strong consideration, especially if you need to manage startup resources for certain endpoints or tasks. Individual users and enterprises may also consider limiting Microsoft Edge interactions if it’s not the default or preferred browser.