How to Fix It When Microsoft Edge Is Not Working

Microsoft Edge not opening itself or loading web pages is one of many bugs users encounter on the web browser on Windows 10, Android, Mac, and iOS devices. Other Microsoft Edge problems can include browser windows and tabs freezing, website crashing, internet connectivity error messages, and missing Microsoft Edge bookmarks, favorites, passwords, and collections.

Cause of Microsoft Edge Errors

Microsoft Edge problems can be caused by unsupported websites, running too many web pages simultaneously, or having out-of-date Microsoft Edge extensions installed. Older Microsoft Edge versions can cause issues such as the browser not opening or not responding. A lack of free space or incorrect internet settings on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices can also cause a host of Microsoft Edge errors

How to Fix Microsoft Edge Problems

Fortunately, there are several proven solutions for fixing Microsoft Edge problems that can be implemented quickly and within just a few minutes. Work your way through this list of fixes from simplest to more complex until Microsoft Edge works correctly and as efficiently as you need.

1. Close Microsoft Edge tabs and windows. Having too many websites running at once can slow down Microsoft Edge enormously and even make it unresponsive. Closing the ones you no longer need can be a great way to improve functionality.

2. Restart Edge. Simply close Microsoft Edge, wait a few seconds, and then reopen it.

3. Restart your computer or smart device. A quick restart can often fix an unresponsive app. Especially when you shut your computer down the proper way, wait a few seconds and then restart it completely, rather than just letting the system do a restart for you.

4. Update Microsoft Edge. When Microsoft Edge doesn't open, it could be due to an app update being in progress or an app update that stalled due to a loss of internet connection or free space on your device. Try to update Edge to make sure you are running the most recent version.

5. Check the website. The website you’re trying to load may be down. To see if this is the case, try loading another website in the same browser. If it’s just the site that’s down, there’s not much you can do but wait for the site to come back online. 

6. Check your internet connection. A poor internet connection can cause many Microsoft Edge problems. If you’re having trouble loading a variety of websites in Edge, try another browser or app. If no online content loads, your problem may be with your device’s internet functionality and not Microsoft Edge.

7. Free up disc space on Windows 10. If your computer, smartphone, or tablet has run out of room, it can be challenging for apps to open and run correctly. If Microsoft Edge keeps crashing, try deleting large files and programs you no longer need.

   You can always upload files to a cloud service such as OneDrive or Dropbox before deleting them from your device.

8. Install the latest Windows 10 operating system update. Windows 10 operating system updates can often contain improvements for the Microsoft Edge browser as well. If your browser is being buggy, running a Windows 10 update could do the trick. An update may also fix system conflicts that are causing Edge to freeze or crash.

9. Update your Microsoft Edge extensions. Keeping them up to date is also essential to maintain stability and functionality. You can update extensions via the Microsoft Store app via the app update screen.

10. Uninstall your Microsoft Edge extensions. Microsoft Edge not responding could be the result of a recently installed browser extension.

11. Open an InPrivate window from the ellipsis menu. Websites with a lot of code can often cause a browser window or tab to freeze and even crash. Using the InPrivate feature will let you browse websites with most of their online tracking code and plugins disabled. It's good for avoiding tracking codes only if you don't also log in to your accounts in InPrivate mode.

12. Clear your Microsoft Edge browser data. This popular fix also works for fixing bugs in other internet browsers as well.

13. Run some Windows 10 troubleshooters. Open the Settings app and click Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Run the Internet Connections, Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, and Windows Store Apps troubleshooters to scan and automatically fix any problems which could potentially be causing Microsoft Edge problems.

    If the Troubleshooter screen recommends other troubleshooters, you should run these as well, as your device may have also detected other problems.

14. Disable manual proxy settings. Making manual changes to your Mac or PC's proxy settings can affect internet connectivity, especially if done incorrectly. Revert your proxy preferences to the default automatic settings via Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy on Windows or System Preferences > Network > Advanced on Mac.

15. Update your VPN software. Your VPN may be causing Microsoft Edge conflicts and affecting internet connectivity. See if there’s an update that you need to install.

16. Disable your VPN. Temporarily turn off your VPN and see if this fixes your Microsoft Edge problems. If it doesn’t, you can turn it back on but, if it does, you may need to contact your VPN’s customer service or maybe even switch to another VPN service entirely. Fortunately, there are a lot of VPNs.

17. Use the new Microsoft Edge Favorites location. The various Microsoft Edge versions moved the bookmarks or Favorites around quite a bit, but they eventually settled into their new place within the ellipsis menu under Favorites. If you can’t find your Microsoft Edge Favorites, this is where they now are. You can also choose to make your Edge Favorites permanently visible if you like.

18. Resync your Microsoft Edge Favorites. If your Favorites aren’t syncing between Microsoft Edge on different devices, make sure both versions of the app are up-to-date and that you've connected each device to the internet. It may take a while, but they should sync automatically. If not, open Settings > Profiles > Sync from Edge’s ellipsis menu and make sure Sync is enabled and your preferred data is selected.

    Remember, you need to be connected to the internet for data to sync to Microsoft’s cloud servers and then download onto other devices.

19. Check your Microsoft accounts. The Microsoft Edge browser allows you to log into multiple Microsoft accounts at the same time. If you have trouble syncing data or preferences, make sure you’re using the same account. Favorites and other data from your Microsoft work account won’t sync to your personal account.

    You can see which Microsoft account is currently active by checking the profile photo in the app's upper-right corner.

20. Enable Microsoft Edge password options. Make sure to turn on all of the password options for storing and syncing passwords from within Edge's settings.

    You can also update or delete passwords from this same page.

21. Contact Microsoft support. If your Edge Favorites or other data has mysteriously disappeared, you can contact Microsoft Support directly and have them force the appropriate data to your device from their servers. Doing this can also be helpful if your saved passwords are no longer appearing as they should.

22. Reinstall your password manager. If you can’t find your saved passwords, they may have previously been saved via a password manager extension or app, not to Microsoft Edge directly. If you’ve recently switched devices, you will need to reinstall the password manager you were previously using and then log in with the same password manager account.

23. Try the website in another browser. While Microsoft Edge is a modern browser that supports all major internet standards, it’s not uncommon to come across a website Edge that won’t display or have function properly. The only thing to do if you come across this problem is accessing the website in another browser such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or Brave.

24. Uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Edge. As a last resort, if you’re having trouble with Microsoft Edge on Mac, iOS, or Android, you may want to try uninstalling the app and then reinstalling it again. You can do this the same way as you would any other app. It is possible to uninstall Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, but we don't recommend this as the Windows version of the app is heavily integrated into the Windows 10 operating system. Removing it could have adverse effects.