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Remove Edge through official installer

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script uninstalls Microsoft Edge using the official installer. This script reliably uninstalls Microsoft Edge, even when direct removal is restricted by system settings.

  1. Enable Uninstallation: The script modifies a registry key to permit the uninstallation of Microsoft Edge. This step is required because from version 116 onwards, Edge cannot be uninstalled without setting this registry key 1.
  2. Mark Microsoft Edge (Legacy) as Installed: It creates a placeholder file to simulate the presence of the Legacy version of Microsoft Edge (Legacy). This is necessary as the newer versions of the Edge installer check for Legacy Edge before allowing uninstallation 2.
  3. Run Uninstaller: The script finds and runs the Microsoft Edge installer (setup.exe) for each version of the browser installed on the system. This guarantees the complete removal of all Microsoft Edge versions from the system 1.

Note: This script uses methods not officially documented but confirmed effective by community testing and support.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Remove Edge category. This category automates the uninstallation of Microsoft Edge (also known as "Chromium Edge" or "New Edge"), the web browser that comes pre-installed with many versions of Windows. Microsoft Edge collects various types of data, some of which pertain to your browsing habits, such as the websites... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Remove Edge through official installer.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\EdgeUpdateDev!AllowUninstall"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\EdgeUpdateDev'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\EdgeUpdateDev' /v 'AllowUninstall' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Create a placeholder file at "%SYSTEMROOT%\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe".
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$filePath = '%SYSTEMROOT%\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe'; $expandedFilePath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($filePath); $placeholderText = 'privacy.sexy placeholder'; Write-Output "^""Creating placeholder file at `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^""."^""; $parentDirectory = [System.IO.Path]::GetDirectoryName($expandedFilePath); if (Test-Path $expandedFilePath -PathType Leaf) { Write-Host "^""Skipping file creation as `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^"" already exists."^""; Exit 0; }; if (Test-Path $parentDirectory -PathType Container) { Write-Host "^""Skipping parent directory creation as `"^""$parentDirectory`"^"" already exists."^""; } else { try { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "^""$parentDirectory"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully created directory for placeholder file at `"^""$parentDirectory`"^""."^""; }  catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create directory for placeholder at `"^""$parentDirectory`"^"": $_"^""; Exit 1; }; }; try { New-Item -ItemType File -Path $expandedFilePath -Value "^""$placeholderText"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully created a placeholder file at `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create placeholder file at `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^"": $_"^""; Exit 1; }"
:: Uninstall running the official uninstaller
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$installers = (Get-ChildItem "^""$($env:ProgramFiles)*\Microsoft\Edge\Application\*\Installer\setup.exe"^""); if (!$installers) { Write-Host 'Installer not found. Microsoft Edge may already be uninstalled.'; } else { foreach ($installer in $installers) { $uninstallerPath = $installer.FullName; if (-Not (Test-Path "^""$uninstallerPath"^"")) { Write-Host "^""Installer not found at `"^""$uninstallerPath`"^"". Microsoft Edge may already be uninstalled."^""; continue; }; $installerArguments = @("^""--uninstall"^"", "^""--system-level"^"", "^""--verbose-logging"^"", "^""--force-uninstall"^""); Write-Output "^""Uninstalling through uninstaller: $uninstallerPath"^""; $process = Start-Process -FilePath "^""$uninstallerPath"^"" -ArgumentList $installerArguments -Wait -PassThru; if ($process.ExitCode -eq 0 -or $process.ExitCode -eq 19) { Write-Host "^""Successfully uninstalled Edge."^""; } else { Write-Error "^""Failed to uninstall, uninstaller failed with exit code $($process.ExitCode)."^""; }; }; }"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\EdgeUpdateDev!AllowUninstall"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\EdgeUpdateDev' /v 'AllowUninstall' /f 2>$null"
:: Remove the placeholder file at "%SYSTEMROOT%\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe".
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$filePath = '%SYSTEMROOT%\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe'; $expandedFilePath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($filePath); $placeholderText = 'privacy.sexy placeholder'; Write-Output "^""Attempting to remove placeholder file at `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^""."^""; if (-Not (Test-Path $expandedFilePath -PathType Leaf)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping file removal as `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^"" does not exist, no action needed."^""; Exit 0; }; $currentContent = Get-Content $expandedFilePath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue; if ($currentContent -ne $placeholderText) { Write-Output "^""Skipping removal as the file at `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^"" was not created by privacy.sexy."^""; Exit 0; }; Write-Output "^""File contents match the placeholder content. Proceeding to remove the file."^""; try { Remove-Item -Path $expandedFilePath -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully removed the placeholder file at `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to delete the placeholder file at `"^""$expandedFilePath`"^"": $_"^""; Exit 1; }"
:: Download and run the official uninstaller
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$edgeExePath = Get-ChildItem -Path "^""$($env:ProgramFiles)*\Microsoft\Edge\Application"^"" -Filter 'msedge.exe' -Recurse; if ($edgeExePath) { Write-Host 'Microsoft Edge is already installed. Skipping reinstallation.'; Exit 0; }; Write-Host 'Downloading Microsoft Edge...'; $edgeInstallerUrl = 'https://c2rsetup.officeapps.live.com/c2r/downloadEdge.aspx?platform=Default&Channel=Stable&language=en'; $downloadPath = "^""$($env:TEMP)\MicrosoftEdgeSetup.exe"^""; Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "^""$edgeInstallerUrl"^"" -OutFile "^""$downloadPath"^""; $installerArguments = @('/install', '/silent'); Write-Host 'Installing Microsoft Edge...'; $process = Start-Process -FilePath "^""$downloadPath"^"" -ArgumentList "^""$installerArguments"^"" -Wait -PassThru; Remove-Item -Path $downloadPath -Force; if ($process.ExitCode -eq 0) { Write-Host 'Successfully reinstalled Microsoft Edge.'; } else { Write-Error "^""Failed to reinstall Microsoft Edge. Installer failed with exit code $($process.ExitCode)."^""; }"

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