How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge in Windows 11 (safe and secure)
Tired of Microsoft Edge hogging your Windows 11 system? Want to reclaim your digital real estate? You're not alone! While Microsoft doesn't make it easy, we've got a secret weapon to help you banish Edge, even if you're not in Europe.
The Digital Markets Act and Edge
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a landmark piece of legislation from the European Union. Think of it as a digital bill of rights, designed to level the playing field for tech companies and give you, the user, more control. It prevents large 'gatekeeper' companies (like Microsoft) from unfairly favoring their own services. Because Microsoft has to comply with the DMA, Windows 11 has some special features for European Economic Area (EEA) countries. One of these is the ability to easily uninstall Microsoft Edge and choose your own default browser – be it Chrome, Firefox, or any other.
The Wintoys
Here's the interesting part: You can actually use this DMA feature, even if you don't live in Europe. A Windows optimization tool called Wintoys allows you to enable these European-specific features.
Here's how to do it:
Download Wintoys: Download and install the Wintoys application from Microsoft store
Go to Tweaks: Open Wintoys and navigate to the "tweaks" section.
Go to System: Then, go to "system".
Enable Digital Markets Act: You'll find an option to enable the "Digital Markets Act" feature. Enable it.
Restart Your PC: Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Uninstall Edge: After the restart, go to your apps settings, find Microsoft Edge, and you should now have the option to uninstall it.
Important Notes:
Reinstallation: Don't worry, uninstalling Edge doesn't mean it's gone forever. You can always download and reinstall it if you need it in the future. And even after reinstalling, you'll still have the option to uninstall it again.
Safety: The method described here, using the Digital Markets Act feature, is considered a safe way to uninstall Microsoft Edge. There are other, more forceful methods, but they can potentially cause system instability or lead to Edge being reinstalled automatically. This method is like getting "permission" from Microsoft to remove Edge.
Why Uninstall Edge?
Everyone has their own reasons. Some users prefer other browsers, like Chrome or Firefox, and don't want Edge cluttering their system. The beauty of this method is that it gives you the choice. If you like Edge, great! But if you don't, now you have a relatively safe and easy way to remove it.
I have also made a video in this topic so watch the video down below for video tutorial.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.
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