7 Best Ways to Fix Microsoft Edge Not Responding on Windows 10

Microsoft Edge is my browser that I use on mobile and desktop. The browser works on all platforms, feels faster than the market-leading Google Chrome, and is compatible with all Chromium extensions used in the previous browser. However, the Edge experience is not devoid of issues. After a recent Windows update, Microsoft Edge will automatically open on startup. Another problem is that sometimes the Edge browser stops responding on Windows.

Also, users cannot switch to any Edge alternative as they have browsing history, extensions, bookmarks, and passwords saved in the Edge browser. Although it is possible to transfer data from the Edge browser to another, the transition is not as smooth as it seems.

Instead, you can follow this guide and fix Microsoft Edge not responding error. Check the step-by-step instructions below and troubleshoot Edge on Windows.

1. Make Sure You Are Connected To The Internet

Let’s start with the basic troubleshooting step to fix the Edge issue. You need to check if your device is connected to a stable internet connection.

In Windows 10, open the Settings app (use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut). Go to Network & Internet > Status and make sure it says ‘You are connected to the Internet’.

If that’s the case, you’ll also want to test the internet connection with a different browser to make sure the issue is centered on Edge only. Open Google Chrome or Firefox and try to open a few sites.

If you can’t connect to the web using other browsers, you know that there is still a problem with your internet connection and not Edge. On the other hand, if the other browser connects properly, the problem is only with the Edge browser and you can continue with our troubleshooting guide.

2. Clear Cache and Cookies

A corrupt cache can ruin your day. Clearing the cache is almost always safe, so there’s no reason not to try it.

If your Microsoft Edge has overloaded browsing data, it can cause the browser to slow down or become unresponsive.

When Microsoft Edge becomes unresponsive on Windows 10, you can clear your browser’s browsing history, cache, and cookies.

Stage 1: Open Microsoft Edge and tap the three-dot menu above.

Step 2: Go to Settings > Privacy, Search & Services.

Stage 3: Go to Clear browsing data > Choose What to Clear.

Step 4: Select Cookies and Cache and hit Clear data at the bottom.

Then restart the Microsoft Edge browser and check if the issues with Edge not responding are fixed.

3. Close the Edge Neatly

Sometimes Edge stops responding because tabs you close over time don’t actually close the process. These edge processes add and consume a lot of RAM. The behavior ultimately causes Microsoft Edge to crash, freeze, or not open at all.

To turn off Edge completely in Windows 10, follow the steps below.

Stage 1: Press the Windows key and open the start menu.

Step 2: Type Task Manager and press enter to open the program.

Stage 3: Right-click the top-level Microsoft Edge process (with a number next to it) and select End Task.

This will close all running Edge processes, free up RAM and allow you to restart Edge. You should also keep an eye on other processes running in the background. Turn off irrelevant ones and this will free up more RAM space on your Windows 10 device.

4. Disable Edge Extensions

As you know, Microsoft Edge is built on Google’s Chromium engine. As a result, it works perfectly with all Google Chrome extensions. Using extensions, more features can be added to the core Edge interface and functionality.

However, some may not be actively maintained, be out of date, or develop incompatibilities with new Edge builds.

If you have dozens of Edge extensions installed, it can be difficult to figure out which one is causing the problem. Therefore, the easiest solution is to disable all extensions and then enable only the ones you need each time.

Stage 1: Tap the three-dot menu on the Edge home screen.

Step 2: Go to the Extensions menu and select Uninstall to delete the extensions.

5. Disable Strict Tracking Prevention

Websites use trackers to gather information about your browsing. Websites may use this information to improve sites and show you content such as personalized advertisements. Some trackers collect your information and send it to sites you haven’t visited. Microsoft provides a default anti-tracking option to block trackers, harmful content and ads.

It is set to Balanced by default, but if you have switched to Strict prevention, this setting may affect some websites you visit.

Open Microsoft Edge Settings > Privacy, Search & Services > Anti-tracking and switch to a Balanced approach.

6. Reset All Edge Settings

It can help because tweaking the wrong settings can eventually cause issues with Edge, especially if you’re enabling the Edge beta build.

Follow the steps below to reset all settings in Edge browser.

Stage 1: Launch Microsoft Edge and launch settings.

Step 2: Go to Reset Settings and confirm your decision.

Note that this will disable all your extensions, clear temporary data and delete all cookies. But it does not affect bookmarks, history and saved passwords.

7. Install Latest Windows 10 Update

Microsoft delivers Edge updates through Windows Update. If the issue bothering you is widespread, the company is likely working on a solution.

As soon as this solution is done, you will receive it via Windows Update.

So, go to Settings > Updates & Security and check for updates.

Start Using Microsoft Edge Again

You can easily fix Microsoft Edge not responding error on Windows 10 by using the tricks mentioned above. I closed Microsoft Edge from the Task Manager app and it fixed the issue for me. Let us know about the trick that worked for you in the comments section below.

Next: Edge Collections is the killer of Microsoft Edge browser. Read the following post to learn more about the function.