I Quit Edge Browser

Hermitkrab

Extraordinary Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2016
Messages
284
For years, Microsoft Edge has been my default browser but a certain glitch has been annoying me. On the start page, I'm not able to remove certain icons. With some icons, clicking on the 3-dots brings up a menu that only allows me to pin the icon to "start" or "taskbar". Doing the sane with certain other icons gives me the option to remove the icon completely. However, clicking on "remove" does nothing, even after several tries.

In addition, I can't rearrange the icons at all, as I can easily do with my Brave and Firefox browsers. Although I like Edge and would prefer to keep it as default, I decided to make Brave my default browser, instead.
 
Solution
I understand your frustration with the inability to remove or rearrange icons on Microsoft Edge's start page. This issue has been reported by other users as well. The start page in Edge often includes a mix of user-added shortcuts and sponsored content, which can sometimes be unresponsive to removal attempts.
Potential Solutions:
  1. Clear Browsing Data:
    • Navigate to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
    • Select Choose what to clear and ensure Cached images and files is checked.
    • Click Clear now.
    • Restart Edge and attempt to remove the icons again.
  2. Reset Edge Settings:
    • Go to Settings > Reset settings...
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I understand your frustration with the inability to remove or rearrange icons on Microsoft Edge's start page. This issue has been reported by other users as well. The start page in Edge often includes a mix of user-added shortcuts and sponsored content, which can sometimes be unresponsive to removal attempts.
Potential Solutions:
  1. Clear Browsing Data:
    • Navigate to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
    • Select Choose what to clear and ensure Cached images and files is checked.
    • Click Clear now.
    • Restart Edge and attempt to remove the icons again.
  2. Reset Edge Settings:
    • Go to Settings > Reset settings.
    • Click on Restore settings to their default values.
    • Confirm by clicking Reset.
    • This will reset your start page and may resolve the issue.
  3. Disable Sponsored Content:
    • Some icons may be sponsored content that cannot be removed.
    • To disable these, go to Settings > New tab page > Customize.
    • Under Content, select Content off.
    • This should prevent sponsored icons from appearing.
  4. Check for Updates:
    • Ensure Edge is up to date by going to Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
    • Updates often include fixes for known issues.
If these steps do not resolve the problem, it may be a bug in the current version of Edge. In such cases, using an alternative browser like Brave, as you've chosen, is a practical solution.
If you have any further questions or need assistance with other issues, feel free to ask!
 
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Solution
Thank you, ChatGPT. I did as you suggested (clear browsing data), and that fixed the problem. I'm back to using Edge as my default while I'll continue to enjoy my Brave and Firefox browsers.
 
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That's fantastic to hear! Sometimes a good browser spring cleaning is all it takes—Edge can be quirky with cached data, so clearing it out often works wonders for those stubborn issues.
Glad you're back to enjoying Edge as your default browser. And keeping Brave and Firefox as your trustworthy backups? Well, that's just good browsing hygiene—always nice to have options!
If you run into any more browser mysteries, or want tips on customizing your setup further, you know where to find me. Happy browsing!
 
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You're very welcome! If you ever have more questions or run into another tech gremlin—whether it's a browser bug, Windows quirk, or just general curiosity—just give me a shout. Enjoy smooth surfing with Edge, Brave, and Firefox!
 
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If you’re trying to get away from Edge specifically, that’s totally reasonable—but I’d be cautious with “Chromium” by name on Windows.

Why I’d be careful with “Chromium” downloads​

“Chromium” is open source, but most “Chromium for Windows” installers you find are third‑party builds. Some are fine, some are bundled, and some are outright sketchy. So it’s easy to end up in the same situation you just had (installer makes changes you didn’t expect).

Safer options (still gives you the Chromium experience)​

If you want a Chromium-based browser without Edge:
  • Brave (Chromium-based, privacy-focused, solid update channel)
  • Google Chrome (Chromium-based, fastest updates, but more Google integration/telemetry)
  • Ungoogled Chromium (more “pure/stripped” Chromium, but updates can be less convenient depending on how you install it)
If you want open-source with a clean, official distribution story on Windows, Firefox is usually the simplest recommendation.

If your goal is just “don’t use Edge”​

On Windows 11 you generally can’t (reliably) remove Edge, but you can stop it being your daily driver:
  1. Settings → Apps → Default apps
  2. Pick your new browser
  3. Click Set default
  4. Optional: in Edge settings, turn off Startup boost and background running so it stays out of the way.
If you tell me what you care about most (privacy, extensions, performance, sync, “least Microsoft/Google”), I can suggest the best fit and the safest way to install it.
 
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