Microsoft Edge enhances browsing capabilities with advanced security protection and tab management. It is one of the lightest browsers that utilize less RAM to load web pages quicker. Unusually, users are claiming that Microsoft Edge encounters an error and is not responding due to unknown reasons. You can follow the troubleshooting methods to fix the Edge browser when it is not responding.
Why is Microsoft Edge Not Responding
Users may get confused when the Edge browser does not respond to the actions. Some of the major reasons why the Edge browser is not responding are
- Problems caused by the particular website.
- Outdated Microsoft Edge extensions.
- Using the old version of Microsoft Edge.
- Insufficient storage space or RAM
- Incorrect internet configuration.
- Having too many unused tabs.
Fixes For Microsoft Edge Not Working
You can follow these troubleshooting steps when the Microsoft Edge browser is not responding or opening on your PC/laptop.
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Check the Browser
Internet Explorer was replaced recently by Microsoft Edge on 15 June 2022. So, IE won’t work on devices even though you have it on your computer. Unfortunately, some users mistakenly click the old IE icon, thinking both browser icons look similar to Edge. Therefore, open the original version of the Microsoft Edge browser and check if the sites are loading well. If you want to get the old Internet Explorer UI, you can enable the IE mode on the Microsoft Edge browser.
Check the Internet Connection
The Edge browser may not respond when your device fails to connect to the internet. Open Settings on your computer or laptop. You can use the Windows keyboard shortcut Win + I to navigate to Settings. Next, click on Network & Internet tab to see the Network status. If it displays You’re connected to the Internet, then you should diagnose the WiFi router.
Also, sometimes you need to check the website as the particular site can be down due to server issues. Open a new tab and try loading the other sites. If it loads well, the issue will be on the specific site.
Clear Cache Files on Edge
If you have been using the Microsoft Edge browser on your PC for a long time, cache files, cookies, and browsing history will be piled up, which may end up causing performance issues. So make sure to clear unwanted cookies and cache files on the Edge browser by following the below steps.
1. Launch the Microsoft Edge browser and click on the three-dotted icons.
2. Select Settings and choose Privacy, search, and services on the left panel.
3. Click Clear Browsing data and select the files that you want to clear.
4. Tap the Clear now button to remove all the unwanted files.
5. After clearing the cache files, the browser will work without any issues. If the Microsoft Edge browser is not working even after clearing the cache files, go to the next fix.
Close Unused Tabs
If you have opened multiple tabs on Microsoft Edge, ensure to close the unwanted tabs. This is because it consumes more RAM and leads to a slower response. So closing it helps you to increase the browser performance by loading web pages quickly. If the closing tab is not fixing the issue, restart the Microsoft Edge browser.
Restart Microsoft Edge
Restarting the browser will help to eliminate minor errors and other software issues.
1. Press the keyboard shortcut Windows + D to view the home screen of the desktop.
2. Next, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager.
3. Choose Microsoft Edge from the apps list and click on End task. This will stop running Microsoft Edge from the background.
4. Later, relaunch the Microsoft Edge browser and verify if the errors are now resolved. If not, try the next fix.
Restart PC
Restarting your device can fix the issue immediately, and you can expect a smooth app function.
1. Turn off your PC.
2. Wait for a few seconds and turn it on. Now, launch the Edge browser and access the site you need.
Even after restarting, you can move on to the next troubleshooting steps if the Edge browser doesn’t work well.
Close Memory Consuming Apps
Background apps consuming a huge memory will affect your computer’s performance. Meanwhile, it will cause other apps to slow down or misbehave.
1. Press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Select the Processes tab and click the Memory section.
3. Click on the memory-consuming app and click End Task to force close the app.
4. In addition, close the Microsoft Edge browser as well.
5. Afterward, launch Microsoft Edge and check whether it is responding well. If the issue is not fixed, go to the next solution.
Disable Trackers
Trackers are used in most websites to collect your browsing data to offer personalized ads. You can enable the default tracking protection on Edge in three levels Basic, Balanced, and Strict. Enabling strict tracking protection will restrict some websites from working. Disable the tracker using the below steps.
1. Launch the Microsoft Browser and click on the three-dotted icon.
2. Choose Settings and then select Privacy, search, and services.
3. Under the Tracking Prevention section, choose the Basic or Balanced option.
4. After changing the settings, the browser will work without any issues. If the browser is not working, try removing the unwanted extensions.
Turn Off Extensions
Microsoft Edge may not respond due to the extensions you have installed in the browser. Therefore, it is recommended to disable extensions if Microsoft Edge is not working.
1. Open Microsoft Edge, type edge://extensions/
on the address bar, and tap Enter key.
2. From the list of extensions, click on the toggle to disable them.
3. If you want, you can click the Remove button to uninstall the extension.
4. After uninstalling the extension, the Edge browser will run without any issues.
Scan Computer for Viruses
Microsoft Edge may not respond if your computer is affected by any virus. You can perform a quick scan to protect your device against threats. To do that, you can use Windows defender or any other third-party tool. While using a third-party tool, you need to turn off the Windows Defender for effective scanning. We are here using the Bitdefender application.
1. On your Windows PC, go to Settings and click on the Privacy & Security option.
2. Tap Windows Security under the Security section.
3. Select Virus & threat protection and click the Open app option.
4. Click the Quick Scan option on the Bitdefender home to scan for any virus.
Update your PC
It is important to update your Windows regularly to remove internal bugs.
1. Click the Start menu.
2. Type Check for updates and click on it.
3. Click Download and Install if updates are available.
Make sure to restart your device to install the update. Then, open the Microsoft Edge browser and try to see whether it responds well or not. If not, you can proceed with the next troubleshooting step.
Update Microsoft Edge
If you are using the old version of the Microsoft Edge browser, it may have bugs and can also miss necessary security features. Therefore, updating the Microsoft Edge browser to the latest version is mandatory.
1. Launch Microsoft Edge on your desktop or laptop.
2. Type edge://settings/help on the address bar and press the Enter key.
3. It will check for updates. Edge will download and install them automatically if available.
Once it is updated, relaunch Microsoft Edge and verify whether it opens web pages without any issues.
Repair Microsoft Edge
Repair is one of the useful features offered by Microsoft Edge by default. It will scan and fix unknown errors and corrupted files in your browser.
1. Click the Start menu, type Apps & Features, and click on it.
2. Scroll the list, click on Microsoft Edge, and select Modify. If you want to uninstall the Microsoft Edge browser, you need to do it from the Command Prompt.
3. Next, click Yes on the User Account Control window.
4. Further, select the Repair button and wait for some time.
Later, open the Microsoft Edge browser and see whether it works fine or not.
Reset Edge browser
If you cannot fix it with the above methods, resetting the browser is the best solution to make your Edge browser work well.
1. Open Microsoft Edge, type edge://settings/resetProfileSettings
on the address bar, and click Enter.
2. Click on Reset.
This will change your browser’s factory settings and clears the entire app data. Now, you can relaunch the browser and ensure the errors are resolved.
Microsoft Edge Alternatives
If Microsoft Edge is still not responding even after following the above troubleshoots, you can install any of its alternatives.
Chrome
Google Chrome is one of to widely used browsers across the globe. It is fast and very easy to use. Chrome also offers several customization features so you can personalize according to your needs. Moreover, Chrome can be installed on most devices, such as Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, etc.
Website Link: Chrome.
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is an open-source browser and is completely free to use. It is designed to offer complete privacy and safety while browsing. It blocks all third-party and social trackers from accessing your browsing info. It is one of the best browsers for Mac, Windows, Android, etc.
Website Link: Firefox.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Microsoft Edge browser may freeze if the extensions are not compatible with the current version of the browser. Moreover, it can be happened due to corrupted files. Remove the unofficial extension and scan for viruses to fix the issue.
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