Internet Explorer opens Edge: How to stop MS Edge redirects
- If Internet Explorer opens Edge instead, you will have to change your default browser.
- Whether you tweak the Registry or the settings in Edge itself, there is hope to stop it from opening up automatically.
- Define file associations according to your needs and see how it goes.
- Don't forget that IE is settled for retirement, so you might want to consider a different browser.
Internet Explorer’s fall from grace hasn’t been a secret for a long time, but reality kicked in with Windows 11’s arrival. Edge is no longer to replace IE sometimes in the future, it’s the default browser in Microsoft’s latest OS here and now.
For now, you can still enable Internet Explorer in Windows 11. However, IE 11 (the latest version) already has an official retirement date, June 15, 2022, and the clock is ticking.
With this in mind, you may have noticed that Internet Explorer opens Edge sometimes and you may not like it. So why does this happen?
Before we dig in, let’s take a closer look at other similar issues reported by users worldwide:
- Internet Explorer always opens Edge
- Internet Explorer opens links in Edge
- Internet Explorer closes immediately and opens Edge
- Microsoft Edge open with Internet Explorer missing
Why does my Internet Explorer keep going to Microsoft Edge?
IE is no longer able to render content based on the latest web technologies and Microsoft keeps a list of all incompatible IE websites. So, whenever circumstances require it, Internet Explorer opens Edge instead.
Fortunately, you can stop Internet Explorer 11 from redirecting to Edge.
Editor’s tip
âž¡ Even the latest Internet Explorer 11 opens Edge and its approaching retirement makes it clear that you need a better browsing solution.
âž¡ Switching to Opera makes perfect sense for users who simply don’t want to deal with Edge. This highly customizable browser is at the forefront of emergent technologies, uses less RAM than you could dream of, and delivers top privacy and performance. What’s not to like?
How do I stop Internet Explorer from opening in Microsoft Edge?
1. Enable and use IE Mode in Edge
- Launch MS Edge and click the top-right corner button. Click Settings.
- Pick Default browser from the list and enable all IE-related options as follows:
- Under Internet Explorer compatibility, click the Let Internet Explorer open sites in Microsoft Edge menu and select Never.
- Remain on the Internet Explorer compatibility section, click Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode.
- Select Allow and press the Restart button.
- Under Internet Explorer mode pages, click the Add button.
- Paste the desired website and click Add again (this will provide the option to Reload in Internet Explorer mode from now).
Even if Edge is the default browser in Windows 11, IE 11 is still around for retro-compatibility purposes, making it possible to render legacy apps and websites.
If Internet Explorer opens Edge in Windows 11, tweaking the IE mode is a good place to start troubleshooting and fixing the MS Edge redirects.
However, there are users who complained that the Open with Internet Explorer option is not working in Edge. For others, the setting is missing altogether. If such is your case, feel free to try out the next solution.
2. Change the default browser in Windows 11
- Launch the old Internet Explorer browser and click Tools.
- From the list, select Internet Options.
- Next, go to the Programs tab.
- Click Make default and confirm by pressing OK.
- Now, you must change all the file and link associations in order to prevent Edge redirects.
- To do that, open the Settings and go to Apps.
- In the right pane, click Default apps.
- Here, select Microsoft Edge, open the first file type, and choose Switch anyway.
- Select IE, Opera, or any other browser from the list of results and press OK. Repeat the process for all desired instances.
If trying to open Internet Explorer opens Edge, it might be a good idea to disable Microsoft Edge in Windows 11 by changing the file associations along with the default browser, as shown above.
3. Use the Registry to disable Edge
- Use the Windows key + R shortcut to open the Run menu.
- In the typing field, type in regedit and press OK.
- Navigate to the following path or paste the path directly into the Registry Editor’s address bar:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
- Go to the main folder, and right-click the empty area on the right side.
- Select New and choose the DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it AllowPrelaunch. Then, double-click the key and set its value to 0.
- Also, don’t forget to delete Edge in the Startup folder if it’s the case.
By preventing it from automatically opening in the Windows Registry, you should be able to stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background. If Internet Explorer just opens Edge, this modification will definitely help.
Bonus: 3 ways to disable Internet Explorer redirects to Edge browser
1. Rename the Microsoft Edge installation directory
- To do this, paste the following path into the File Explorer:
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe
- Right-click on this directory to open its Properties.
- Select Rename by right-clicking it again and set the name to MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbweÂ_OLD and restart your PC.
By renaming the file directory, Edge won’t be able to access its installation files and launch opening instructions.
2. Empty the MS Edge active folder from your C drive
- If renaming the directory did not work, go ahead and use the File Explorer again.
- Now, paste in the following:
C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User\Default\Recovery\Active - Use the CTRL + A shortcut on your keyboard to select everything and delete all the files.
3. Disable Edge tasks in the Task Scheduler/Task Manager
- Use the search area on your taskbar to locate the Task Scheduler app and open it.
- In the left pane, you will see the Task Scheduler Library. Open it.
- In the main area, identify MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineCore and all MS Edge-related tasks.
- Right-click them one by one and choose Disable.
- As for the Task Manager, identify all MS Edge-related processes and select End task.
On one hand, it’s true that Edge makes it really hard to change your default browser. But if IE is simply not equipped to render specific content or worse, if Internet Explorer keeps crashing, you might be dealing with a case of severe malware infestation.
How would you know that is the case? If Internet Explorer opens then closes and Edge opens, you might be on to something.
Our last tip for you is to run a full system scan with a robust antivirus such as ESET Internet Security that will check and clean your PC in-depth without leaving havoc on your data.
