- Categories
- Computers and Electronics
- Internet
- Internet Browsers
Download Article
Simple tricks to fix the "Not Responding" error and other problems in Microsoft Edge
Explore this Article
IN THIS ARTICLE
1Restart Microsoft Edge.
2Close any open tabs you aren't using.
3Check your extensions.
4Clear your cache and browsing data.
5Close other open programs.
6Restart your computer.
7Try another browser if a website isn't responding.
8Update your browser.
9Check for and install Windows Updates.
10Reset your Edge settings.
11Repair the Edge application.
12Scan your computer for malware.
13Free up space on your hard drive.
14Download the Edge installer and reinstall.
+Show 11 more...
-Show less...
Other Sections
Video
Related Articles
References
Co-authored byNicole Levine, MFAReviewed byLuigi Oppido
Last Updated: June 19, 2024Fact Checked
Download Article
Do you see "Not Responding" when you try to browse the web with Microsoft Edge? If Edge is freezing, crashing, or won't open at all, there's usually an easy fix. You can fix nearly any problem with Edge by clearing your cache, closing tabs, disabling unneeded extensions, running updates, or resetting the browser. This wikiHow article will teach you what to do if the Microsoft Edge web browser is not responding on your Windows PC.
Things You Should Know
- The "Not Responding" message may appear if you have too many tabs or other programs open.
- Try disabling Edge extensions, as well as clearing your cache, cookies, and browsing history.
- You can also do a quick reset of Edge in your Edge settings, or repair the program in your Windows settings.
1
Restart Microsoft Edge.
Download Article
A quick restart of your web browser will often fix Edge not responding. Save any work and close Edge by clicking the X at the top-right corner. Although sometimes, you won't be able to close Edge normally when it's not responding. Fortunately, there's an easy way to force close Edge:
- Press Control + Shift + Esc on the keyboard at the same time.
- On the Processes tab, click Microsoft Edge to select it, then click End task.
- Once Edge is closed, click Microsoft Edge in your Start menu to launch it again.
Advertisem*nt
2
Close any open tabs you aren't using.
Download Article
3
Check your extensions.
Download Article
A misbehaving browser extension can make Edge nonresponsive. To see which extensions are running, click the puzzle piece icon at the top of Edge and select Manage Extensions. Any extensions you've installed that are active will have a blue toggle switch. Inactive extensions have gray toggle switches.[1]
- To disable an extension, click the blue toggle switch so it turns gray.
- If Edge starts responding better after disabling an extension, you can remove the extension by clicking Remove below its name.
Advertisem*nt
4
Clear your cache and browsing data.
Download Article
If Microsoft Edge isn't responding, there could be a problem with your cached data. Fortunately, it's incredibly easy to clear your cache, cookies, and other browsing data in Edge. The steps are a little different depending on your computer, phone, or tablet:
- Windows:
- Click the three-dot menu and select Settings.
- Click Privacy, search, and services.
- Click Choose what to clear under "Clear browsing data."
- Select All time from the "Time range" menu.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.
- Remove the checkmarks from all other options.
- Click Clear now.
- Mac:
- Click the Microsoft Edge menu and select Clear browsing data….
- Select All time from the "Time range" menu.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.
- Remove the checkmarks from all other options.
- Click Clear now.
- Windows:
5
Close other open programs.
Download Article
If another program is using a lot of your PC's resources, Edge may not respond normally. Another program using a lot of RAM or CPU power limits the resources that Edge can access. This can cause programs like Edge to crash when trying to load websites, display your bookmarks, or other tasks. Closing other apps will often make Edge responsive again.
- To see which programs are running, open Task Manager by pressing Control + Shift + Esc at the same time.
- On the Processes tab, you'll see a list of apps and the amount of memory, CPU, network, and disk resources.
- If you see an app using too many resources, save your work in that app, then close it.
- If the app won't close, click its name in the list, then click End task.
Advertisem*nt
6
Restart your computer.
Download Article
7
Try another browser if a website isn't responding.
Download Article
If just one website isn't responding, the problem is likely not with Microsoft Edge. You can try visiting that website in another browser, such as on your Android or iPhone, or even another desktop browser like Chrome. Chances are that if it's just one website that's not responding in Edge, that site will also not be responding in other browsers. In that case, you'll need to wait until the site is working again.
Advertisem*nt
8
Update your browser.
Download Article
Microsoft Edge should update automatically, but you can also check for updates manually. If it's been a while since you've updated Edge, an update might be waiting to install. Here's how to check:
- Click the three-dot menu at the top-right corner of Edge.
- Click About Microsoft Edge.
- If an update is available, click Download and Install to update.
- When the update is complete, click Restart.
9
Check for and install Windows Updates.
Download Article
If your Windows PC isn't up to date, Edge might run into problems. Edge might also stop responding if an update is running in the background. Either way, it's a good idea to check Windows Update to see if an update is available or if one is downloading right now.
- In the Windows menu, click Settings.
- If you're using Windows 11, click Windows Update. On Windows 10, click Update & Security, then select Windows Update.[2]
- Click Check for updates.
- If an update is downloading or installing, you'll see its progress here. Wait until the update is finished and then restart your PC.
- If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to download it, and then restart your PC when complete.
Advertisem*nt
10
Reset your Edge settings.
Download Article
There's an easy way to restore Microsoft Edge to its original settings. This can be helpful if other troubleshooting steps haven't worked. Resetting Edge will restore all of your Edge preferences to the default settings, without affecting your saved passwords, browsing history, or favorites.
- Click the three dots at the top-right corner of Edge.
- Click Settings.
- Click Reset settings near the bottom of the left panel.
- Click Restore settings to their default values.
- Click Reset to confirm.
11
Repair the Edge application.
Download Article
Use the Windows software repair tool to fix your Edge installation. This simple tool can fix problems with Edge not responding, crashing, or not opening at all. You will need to have administrative rights on your PC to use this tool. Here's how to use it:
- First, close Edge completely.
- Click the Start menu and go to Settings > Apps.
- On Windows 10, select Apps & Features. On Windows 11, select Installed apps.
- On Windows 10, select Microsoft Edge and click Modify. On Windows 11, click the three vertical dots next to Microsoft Edge and select Modify.
- Click Yes.
- Click Repair and follow the on-screen instructions.[3]
Advertisem*nt
12
Scan your computer for malware.
Download Article
A virus or malware infection can prevent Edge from responding normally. If Edge still won't respond, perform a scan to check for infections. You can use the built-in Windows Security tools to run a scan, or try a third-party solution like Avast.
- If a virus or malware is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to remove it.
13
Free up space on your hard drive.
Download Article
If you're running low on disk space, Edge might run into problems. Fortunately, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool on Windows 10 and 11 to quickly delete unneeded files.
- To launch Disk Cleanup, press the Windows key on your keyboard, type cleanup, then click Disk Cleanup.
- Select the files you want to delete, such as Recycle Bin (which contains your already-deleted files) and Temporary Files (files created by apps that aren't meant to be permanent).
- Click OK and then Delete Files.
- If this doesn't free up enough space, check out our guide on deleting unnecessary files.
Advertisem*nt
14
Download the Edge installer and reinstall.
Download Article
If Edge still isn't responding, you'll need to reinstall. Fortunately, reinstalling Edge only takes a few moments, and you won't need to uninstall it first. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge and click Download for your operating system, then click Accept to start the download.
- Once the installer downloads, double-click it (it'll be called MicrosoftEdgeSetup.exe) to start the installation.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Edge.
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Advertisem*nt
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
You Might Also Like
Advertisem*nt
References
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/add-turn-off-or-remove-extensions-in-microsoft-edge-9c0ec68c-2fbc-2f2c-9ff0-bdc76f46b026
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-windows-3c5ae7fc-9fb6-9af1-1984-b5e0412c556a
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/what-to-do-if-microsoft-edge-isn-t-working-cc0657a6-acd2-cbbd-1528-c0335c71312a
About This Article
Reviewed by:
Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
This article was reviewed by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 80,501 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 3
Updated: June 19, 2024
Views:80,501
Categories: Internet Browsers
- Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 80,501 times.
Is this article up to date?
Advertisem*nt