Microsoft Edge won't close? These 8 solutions will help you

Publish date: 2024-06-04

Edge is a solid browser, but many Windows 10 users reported that Microsoft Edge won't close at all.
Fixing this issue is pretty simple, and the fastest way to do it is to try a different web browser.
Another method that you can use is to end the Microsoft Edge process or use the keyboard shortcuts.
If Microsoft Edge is not closing, you can try resetting the browser to the default to fix the issue.

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Edge might be Microsoft’s flagship browser, but it does have a few glitches.

Some Edge users have stated on forums that the browser doesn’t always close for them. Instead, a tab freezes up and the Edge users can’t close the browser with the X button.

When that’s a regular issue, some Edge users might ditch the browser altogether. However, there are a few potential resolutions that might fix Edge not closing.

How do I force close Microsoft Edge?

Closing Edge when the X button doesn’t close the browser

Try a different browser

Open the Microsoft Store App Troubleshooter

Clear Edge’s browsing data

Reset the browser

Switch off Edge’s extensions

Turn off Internet Explorer

Update Windows

1. Closing Edge when the X button doesn’t close the browser

Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.

Then select Edge on the Processes tab, and press its End task button.

A Windows hotkey also closes active desktop windows. Pressing the Alt + F4 hotkey closes the selected window.

As such, that keyboard shortcut might also come in handy for closing Edge when the X button doesn’t close the browser.

When you can’t close Microsoft Edge with its X button, close the browser using one of these workarounds.

2. Try a different browser

Since the simplest solution is generally the best one, if Microsoft Edge won’t close, switching to a performant browser like Opera should do the trick nicely.

This well-balanced browser guarantees to work like a charm with no lagging, no interference with web-based apps, and no slowness when it comes to responsiveness times.

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Opera covers pretty much all of them from safe, anonymous browsing and unblocking geo-restricted content through its in-built VPN tool, to taking snapshots without ever leaving the browser.

Its most powerful features focus on the user and were designed specifically with the end user’s browsing experience in mind. That is why features like the adblocker or the integrated workflows and floating video windows were injected into Opera during its latest transformation.

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3. Open the Microsoft Store App Troubleshooter

Press the Cortana button on Windows 10’s taskbar to open the app’s search box.

Input the keyword troubleshoot in the app’s search box.

Select Troubleshoot to open the window shown in the snapshot directly below.

Select Microsoft Store Apps and press its Run the troubleshooter button to open the window in the image below.

Then you can go through the troubleshooter’s suggested resolutions.

If you’re unable to close Microsoft Edge, first open the Microsoft Store App troubleshooter.

As Edge is an app, that troubleshooter can fix numerous Edge crashes. You can utilize that troubleshooter as follows:

4. Clear Edge’s browsing data

Open Edge and press its Settings and more button at the top right of the window.

Press the Settings button, and scroll down to Clear browsing data as in the shot below.

Press the Choose what to clear button to open the sidebar settings in the snapshot directly below.

Select all the data checkboxes there and click Clear to thoroughly erase the browser’s data.

Thereafter, restart the browser.

Some users have found that clearing Edge’s cache helps in case Edge freezes and then won’t close.

5. Reset the Browser

Open the Cortana app.

Enter apps in Cortana’s search box, and select to open Apps & features.

Scroll down to Microsoft Edge on the apps list. Alternatively, enter Edge in the search box.

Select Edge and click Advanced options to open further settings.

Press the Reset button, and click Reset again to confirm.

Note that there’s a Repair button above the Reset option. You can also press that button to repair an Edge browser that often crashes.

If you still can’t close Microsoft Edge, reset the browser. That will restore Edge to its default configuration and clear data.

6. Switch off Edge’s extensions

The Edge not closing error might be due to a third-party extension. You can switch off Edge’s extensions by clicking Settings and more and Extensions.

That opens the sidebar below from which you can select an extension and then switch it off or on.

7. Turn Off Internet Explorer

Open Run by pressing the Windows key + R hotkey.

Next, enter appwiz.cpl in Run’s text box; and press the OK button.

Click the Turn Windows features on or off to open the window in the image below.

Deselect the Internet Explorer 11 checkbox.

Press the Yes button to confirm.

Then click OK to close the window.

Some users have confirmed that turning Internet Explorer off, by deselecting its checkbox in Windows Features On or Off, can help if Microsoft Edge is not closing.

8. Update Windows

Open Cortana by pressing its taskbar button.

Input update in the Cortana search box, and select to open Check for updates.

Then press the Check for updates button.

Windows will list available updates if there are any. Click Download (or Install now) to update Windows 10.

Microsoft fixes numerous Edge glitches with Windows 10 updates, so updating Windows might also help if Microsoft Edge won’t close.

With the Windows Update Service configured for automatic updates, Windows updates automatically. However, it might still be worth manually checking for missed by following the steps from above.

Those are a few resolutions that might fix an Edge browser that doesn’t always close. Has any of them worked for you?

Feel free to share your troubleshooting experience with us by reaching for the comments section below.

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