When it comes to searching online, there are various different browsers that you can choose from. The most popular ones are Google Chrome and Safari, along with Mozilla Firefox. But many people will have gotten used to using Microsoft Edge, as it’s the default browser with Windows 10.
And actually, with the increase in popularity of the Microsoft Surface series, Edge is becoming more and more used, especially on desktops. But like any browser, it can have its problems from time to time. So, we’re going to look at the most common ones, and what you can do to prevent them.
Microsoft Edge not working
Right, if you’re having problems with Microsoft Edge, then the main ting you’re going to want to do is close it down properly. On a Macbook you can do this within your Activity Monitor, and if you’re running Windows 10 then you can do this quite easily within Task Manager.
All you need to do is find Edge within your respective program manager and right click on it. Then, scroll down to Force Quit or End Task to fully close down the browser. After you’ve done this, you can re-open it back up as normal.
For smaller problems, this is likely all you’re going to need to do to fix the issue. Obviously if you want a quick solution, you can switch to another browser. But if it doesn’t work and you want to stick with Edge, then run through the steps below to try and fix your problem fully.
Double check your wifi
If you’re having trouble connecting to the internet, then it’s unlikely that your browser is actually at fault here. In some cases, it’s much more likely that there’s an issue with your home internet as opposed to an issue with Microsoft Edge.
Resetting your home router is the first thing that you should look to do in this case. It can fix most of the wifi problems that you’re facing, even if Edge can get access to the internet. Making sure that your connectivity is right is a key part of maintaining a good experience with your browser.
Clear your browser history
When you’re using Microsoft Edge, it’s going to automatically cache pages that you’ve already visited. This makes things a lot faster when you revisit the same website, as it’ll already have data stored there when you visit.
Sometimes, this can lead to problems with the browser when it has stored a significant amount of data. Typically, this will only really affect the display, and it shouldn’t stop your browser from working completely.
Either way, there’s no harm in clearing out your browser history and your cache too if you’re having problems. Getting rid of this data can help to fix the issue if Microsoft Edge is not working as it should be.
Run through your updates
Keeping your computer up to date is a major factor in how well the software on your device works. If you don’t do this, then at times it can cause problems with other software that you’re running.
You’re first going to want to make sure that Microsoft Edge itself is fully up to date. You can do this by simply going into your Settings and heading to About – here, you’ll be able to update your browser.
A key culprit for causing issues like this is your anti-virus software, especially ones like McAfee. If you don’t keep McAfee updated on a regular basis, then there’s a chance it’s having an effect on your Microsoft Edge browser.
Another one that can stop Edge from working properly is a VPN. Although typically it’s a good idea to use one, it may stop you from accessing the internet through your browser. So, try disabling this to see if it makes a difference.
Get rid of malware
Whilst we’re on the topic of your anti-virus software, as well as updating it you’re also going to want to check it for any malware.
If there is any malware on your computer, then this can have an effect on your browsing experience. Typically, this kind of malware tends to have an effect when you make searches within your address bar – not on the URL bar itself, but in the search engine results pages that appear after you’ve made your search.
It essentially injects searches into your results page that you didn’t ask for, typically through to affiliate programs. This has been a pretty typical problem throughout 2021 and into 2021, and it’s not just Edge that’s suffered – it can affect Chrome and Mozilla browsers too.
Disable some of your extensions
There’s a small chance that the reason why Edge isn’t working for you properly is down to one of the extensions on your device.
This is most likely to be the case if you’ve just suddenly started to have problems with your browser, and this coincides with you downloading a new extensions.
You’ll want to run through all of the extensions that you’ve got installed to find out which one is causing the issue. Switch them all off one by one to see if they can fix it.
Restart your laptop or computer
As a last line of attack to resolve the problem, you should also restart your device too. Out of all the steps above, it’s actually got a pretty good chance of resolving any issues that you’re having with Microsoft Edge.
When you turn your computer off, you’re giving it a chance to fully power down. This will completely close all of the programs and software that you’ve got running on the device. It clears out the RAM completely.
After Edge and the rest of your running software has been properly closed down, you can turn it back on again. Often, this is all you actually need to do to get Microsoft Edge working again as normal.
Conclusion
There are good and bad things about Microsoft Edge. The extensions aren’t quite as good as Chrome just yet, and this can sometimes lead to crashing and freezing of the browser. Plus for Mac users, the update process can be a little tedious too.
But generally, Edge is a fast enough option that works pretty well, with an extremely simple interface that doesn’t take long to get used to. And once you get past any initial familiarisation issues, it can be just as good as any other browser.
