Stop Microsoft Edge updates

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Can I safely stop Edge updates if I only use Firefox (or Chrome in emergency)?  I know the basic browser is uninstallable, but I can’t find any help in searching for disabling Edge updates through google search (posts are over a year old).

Using:

Thinkpad W530

Windows 10 Pro 64

Build 20H2

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If it’s installed, you should patch it.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Edge is not uninstallable. See #2372696.

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That may be true for Windows, PK, but I’m pretty sure I can still un-install it in Linux (just checked Synaptic). Not that this is useful for Windows users, though.

I suspect Edge is tied into the OS in W10 similar to what IE was, which is why you can’t get rid of it in W10/11. That’s a pretty interesting trick, considering Edge is built off of a Chrominum base. Susan’s point about patching is bang on, though, since browsers are VERY vulnerable to exploits. The only way I would not patch one would be having it in an ironclad sandbox…and even then I’d be nervous.

Oh, and the reason I use in in Linux is because it works well with Disney Plus and other pay sites, unlike Brave/Chrome. I don’t use it as a daily driver, though.

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Windows 10 Firewall Control

I also advocate updating your browser but I want to control when the update occurs.

You can disable ‘Microsoft Edge Update’ in ‘Windows 10 Firewall Control’ (I saw this many years ago in one of the precursors to AskWoody). Note: Some people may not like it because it can take some training by the user, to get it the way you like.

It can also block Google Chrome updates (‘Google Installer’).

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Download Windows Firewall Control from OlderGeeks.com . It turns out to be an anti-malware company’s Windows Firewall Control. It is more complicate to setup and use; if you like simple I would not recommend it.

I installed it to try and block the Spooler SubSystem (spoolersv.exe) vulnerability (you can block spoolersv.exe and allow it when you want to print) although the vulnerability is being fixed in the September Windows Updates.

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Edge can be firewall blocked.  The old edge can’t be removed, the new one can (it’s Chrome) but not easily once installed.   Not sure if either are possible in Home permanently but are easy in Pro.  Open firewall, then “allow an app or feature…”  This is the simplest thing to do but you should check after updates since windows resets many firewall switches even in Pro.

I have neither version of edge installed because of an update glitch. This is a little confusing but updates starting a few months ago removed oldedge but didn’t install newedge because I always do updates offline, from the catalog and that was one side effect of the update:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/july-13-2021-kb5004237-os-builds-19041-1110-19042-1110-and-19043-1110-ae798d3c-3de3-4c1f-b9d9-7391b71da889

Happened with earlier updates, too.

How much affect the following have had, I’m not sure but they work.  The gpedit entry should be checked and the powershell script run before going online after an update.

gpedit entry to prevent new edge:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_edge_blocker_toolkit.html

Powershell edge installer removal:

https://www.ghacks.net/2020/07/07/how-to-remove-the-new-microsoft-edge-if-uninstallation-is-blocked/

Chrome “in an emergency” is not a great idea.  I’d uninstall it and install a good version of Chromium, one with most of the spyware disabled.  This is what we use:

https://chromium.woolyss.com/

The first green one.  The second green one is Ungoogled Chromium, I don’t think you’ll like it, it barely works and that alone will give you a good feel for how much of Chromium is really just Google user ad delivery software (they made that up, not me!)

2 users thanked author for this post.

windbg, KP

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See my experience with removing Chromium Edge in the second post, including the “Note of Caution” (some of the advice published out there can cause the next WU CU update to fail with error code 0x800f0922 unless corrected). There is also a .txt file attached with the commands I found to be successful.

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/removing-built-in-apps-from-win10-2004-20h2-21h1/

1 user thanked author for this post.

windbg

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