How to Fix Default Browser Keeps Resetting to Edge on Windows
Windows keeps changing your default browser back to Microsoft Edge? Default apps resetting after updates or restarts? Fix persistent default browser issues.
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Main Troubleshooting Guide
How to Fix Microsoft Store Not Working →Complete symptoms, causes, and step-by-step solutions
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Default browser resets to Edge after Windows Update
- •Links open in Edge despite setting Chrome/Firefox as default
- •Default Apps settings show correct browser but links still open in Edge
- •microsoft-edge:// protocol links always open Edge regardless of settings
- •Widgets, Search, and Start menu always open links in Edge
- •Setting default browser reverts on next restart
Common Causes
- ⚠Windows Update resetting default app associations
- ⚠microsoft-edge:// protocol is hardcoded to Edge and can't be changed
- ⚠Windows Search/Widgets use Edge-specific protocols
- ⚠Registry default app entries corrupted or overwritten
- ⚠Group Policy enforcing Edge as default
- ⚠Edge "Set as default" prompt accepted accidentally
Solutions
Solution 1: Set Default Browser Properly
- 1Settings → Apps → Default apps → search for your browser
- 2Click your browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox)
- 3Click "Set default" button at the top
- 4This sets it for HTTP, HTTPS, and .htm/.html files
- 5For individual protocols: scroll down and change each one
- 6Important: also set .pdf, .svg, .webp if you want browser to handle those
Solution 2: Fix Edge-Specific Protocol Redirects
- 1Windows Search, Widgets, and some Start menu links use microsoft-edge:// protocol
- 2This CANNOT be changed through Settings — it's hardcoded
- 3Third-party tool: EdgeDeflector (redirects microsoft-edge:// to default browser)
- 4Or: MSEdgeRedirect (open source, more actively maintained)
- 5These intercept Edge-specific URLs and open them in your chosen browser
- 6Note: Microsoft has tried to block these tools in past updates
Solution 3: Prevent Resets After Updates
- 1Export your default app settings before updates:
- 2DISM /Online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:"%UserProfile%\Desktop\defaults.xml"
- 3After an update resets defaults, reimport:
- 4DISM /Online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:"%UserProfile%\Desktop\defaults.xml"
- 5Or use Group Policy: gpedit.msc → Computer Config → Admin Templates
- 6→ Windows Components → File Explorer → "Set a default associations configuration file"
- 7Point to your exported XML file
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