How to Fix Microsoft Edge Crashes and Freezes

The new Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser offers a surprisingly good set of features coupled with excellent performance and stability. However, like all browsers, some users may encounter issues, such as pages crashing, freezing, or even the entire browser shutting down. Usually, these issues are not serious and can be fixed easily. Try the solutions outlined below and see if they will be able to return your Microsoft Edge browser to its optimal performance.

One of the most common causes of Edge freezing and crashing is the use of cached images. When users visit a website, Edge saves a copy of the website's images in the cache memory to load the website faster in the future. However, if there are too many cached images, it can lead to performance issues and cause Edge to freeze or crash.

Users can clear the cached images and other browsing data from the Edge browser settings to fix this issue. They can also change the default settings to prevent Edge from saving too many cached images.

Delete the Browser Cache

1. Launch the Edge browser.
2. Open the 'Settings and more' menu.
3. Navigate to the 'Privacy and services' section.
4. Go to 'Clear browsing data' and click the 'Choose what to clear' button.
5. Select the appropriate items you wish to be removed from the browser data.
6. After making your selection click the 'Clear now' button.
7. Restart the Edge browser.

Disable or Remove Incompatible Browser Extensions

Apart from cached images, some of the most common issues with the Edge browser include problems with the default search engine, outdated browser versions, and corrupted extensions. It is recommended to check for updates regularly and keep the browser up-to-date to avoid such issues.

When incompatible extensions cause the problems with the Edge browser, you may need to disable the extensions one by one until you pinpoint the right one. However, before that, start the browser in Incognito mode. If the issues appear once more, then it is unlikely that the installed extensions are causing the browser instability, and you should check for other solutions. If the browser is operating normally in Incognito mode, then follow these steps:

1. Go to the 'Settings and More' menu.
2. Click on 'Extensions.'
3. Go to 'Manage extensions.'
4. Start testing each extension by disabling it and checking if the browser issues have disappeared.
5. After finding the incompatible extension, follow the same steps, but this time remove it.

Modify Edge via Settings

1. Type settings in the search field on the Windows taskbar and open the top result.
2. Open the 'Apps' section.
3. Use the search field to locate Microsoft Edge.
4. Select it and click on the Modify button.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Finally, restoring Microsoft Edge to its default values can often be the best solution. Restoring the default values resets all settings to their original configurations, including extensions, search engines, and cached data. This can help fix issues that corrupted settings or extensions may have caused. To launch Edge with default settings, users can go to the "Settings" menu, choose "Reset settings," and select "Restore settings to their default values." This should help resolve any issues and ensure the browser is running smoothly.

If none of the offered solutions work, we strongly recommend that you scan your system with a powerful antimalware tool. Malware, such as viruses, spyware, and adware, can infiltrate your system through various sources, including downloads and unsafe websites. These malicious programs can cause your browser to crash, slow down your system, and compromise sensitive data. An antimalware tool can help detect and remove malware from your system, preventing it from causing harm to your browser and your overall computer system. So, by using an antimalware tool, you can ensure your browser runs smoothly, protecting your online experience and sensitive information.