How to Stop Edge from Taking Over Internet Explorer
In recent years, Microsoft has been pushing its new web browser, Edge, as the successor to the classic Internet Explorer. While Edge offers many improvements and features, some users still prefer the familiarity and reliability of Internet Explorer. If you find that Edge is taking over your Internet Explorer, here’s how you can stop it from happening.
1. Change the Default Browser
The first step to stop Edge from taking over Internet Explorer is to change the default browser on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
3. Select “Internet options.”
4. Go to the ” Programs ” tab.
5. Under “Default web browser,” click on “Set this program as default.”
6. Choose “Internet Explorer” from the list of programs and click “OK.”
2. Modify the Registry
If changing the default browser doesn’t work, you can try modifying the Windows registry. This method requires caution, as incorrect changes to the registry can cause system instability. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\http\UserChoice
4. In the right pane, find the “Progid” value and double-click on it.
5. Change the value data from “msedge” to “iexplore” and click “OK.”
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
3. Disable Edge from Taking Over
Another way to stop Edge from taking over Internet Explorer is to disable the feature that allows it to open links in the background. To do this:
1. Open the Edge browser.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner to open the menu.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Scroll down and click on “Default apps.”
5. Under “Web browser,” click on “Choose default apps by file type.”
6. Find “http://” and “https://” in the list and click on “Internet Explorer” under “Choose an app.”
7. Repeat the process for both “http://” and “https://.”
8. Close the Settings menu.
4. Use Group Policy
If you are using a Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise edition, you can also use Group Policy to prevent Edge from taking over Internet Explorer. Here’s how:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to the following path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Main
4. Double-click on “Turn off the use of Internet Explorer as the default web browser.”
5. Select “Enabled” and click “OK.”
6. Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.
By following these steps, you should be able to stop Edge from taking over Internet Explorer and continue using your preferred web browser.
