How to Fix Microsoft Edge Not Responding on Windows 11

Today, Microsoft Edge has become the go-to browser for hundreds of users. It offers better features, speed, and stability than Google Chrome. While the web browser is feature-rich, it still has some issues.

At times, Microsoft Edge may behave abnormally and can stop responding. Recently, many users have reported Microsoft Edge not responding on their Windows 11 PC. According to the users, Microsoft Edge stops responding, raises the CPU usage, and freezes their computer.

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Why Microsoft Edge is not responding?

Well, there are not one, but multiple reasons that usually lead to such problems. Microsoft Edge may stop responding due to corrupted installation files, incorrect browser settings, virus/malware attacks, corrupted system files, etc.

It’s difficult to pinpoint a single cause of Microsoft Edge’s not responding issue, making it difficult to find and fix the root cause. However, you can follow some general troubleshooting tips to fix the issue on Windows 11.

If you face similar issues while using the Microsoft Edge browser, continue reading the article. Below, we have shared some of the best ways to fix Microsoft Edge not responding issue on Windows 11 computers. Let’s get started.

1. Restart the Edge browser

Before you try anything else, at least restart your web browser once. Restarting the web browser is an evergreen solution to various problems.

Restarting will eliminate temporary glitches or bugs that prevent your Edge browser from functioning properly. So, close and reopen the browser.

2. Restart your PC

It’s possible that certain processes running in the background are preventing the Edge browser from functioning properly.

When this happens, Edge Browser may stop responding or trigger different types of errors. Hence, it’s important to restart your PC and check.

3. Close the Browser Processes from the Task Manager

Even though you’re not actively using Edge browser, chances are that some of its processes are still running silently in the background. It’s also possible that the Edge browser was not closed properly on the previous session; hence, it’s showing ‘Not Responding’ error.

Hence, you need to close Microsoft Edge Properly and ensure there’s no process associated with the browser running in the background.

1. Type in Task Manager on the Windows 11 search. Next, open the Task Manager app from the list of best-match results.

2. When the Task Manager opens, find Microsoft Edge.

3. Right-click on Microsoft Edge and select End Task.

After closing all processes associated with the Microsoft Edge browser, restart your Windows 11 PC. After the restart, check whether Microsoft Edge is responding.

4. Run Microsoft Edge as an Administrator

Many users have claimed to fix the ‘Microsoft Edge Not Responding’ error by running the browser with administrator rights. Hence, you can try doing it as well. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Type in Microsoft Edge on the Windows 11 search.

2. Right-click on Microsoft Edge and select Run as administrator.

3. This will open Microsoft Edge with admin rights. If the browser runs fine, follow the next steps.

4. Right click on the Microsoft Edge browser icon and select Open File Location.

5. Next, right click on the msedge executable file and select Properties.

6. Now switch to the Compatibility tab. Under Settings, check “Run this program as an administrator.”

7. After making the changes, click on Apply and then OK.

5. Make sure your system has enough free resources

Like every web browser, Microsoft Edge also uses a high amount of RAM & CPU to function properly. If other programs on your computer already hog your system resources, Microsoft Edge will keep showing ‘Not Responding’ error.

Hence, it’s recommended to open the Task Manager and pay attention to all programs using the CPU/RAM. If you find unnecessary programs running in the background, close them and launch the Microsoft Edge browser.

6. Disable the Extensions

If you still see a Not Responding error on the Microsoft Edge browser, it’s best to cross-check the extensions you’re using.

Sometimes, extensions incompatible with your installed version of the Edge browser can lead to such problems. Hence, it’s best to disable the Extensions in the Edge browser.

1. Open the Edge browser and click on the three dots at the top right corner.

2. On the Edge menu, select Extensions.

3. On the next screen, disable all active extensions. Once disabled, relaunch the Edge browser.

Now, use the Edge browser for a while and check if you still get the same problem.

7. Clear the Edge Browser Cache

If Microsoft Edge is still not responding, the browser cache files are likely corrupted. Hence, it’s recommended that you clear the existing browser cache to resolve the issue.

1. Open the Edge browser and click on the three dots at the top right corner.

2. On the Edge menu, click on Settings.

3. On the Settings screen, type Clear browsing data on the Search bar.

4. Now select Choose what to clear option.

5. Next, check Cookies and other site data & Cached images and files.

6. Once done, click on the Clear Now button.

8. Repair the Edge Browser

Few would know that Microsoft Edge has a repair tool for troubleshooting browser-related issues. Here’s how to use it.

1. Click on the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.

2. When the Settings app opens, switch to the Apps > Installed Apps.

3. Find the Microsoft Edge browser and click on the three dots beside it.

4. On the list of options that appears, select Modify.

5. This will launch the Microsoft Edge Repair tool. Click on Repair and wait until the process completes.

9. Delete Microsoft Edge User Data

There may be certain problems with the Microsoft Edge user data; hence, deleting the user data might help. Here’s how you can delete Microsoft Edge user data in easy steps.

1. Press the Windows Key + R button on your keyboard. Paste the following path on the RUN dialog box and press Enter.

appdata/Local/Microsoft/Edge/User Data

2. Find the Default folder, right click on it and select Delete.

This guide explains how to fix Microsoft Edge Not Responding on a Windows 11. We have shared all the working methods for resolving the issue; follow them individually. Let us know if you need more help resolving Microsoft Edge problems on your computer.