MS Edge windows closes shortly after starting, repair function/sfc scannow not helping

Question

MS Edge windows closes shortly after starting, repair function/sfc scannow not helping

xprt007 0

Hi there

MS edge has been behaving strangely of late on my Lenovo notebook, with Win 11 Pro, ALL available Windows Updates installed, with AMD Ryzen 7 5800U, 16GB RAM, all Lenovo drivers/software up-to-date. I have used Windscribe VPN add-on for years with no issue. It suddenly stopped working with some error message and when I tried to re-install it, the process always failed. I continued using the add-on in Firefox. I think I could also not install any other add-ons, both from the Chrome & MS store.
Today, suddenly, when an application, ArcGIS failed to open a link in Edge, I tried opening it manually and noticed a blank window briefly appears and then disappears even before it gets fully loaded.

I tried using the Apps => repair function, it did not help. Both sfc /scannow & DISM restore-health find no violation and even after restart, no change.

So what can I do to get MS Edge working again?

I read one can completely uninstall it, though it was mentioned that could be problematic, and re-install it, but have not tried that yet.

I would very much appreciate your help, with clear instructions.

Kind regards

xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T14:57:19.9+00:00

I had already tried out some of the solutions suggested in the AI response, then did the rest, including trying to install Edge over the existing faulty one. All did not solve the problem.

I then went on to try an In Place Installation to try and repair Windows with a freshly downloaded .iso file, but frustratingly, the set-up fails trying to validate the key of the Win 11 Pro (which I bought online) and successfully upgraded from Win 11 Home a couple of months ago ...

and activated with no problem. So I am now stuck with a completely different unconnected issue.

I just want normally functioning MS Edge, but also do not expect not to be able to upgrade or repair Windows because this unexpected issue.

Strangely, the key that I got from the vendor looks different from the one I see when I use some command (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey ... to retrieve it. Quite confusing for an amateur.

Will appreciate your assistance, apparently for both issues and the last question.

Furthermore, under Apps, the Modify option for Edge is deactivated, with only Uninstall. Is it safe to uninstall & re-install from a fresh downloaded file?

Regards
xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-26T13:55:42.4166667+00:00
The above responses did NOT solve the issue. After the initial response by AI, I tried out suggested solutions and reported back. AI responded by including most of the suggestions I had mentioned did not work and I requested help by a Microsoft human assistant as that option was there. After getting no response but similar suggestions by AI, I gave up and using a Windowsimagebackup to recover Windows to what I had about 3 weeks ago. At that time, MS Edge was working BUT there was problem with add-ons, which could ALL not get installed, whatever suggestions I tried to solve the issue.

That is what I have now. I cannot install any new add-ons.

After that I went to Windows Recovery and installed Windows 11, version 25H2 (repair version). IT DID NOT SOLVE THE problem of failure to install add-ons.

I am sure I am going to be told by AI to try out suggestions that I have tried out before, which is very frustrating.

I do miss Microsoft Answers where people helped solve such problems.

Again:

ALL the above suggested solutions DO NOT HELP

Repair of MS Edge via Apps => Modify did not help repair Edge and MS Edge keeps closing soon after start.

Installing Edge over existing app did not help

Using Windows back-up image brings me to when MS Edge was working BUT I could NOT install add-ons

Windows 11, version 25H2 (repair version) does NOT repair the MS Edge to allow installing add-ons

What can I do now? Could a human MS assistant please help, like we had with Microsoft Answers so one does not keep working in circles?

Thank you.

4 answers

Your answer

xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-22T14:57:19.9+00:00

I had already tried out some of the solutions suggested in the AI response, then did the rest, including trying to install Edge over the existing faulty one. All did not solve the problem.

I then went on to try an In Place Installation to try and repair Windows with a freshly downloaded .iso file, but frustratingly, the set-up fails trying to validate the key of the Win 11 Pro (which I bought online) and successfully upgraded from Win 11 Home a couple of months ago ...

and activated with no problem. So I am now stuck with a completely different unconnected issue.

I just want normally functioning MS Edge, but also do not expect not to be able to upgrade or repair Windows because this unexpected issue.

Strangely, the key that I got from the vendor looks different from the one I see when I use some command (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey ... to retrieve it. Quite confusing for an amateur.

Will appreciate your assistance, apparently for both issues and the last question.

Furthermore, under Apps, the Modify option for Edge is deactivated, with only Uninstall. Is it safe to uninstall & re-install from a fresh downloaded file?

Regards
xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-26T13:55:42.4166667+00:00

The above responses did NOT solve the issue. After the initial response by AI, I tried out suggested solutions and reported back. AI responded by including most of the suggestions I had mentioned did not work and I requested help by a Microsoft human assistant as that option was there. After getting no response but similar suggestions by AI, I gave up and using a Windowsimagebackup to recover Windows to what I had about 3 weeks ago. At that time, MS Edge was working BUT there was problem with add-ons, which could ALL not get installed, whatever suggestions I tried to solve the issue.

That is what I have now. I cannot install any new add-ons.

After that I went to Windows Recovery and installed Windows 11, version 25H2 (repair version). IT DID NOT SOLVE THE problem of failure to install add-ons.

I am sure I am going to be told by AI to try out suggestions that I have tried out before, which is very frustrating.

I do miss Microsoft Answers where people helped solve such problems.

Again:

ALL the above suggested solutions DO NOT HELP

Repair of MS Edge via Apps => Modify did not help repair Edge and MS Edge keeps closing soon after start.

Installing Edge over existing app did not help

Using Windows back-up image brings me to when MS Edge was working BUT I could NOT install add-ons

Windows 11, version 25H2 (repair version) does NOT repair the MS Edge to allow installing add-ons

What can I do now? Could a human MS assistant please help, like we had with Microsoft Answers so one does not keep working in circles?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Carl-L 13,530 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello xprt007,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

As I understand so far, after you recover using a restore point. Your Windows is active again and Edge can be opened, am I correct? Which means the only issues left is the add-ons.

Before we proceed, may I know what happened when you tried to download the add-ons? A photo of it would be best, but please remember to remove all personal information before posting.

I'm waiting for your reply.

xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-27T15:15:25.45+00:00
Hello Carl-L

Thank you for asking.

I am consistently getting such errors shown in screenshot whatever add-on I try to install, that includes diverse adblockers, Malwarebytes Browser Guard, Windscribe VPN add-on, which I had before and have functioned seamless for years and currently in use on 2 other Windows 11 notebooks.

After some excruciating wait here while only communicating with the robot, I had given up and asked for help at "Elevenforum". I thought I need to mention this so you see what else I have done since my last post here.
After reading my detailed explanation regarding all the steps I had already tried out, the Elevenforum helper said the following:

"You’ve already gone through all the standard fixes (SFC, DISM, Edge repair, reinstalling Edge, even a Windows repair install), and the fact that none of them helped is actually the key to the problem. When Edge refuses to install any extensions — Microsoft Store or Chrome Store — and especially when it starts closing shortly after launch, the root cause is almost always corruption inside the Edge profile or its extension policy store, not the OS itself. Windows repair installs do not reset any of the components that usually break in this scenario. Below are the fixes that actually resolve this specific failure pattern."

Based on that, they gave me some 6 steps to try out, the first of which was "__Rebuild the Edge profile (most reliable fix)__"

I tried out all 2, 3 times over, got a new profile, but still have extension installation failure. In fact the above screenshot was made after. I reported back and still waiting for a response.

I also need to mention after the In Place Installation to try and repair Windows mentioned a few days ago failing, I later used Windowsimagebackup to restore Windows to the state of 3 weeks ago, when MS Edge was working but the add-on installation failure had set in.

I then installed Windows 11, version 25H2 (repair version) as mentioned

The steps I refer to suggested by Elevenforum are after all that

I have tried to download add-ons many times, after trying out different steps to solve the issue, including several times today, like before this post

That is where I stand, with MS Edge working, fresh profile (from the Elevenforum steps), but no ability to install ANY add-on and would appreciate any help to solve this problem.

Just one additional question regarding this forum: May be I was doing something wrong, but is there any quicker way to get assistance from Microsoft External Staff in case one has an urgent need to be addressed, that the robot cannot? It is really a nightmare having to wait for days not knowing one will get a response at all, unlike in the discontinued Microsoft Answers forum, which provided quick help.

Thank you in advance
Carl-L 13,530 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-28T13:26:43.0466667+00:00
Hello xprt007,

Thanks for replying.

If you need help urgently, you can feel free to tag me in the questions. If I'm available, I'll try to get back to you as fast as I can. However, please do expect some delay in answers if I'm not available.

As I checked on this, per the other forum member said, the issue might come from a policy block instead of the OS. So first of all, can you please help me check these in the registry?

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article.

Type "Regedit" in the search bar and press Enter.

Navigate to the following location.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

HKEY_USERS.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

Look for any of these values:

ExtensionInstallBlocklist

ExtensionInstallAllowlist

ExtensionInstallForcelist

BlockExternalExtensions

DeveloperToolsAvailability

ExtensionAllowedTypes

If any of these exist. Delete it.

Restart your computer.

I'm waiting for your reply.
xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-28T15:54:44.92+00:00
Hi there

So I went and looked for those keys, but before that, thought I could like the Elevenforum helper suggested rebuild the profile first, through "Browse to: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge\User Data Rename it to: User Data.old" and restarted Edge.

I then went to regedit and this is what I found, though I must emphasize I am not conversant with this, so I could have made some mistakes somewhere:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge "Edge" missing in list

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Here also "Edge" missing, only SystemCertificates & Windows there I think this is a different thing, but "Edge" is here: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Edge, but not under Policies

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft, I see no "Edge"

HKEY_USERS.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge None of those keys to delete available

I wonder why "Edge" is missing in those locations or the mentioned values, or was I looking in the wrong places?
Here are some screenshots of what I saw:

What could the next step be?
Thank you for the offer to help in case of urgent need of assistance.

Kind regards
xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-29T09:10:26.1966667+00:00

Update

Today, I just tried to install an add-on again, just for the sake of it, but using a different "Get extension" button and got this error message, which probably suggests a potential cause - "Could not unzip extension":
Carl-L 13,530 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-29T13:29:17.06+00:00

Hello xprt007,

Thanks for the information.

I'll see what I can do. I'll keep you updated.
xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-29T15:25:42.9566667+00:00

Thank you.
Carl-L 13,530 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-30T13:14:27.8833333+00:00
Hello xprt007,

Thanks for your patience.

It is actually not very uncommon to see that key is missing. It's not always something is wrong, though. In this case, please try to check some of these areas for me.

Edge policy.

In edge search bar type edge://policy and press Enter.

Search for these entries and let me know:

ExtensionInstallBlocklist

ExtensionInstallAllowlist

ExtensionSettings

ExtensionInstallSources

Temp files.

Press Win + R to open the run dialog box.

Type %temp% and press Enter

Create a new folder inside of it.

Copy a random file (anything will do, even a scribble note)

Try to delete it to see if it can be done successfully.

I'm waiting for your reply.
xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-04-30T15:40:06.5066667+00:00

Hi

Thank you for the clarification.
Following the instructions brings me to the results in the screenshots. The results of the second screenshot only came when I tried and ticked the "Show policies with no value".

I subsequently created a folder in the Temp folder, added a text file and was able to delete it instantly.

Regards

Answer 2

Hello xprt007,

Thanks for replying.

It's good to hear that you have been able to install the pop up again.

Regarding the apps, I don't think I recognize this file name or the extension. The name "Qt_temp" might refer to an app that was built using Qt framework, and it is not a Windows component as I know of, so you should disable it from startup. A lot of everyday software was built using Qt framework, so when the apps is no longer there due to a reset or uninstallation, it could create a temp files as you see. Personally, I don't think it'll do any harm to your computer, but it has nothing to do running at startup.

I hope this clarifies.

Answer 3

Carl-L 13,530 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello xprt007,

Thanks for replying.

This indicate that this is not a policy prevention and temp folder issue. Which leaves us with 2 possible causes.

Antivirus and firewall block.
- In this case, can you please try to disable all antivirus software, VPN and firewall (Including Windows Defender) to see if it allows you to download extensions?
Repair permission on Edge folders.
- Close all Edge instances
- Type "Command prompt" in the search bar and select "Run as administrator"
- Type icacls "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Edge" /reset /T /C and press Enter.
- Restart your computer when it is done.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

xprt007 0 Reputation points

2026-05-02T14:00:00.4+00:00

Hi there

I followed those steps, including disabling Defender & Glarysoft's Malware Hunter Pro and to my dismay, when I tried to install add-ons, I got the same error messages, quite astonished what could be causing this Edge malfunction, which seems to have come out of the blue a couple of weeks ago.
So I decided to do a Windowsimagebackup, which I could come back to, if needed and decided to try out a Windows Reset, with the option to preserve files. This has just ended and yes, Windows recovered the settings linked to my Microsoft account and that included all MS Edge add-ons I originally had, all installed with me doing nothing.

I have time to try this out, because I have the disadvantage of loosing a good number of Giveaway programs I frequently use, most of which avail a one time installation license.
It is however good to have Windows functioning without any flaws.

One question I have, though is about some ".Hp5952" file. Before I started the reset, that strange pop-up appeared and since I could not recognize it, I ignored it.

When the reset finished, I thought I briefly saw it reappearing and tried to look it up online, but there is hardly any useful information about it.

Furthermore, when looking at Startup apps in Task manager, I saw an enabled "qt_temp.Hp5952", which I am going to disable. Is it right to assume it's a Windows system file & if so, what exactly does it do and should it be enabled? What is the right thing to do if this pop-up reappears? What app opens it??

Thank you for your kind support!

Answer 4

Based on the described symptoms (Edge window opens briefly then closes, add-ons failing to install, sfc/DISM showing no issues), use the following Edge‑specific troubleshooting steps before attempting a full uninstall.

Close all Edge processes and other apps
- Make sure no Edge windows are open.
- Close other apps, especially those that might use embedded Edge/WebView2 (for example, Teams, new Outlook, widgets, or ArcGIS components) so no Edge files are locked.
Check that Edge can update and is on a supported OS
- Confirm Windows 11 is fully updated (already done) and that the device meets Edge OS requirements.
- Try to start Edge once more and, if it stays open long enough, go to:
  - Settings and more (… ) > Settings > About Microsoft Edge and let it check for and apply any Edge updates.
General Edge crash troubleshooting When Edge opens then closes or fails to load pages:
- Free up memory:
  - Close all other browser tabs, apps, and pause any downloads.
- Restart the device and try Edge again.
- Scan the device for malware using Windows Security (Windows 11 uses the same Windows Security experience as Windows 10 referenced in the article). Follow the “Run a scan manually” steps in Windows Security and remove any detected threats.
- If third‑party security software (for example, Windscribe’s desktop client, other AV/VPN) is installed, ensure it is fully updated. Out‑of‑date security software can interfere with Edge processes and extensions.
Repair Microsoft Edge from Apps settings Since the standard “Repair” from Apps was already tried, repeat it ensuring all prerequisites are met:
1. Close Edge for all user accounts on the device.
2. Confirm the signed‑in account has local administrator rights.
3. Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
4. Select Microsoft Edge > Modify.
5. Approve the UAC prompt.
6. Ensure the device is online and choose Repair. This process reinstalls Edge components while preserving browser data and settings.
Run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter for Edge If Edge still closes immediately, run the Windows Program Compatibility Troubleshooter against Edge:
1. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security.
2. Select Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
3. Under Find and fix other problems, select Program Compatibility Troubleshooter.
4. Select Run the troubleshooter and follow the prompts, choosing Microsoft Edge when asked which program to troubleshoot.
Clear Edge update cache Corrupted update cache can cause instability and failed extension installs.
- Navigate to C:\Users\<YourUserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\Update\ and delete the contents of the Update folder.
- Restart the device and try launching Edge again.
Reinstall Edge on top of the existing installation If Edge still will not stay open, reinstall it over the current installation (this is safer than trying to fully remove the built‑in copy):
1. Open another working browser (for example, Firefox, which is already in use).
2. Go to the official Edge download page and download the latest installer.
3. After download, close all apps that might use Edge/WebView2.
4. Right‑click the Edge installer and select Run as administrator.
5. Complete setup; this will reinstall/repair Edge in place.
If reinstall still fails or Edge will not start
- Verify there is at least 1–2 GB of free space on the system drive.
- Restart the device again to clear any pending updates and locked files, then retry the in‑place Edge reinstall.
- If the problem persists after all steps above, collect details (any error codes, event log entries) and contact Microsoft Support, as recommended in similar cases where in‑place repair and reinstall did not resolve Edge startup failures.

These steps address common causes of Edge crashing on startup, failed extension installs, and update corruption without attempting unsupported full removal of Edge from Windows.

References:

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MS Edge windows closes shortly after starting, repair function/sfc scannow not helping

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