I am using Vivaldi as my browser and hate how intrusive Microsoft Edge is so I want to uninstall it to deboat my computer. I can use tools like Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner to remove Microsoft Edge, so that bit isn't necessarily a problem. However, a music tagging app I use called OneTagger relies on using the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime. When I uninstalled Microsoft Edge, it seems to also uninstall the runtime. I have tried using UniGetUI to just install the runtime, but it seem to also installed Microsoft Edge, so I get stuck with not be able to have the runtime without having the full app.

Anyone know if it's possible to have the runtime without having the full app? If so, how do I achieve that?

@Radio - grateful for your enthusiasm, but please read the post and understand properly before responding with any bot-esque Google search replies

 

Last edited: Jan 30, 2025

Hello Bunford, I read your criticism and will make a little more effort to answer you accordingly in the future.

So Edge is gone, just install the "Microsoft Edge WebView2 132.0.2957.127" !

Download the WebView2 Runtime
MicrosoftEdgeWebView2RuntimeInstallerX64.exe
https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/webview2/?form=MA13LH

or

Microsoft Edge WebView2 132.0.2957.127
https://winxperts4all.at/index.php/software/2573-microsoft-edge-webview2

 

Last edited: Jan 30, 2025

iwr -useb https://christitus.com/win | iex

Paste that into powershell.

1. Try selecting Edge from the "Install" tab, then press the "Uninstall Selected" tab.

2. Click on the "Tweaks" tab. Under "Advanced Tweaks - CAUTION", select "Remove Microsoft Edge", then press the "Run Tweaks" button.

Good luck.

 

I made my own uninstaller script, that stops all the services, uninstall Edge .. you can try

https://alfalink.to/c86109d0154dd3f75eaf60

 

You can install the runtime with the given url. However, the Edge browser will wind up back on your system. At that point the only recourse is to manually delete the edge browser via add/remove programs or possibly with RevoUninstaller. The runtime will remain, and edge will appear to not be installed as a browser. HOWEVER, unless you do a search and destroy with UltraSearch you will not ever fully remove the browser and its updater garbage off your system.

Personally I use tag & rename. It doesn't require the use of any edge crapola so you can get rid of the entire edge lineup once and for all.

 

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msedge.exe]
"Debugger"="cmd.exe /c echo %TIME% Blocking Edge >> C:\\block.log"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\old_msedge.exe]
"Debugger"="cmd.exe /c echo %TIME% Blocking Old_Edge >> C:\\block.log"

 

It wasn't criticism, it was just a gentle suggestion

I have tried this, but when you install the WebView2 Runtime it seems to also install Microsoft Edge, which is the problem, as when you then uninstall Microsoft Edge it seems to also uninstall the WebView2 Runtime.

 

I already have the .exe for CTT's tool as I paid to support the cause for the .exe version. However, these just uninstall Microsoft Edge similar to Revo and CCleaner, where the WebView2 Runtime is also uninstalled with the Edge app.

 

Does this retain the WebView2 Runtime though, or does that get uninstalled with Microsoft Edge too?

 

This is what I thought, and what I've been trying, but uninstalled Microsoft Edge seems to be also uninstalling the WebView2 Runtime for some reason as when I then start OneTagger again, it re-downloads the runtime to install again as if it's no longer present on the system. May give a few other attempts though with other uninstallers, just in case there is one that doesn't scrape up the runtime as well as the app in the uninstall process.

 

If it is the case that you cannot uninstall Edge one Webview, this is a tricky coercion or fraud by Microsoft, Microsoft is now legally obliged to uninstall Edge. Otherwise please ask the manufacturer "OneTagger" if there is a trick.

Hi human, I'm an AI chatbot, model GPT-4o mini.

Uninstall Microsoft Edge without deleting Microsoft Edge WebView2?

Hi! It is possible to uninstall Microsoft Edge without deleting Microsoft Edge WebView2, as WebView2 is a separate component used by many applications to display web content.

To uninstall Microsoft Edge, you can follow the steps below:

1. Go to your computer's Settings.
2. Select Apps and then Apps & Features.
3. Find Microsoft Edge in the list.
4. Click on Microsoft Edge and select the Uninstall option.

Make sure not to select any options related to WebView2 during the uninstallation process.
In general, uninstalling Edge should not affect WebView2 unless you explicitly select it.

 

Last edited: Jan 30, 2025

<I am just kidding mode on> Just use Linux. No m$ shit at all! </I am just kidding mode off>.

 

I read through all the above and thought the same.. It's actually one of the many reasons I still use win7 with all processes regarding MS stuff fixed in the turned off position!

 

I'm using this tool. Works great + you can select to just uninstall the Edge browser and keep WebView.
https://github.com/ShadowWhisperer/Remove-MS-Edge

Otherwise you could try Geek Uninstaller.
https://geekuninstaller.com/

It allows you to force uninstall Apps that don't want to be uninstalled.
Also works for other MS Store Apps.

 

Last edited: Jan 31, 2025

Yes I can sympathize. I had a system file processor I was checking out the other day on a internet box do that same sort of insidious crap. Even when uninstalling the app it would leave the edge junk there as a memento. Luckily I do backup images of the running system before testing such things so I just nuked the drive and restored the untainted system image. No more edge. As I said before if it was me I would just ditch the app that is utilizing the edge garbage and move on to something that runs clean. The reason being is that when these rando apps use pieces or parts of the edge "system" it seems the "edge updater" shows up regardless and will end up downloading the edge browser in the background. I witnessed this first hand the other day messing around with that file app. I just happened to notice the storage system light blinking so I pulled up netlimiter and sure enough, there was the "edge updater" sitting there downloading the edge browser happy as a clam.

While there may be some neat uninstallers around if you still have an app that is downloading (or requires installation of) any single part of that edge setup, eventually the whole thing will show up back on your system. The "edge updater" is the culprit here and unless you can get rid of that thing completely you can keep uninstalling all day long and the browser will continue to show back up like the thing that wouldn't leave.

 

Last edited: Jan 30, 2025

Believe it when I say (not kidding) if it were viable I would have switched to a *NIX a long time ago.

 

audiosex - your tech support forum

 

Your probably trying something that's impossible without side effects.

I try'd something similar on windows 7 and internet explorer.
end result was, if I want to get rid of the program, I'd lose the ability to read the pop-ups you get in the bottom left by the clock. They'd show up as blank white squares. It was mostly my anti-virus at the time so it was annyoing.

Anyway it's not like the program dose anything if you don't open it, so delete the short cut and forget it exists.
That's what I do.

 

Actually that's not quite correct. MS Edge even when "not used" has system services and updaters that are on the network constantly streaming some sort of data to somewhere or downloading junk into edge. I noticed this when first running oem builds of win10 on my test machine.