On one of my older test machines with Windows Update enabled, the newer Chromium-based build of Microsoft Edge has been downloaded - upon rebooting for the first time after the update had been installed, I hit the "Close" button; I didn't want to make Edge the default browser. However, it appears that a process named "MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe" has appeared in the Task Manager that automatically updates the build of Edge that's currently installed.
Are there currently any known ways in which automatic updates of Edge can be disabled on Windows 7 machines? I've done some rsearch, and most threads online appear to be related to Windows 10.
33 Answers
UPDATE year 2020 : For Windows 10 these methods no longer apply.
The articleHow to Disable or Remove MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe Process Running in Task Managersuggests several methods for getting rid of MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe.
Method 1: Disable Microsoft Edge Update from Startup
This is done in Task Manager, Startup tab, click on Disable for "Microsoft Edge Update".
Method 2: Disable Microsoft Edge Update Services
Open Service Manager and set "Startup type" to Disabled for "Microsoft Edge Update Service (edgeupdate)" and for "Microsoft Edge Update Service (edgeupdatem)".
Method 3: Delete Microsoft Edge Update Scheduled Tasks
Run Task Scheduler, click on "Task Scheduler Library" and delete or disable the following tasks:
- MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineCore
- MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskMachineUA
- MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskUserS-1-5-21.......Core
- MicrosoftEdgeUpdateTaskUserS-1-5-21.......UA
Method 4: Block Microsoft Edge Update Using Firewall
Use the firewall to disallow internet access to MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe.
I just checked Chromium Edge on two machines here. Updates are Automatic - Same as Google Chrome.
So even though not default, it will update whenever you load it.
It is also a good practice to ensure Edge and Google Chrome are both up to date for security and feature capabilities.
2Open the Services in Win 7, you will find there one called: "MicrosoftEdgeElevationService", which does the following: "Keeps Microsoft Edge up to update. If this service is disabled, the application will not be kept up to date." In my case, after installing MS edge (via windows update) this service is deactivated (set on "manual").
You could also instruct your firewall on the win7 machine to block the following processes, if they intend to online-connect:
- microsoftedgeupdatebroker.exe
- microsoftedgeupdateondemand.exe
I just set up my edge on win7, so I don't know so far how this auto-update will behave in the future. In this moment, it behaves politely (is not asking anything).
