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Removing them usually takes only a few clicks: check the startup behavior, delete any listed pages, and choose whether Edge should open a new tab page, previous tabs, or a custom set of sites. If the same pages return after deletion, it may point to an extension, managed browser policy, or corrupted settings that need additional cleanup.
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Check What Opens When Microsoft Edge Starts
Before deleting anything, confirm which startup behavior Microsoft Edge is currently using. Edge can open a clean new tab, continue where you left off, or load one or more specific pages every time the browser starts. If an unwanted site appears at launch, it is usually listed in the startup settings, restored from your previous session, added by an extension, or enforced by an organization policy.
On a desktop version of Microsoft Edge for Windows, macOS, or Linux, open Edge and select the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner. Choose Settings, then select Start, home, and new tabs from the left sidebar. If the left sidebar is not visible, widen the window or use the search box at the top of Settings and search for start. The section you need is labeled When Edge starts.
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In that section, look at which option is selected. The setting determines what Edge loads when you launch a new browser session, such as after closing all Edge windows and reopening the app.
- Open the new tab page: Edge starts with its default new tab experience. This is the best choice if you do not want any custom startup websites.
- Open tabs from the previous session: Edge restores the pages that were open when you last closed the browser. If an unwanted page was left open, it may keep reappearing even though it is not saved as a startup page.
- Open these pages: Edge opens a defined list of websites. Unwanted startup pages are most often found here and can usually be removed from this list.
If Open these pages is selected, review every address shown under it. A startup entry may be obvious, such as a search engine, shopping site, or news page, but it may also be a redirect URL that opens another site after loading. Check for duplicate entries, misspelled domains, unfamiliar search pages, or pages you did not add yourself. These are the items you will remove in the next step.
Also check whether the page opens only when Edge starts or whether it appears when you press the Home button or open a new tab. In the same Start, home, and new tabs area, review the Home button settings and the New tab page options. A website configured as the Home button page is not the same as a startup page, but users often confuse the two because both can make an unwanted site appear during normal browsing.
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Delete Startup Pages in Edge Settings
After you have confirmed which pages open when Microsoft Edge starts, remove the unwanted entries from the startup list in the browser’s settings. This is the most direct fix when Edge is configured to launch one or more specific websites each time you open it. The setting applies to the current Edge profile, so if you use mulle profiles, such as Work and Personal, repeat the steps in the profile where the unwanted pages appear.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select the Settings and more button, shown as three dots in the upper-right corner.
- Choose Settings.
- In the left sidebar, select Start, home, and new tabs.
- Under When Edge starts, select Open these pages if it is not already expanded or active.
- Find the page you want to remove from the startup list.
- Select the More actions button next to that page, usually shown as three dots.
- Choose Delete.
Repeat the delete action for every site you do not want Edge to open automatically. For example, if the list contains an old company portal, a search page you no longer use, or a suspicious URL you do not recognize, remove each one separately. When the list is clean, close the Settings tab and restart Edge to confirm that the deleted pages no longer open.
If you still want Edge to open specific pages at startup, keep only the sites you actually need. You can also edit an existing entry instead of deleting it if the address is outdated. In the same Open these pages section, select the three-dot menu beside the page and choose Edit, then enter the correct web address. This is useful for replacing an old intranet address, correcting a misspelled URL, or changing from an insecure http address to the current https version.
Use the Current Tabs Option Carefully
Edge also provides an option to add currently open tabs to the startup list. This can be convenient, but it can accidentally preserve pages you do not want if several tabs are open at the time. Before using Use all open tabs, close any unrelated tabs, advertising pages, login redirects, or temporary search results. Otherwise, those pages may be added to the startup list and return every time Edge launches.
Once the unwanted entries are removed, test the change with a full browser restart rather than simply opening a new window. Close all Edge windows, then open Edge again from the Start menu, taskbar, Dock, or desktop shortcut. If the deleted pages stay gone, the startup configuration was the source of the issue. If the same pages come back after restarting the browser or computer, another setting, extension, sync conflict, or device policy may be restoring them.
Set Edge to Open a New Tab Page Instead
If you do not want Microsoft Edge to reopen old sites or load a specific list of startup pages, set it to open the New Tab page instead. This is the simplest startup option because Edge launches to its built-in start screen rather than a saved website address. It also helps confirm that unwanted pages were removed correctly: after changing this setting, closing Edge, and reopening it, you should see a fresh New Tab page instead of the deleted URLs.
To change this on Windows, macOS, or Linux, open Microsoft Edge and select the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner. Choose Settings, then select Start, home, and new tabs from the left sidebar. Under When Edge starts, choose Open the new tab page. The change is saved automatically, so you do not need to select a separate save button.
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- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select Settings and more, the three-dot menu.
- Go to Settings > Start, home, and new tabs.
- Under When Edge starts, select Open the new tab page.
- Close all Edge windows, then reopen Edge to test the change.
This setting is separate from the Home button setting. The Home button controls what opens when you click the house icon on the toolbar, while the startup setting controls what appears when the browser first launches. For example, you can set Edge to start with a New Tab page while still keeping a company portal, search engine, or personal dashboard assigned to the Home button. If your goal is to remove startup clutter, focus on the When Edge starts section.
You can also customize what the New Tab page displays after selecting it as your startup destination. Open a new tab, then select the gear icon on the page. From there, choose a layout such as Focused, Inspirational, or Informational, and adjust content visibility, quick links, and background options. These choices do not add startup URLs; they only change the appearance and content of Edge’s built-in New Tab page.
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If Edge still opens a website after you select Open the new tab page, make sure every Edge window has been closed before testing again. On Windows, Edge can sometimes continue running in the background. Open Settings > System and performance and review options such as Startup boost and Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed. Temporarily turning these off can help you confirm whether Edge is fully restarting and applying the new startup behavior.
Remove Startup Pages Added by Extensions
If a startup page reappears after you delete it in Microsoft Edge settings, an extension may be adding it back. Some extensions change browser behavior by setting a home page, redirecting new tabs, opening promotional pages, or restoring a specific website each time Edge launches. This is common with search toolbars, coupon add-ons, PDF utilities, download helpers, and extensions installed from outside the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store.
To check your extensions, open Edge and select the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner. Go to Extensions, then choose Manage extensions. You can also type edge://extensions in the address bar and press Enter. Review the list carefully, especially anything you do not remember installing or anything related to search, shopping, ads, security scans, or “new tab” customization.
- Turn off an extension using its toggle switch.
- Close all Edge windows.
- Open Edge again and check whether the unwanted startup page still appears.
- If the page is gone, return to edge://extensions and select Remove for that extension.
Testing extensions one at a time is the safest approach because it helps you identify the exact add-on causing the problem. If you disable several extensions at once, the unwanted page may disappear, but you will not know which extension was responsible. Start with unfamiliar extensions first, then test extensions that have permission to read and change site data.
Pay close attention to the permissions shown under each extension. An extension with broad access, such as Read and change all your data on all websites, can affect how pages load and may redirect startup behavior. A legitimate extension may still request wide permissions, but if you do not use it regularly or do not recognize the publisher, removing it is usually the better choice.
Check for new tab and search-related extensions
Some extensions do not directly appear in the When Edge starts list but still make it seem as though a startup page is being restored. For example, a new tab extension may open a custom search page whenever Edge opens a new tab, while a search extension may redirect the address bar to another provider. If you configured Edge to open a new tab page and still see an unfamiliar website, the issue may be tied to this kind of extension rather than the startup page list itself.
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- Remove extensions that replace the new tab page without your permission.
- Remove search extensions that force an unknown search engine.
- Disable extensions installed around the same time the startup page problem began.
- Avoid reinstalling extensions from pop-ups or third-party download pages.
After removing a suspicious extension, restart Edge and return to Settings > Start, home, and new tabs. Confirm that the unwanted page has not been added again under When Edge starts. If it stays removed, the extension was likely controlling the startup behavior. If it returns again, continue with policy checks or a browser reset, because another setting, installed app, or managed configuration may be enforcing the page.
Check for Managed or Policy-Controlled Startup Pages
If a startup page keeps reappearing after you delete it in Microsoft Edge, the setting may be controlled by an organization policy rather than by your normal browser preferences. This is common on work or school computers, but it can also happen on personal PCs if old management software, security tools, or unwanted software has written browser policies into Windows or macOS.
Start by checking Edge’s built-in policy page. Open Microsoft Edge, type edge://policy in the address bar, and press Enter. This page lists active browser policies and shows whether they are currently applied. Look for entries related to startup behavior, such as RestoreOnStartup, RestoreOnStartupURLs, HomepageLocation, or NewTabPageLocation. If you see a URL listed there, Edge may be forced to open that page every time it launches.
What managed Edge policies mean
When Edge is managed, some settings in Settings > Start, home, and new tabs may be locked, greyed out, or changed back after you edit them. You may also see a message such as “Managed by your organization” in the Edge menu or on the settings page. On a company or school device, this usually means your IT administrator has configured startup pages through Microsoft Intune, Group Policy, or another device management system.
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- Personal device: Review recently installed apps, security suites, browser extensions, and cleanup tools that may have changed Edge policies.
- Shared computer: Ask other users whether they installed software that manages browser settings.
On Windows, advanced users can also check whether Edge policies exist in the Registry. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Then look under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge. Values connected to startup URLs can cause deleted pages to return. Only remove entries if you are sure they were not placed there by your organization or required software, and consider creating a restore point first.
On macOS, managed Edge settings may come from configuration profiles. Open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security or Profiles depending on your macOS version, and review installed profiles. A profile from your employer or school may control Microsoft Edge startup behavior. If the Mac is personally owned and you see an unfamiliar profile, remove it only after confirming it is not needed for VPN, email, security, or device management.
After removing an unwanted policy or profile, restart Microsoft Edge and revisit edge://policy. Use the Reload policies button if it appears, then check Settings > Start, home, and new tabs again. If the unwanted URL no longer appears as a policy, you should be able to delete it normally and choose whether Edge opens a new tab page, previous tabs, or specific pages at startup.
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Reset Edge Settings if Pages Keep Returning
If unwanted startup pages keep reappearing after you delete them, reset Microsoft Edge settings to remove stubborn browser changes without uninstalling Edge. This is useful when a homepage, startup page, search provider, or new tab behavior has been changed by adware, a problematic extension, or a synced setting that keeps restoring itself.
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To reset Edge on Windows or macOS, open Microsoft Edge, select the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, and choose Settings. In the left sidebar, select Reset settings. Then choose Restore settings to their default values and confirm with Reset. You can also type edge://settings/reset in the address bar and press Enter to go directly to the reset page.
A reset does not delete everything in your browser profile. Your favorites, saved passwords, and browsing history are kept. Edge will reset startup pages, new tab behavior, search engine settings, pinned tabs, cookies and site permissions, and it will disable installed extensions. After the reset, return to Settings > Start, home, and new tabs and confirm that Open the new tab page or your preferred startup option is selected.
After resetting Edge
- Re-enable extensions one at a time: Go to edge://extensions and turn extensions back on individually. Restart Edge after each one so you can identify whether a specific extension is restoring the unwanted page.
- Check your startup pages again: Open Settings > Start, home, and new tabs and remove any page that has returned under Open these pages.
- Review the default search engine: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search and make sure the search engine is the one you want.
- Scan the device: If the same page returns after a reset, run a full scan with Windows Security or another trusted security tool. Uninstall suspicious apps from Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
If you use Edge sync, a bad setting may come back from another device. Open Settings > Profiles > Sync and temporarily turn off syncing for Settings and Extensions. Then reset Edge again, configure the correct startup behavior, and restart the browser. Once everything stays fixed, you can turn sync back on and check your other devices for the same unwanted startup page.
If Edge still opens a page you removed, confirm that the browser is not being launched from a modified shortcut. Right-click the Edge shortcut on the desktop or taskbar, open Properties, and check the Target field. It should point to the Edge application only, without a website address added after msedge.exe. Remove any extra URL, save the change, and open Edge again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop Microsoft Edge from opening specific websites at startup?
Open Edge, go to Settings > Start, home, and new tabs, then look under “When Edge starts.” If “Open these pages” is selected, remove any unwanted website by clicking the three-dot menu next to it and choosing Delete. You can then add a different page or switch Edge to open the new tab page instead.
How do I make Edge open a blank new tab instead of old startup pages?
In Edge Settings, select Start, home, and new tabs, then choose “Open the new tab page” under “When Edge starts.” This prevents Edge from launching a saved list of websites each time you open the browser. If old pages still appear, also check whether “Continue where you left off” is enabled and turn it off.
What should I do if deleted startup pages keep coming back in Edge?
First, check Edge extensions by going to Extensions > Manage extensions and disabling anything unfamiliar or recently installed. Some extensions can change startup behavior or reopen promotional pages. If that does not work, reset Edge settings from Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their default values.
Can a work or school administrator control my Edge startup pages?
Yes. If Edge says your browser is managed by your organization, startup pages may be set by company or school policy. You can check this by entering edge://management or edge://policy in the address bar. If a startup page is controlled by policy, you usually cannot remove it without contacting your IT administrator.
Will resetting Edge delete my bookmarks and saved passwords?
Resetting Edge settings does not remove favorites, history, or saved passwords. It restores settings such as startup pages, search engine, pinned tabs, and extensions to their defaults, and it disables extensions. You can re-enable trusted extensions afterward, but avoid turning on anything that may have changed your startup pages.
Bottom Line
Removing unwanted start pages in Microsoft Edge usually comes down to checking Settings > Start, home, and new tabs, deleting any pages you do not want, and choosing whether Edge opens a new tab, your previous tabs, or specific pages. Once that is set, restart Edge to confirm the browser launches the way you expect.
If the same pages keep returning, check extensions, browser sync, shortcuts, installed apps, and any work or school policies that may be forcing the setting. After cleaning those up, set your preferred startup option again and keep Edge updated to prevent the issue from coming back.
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