Removing Edge browser from Windows Server 2022

636 views
Skip to first unread message

Henry Awad

unread,
Mar 29, 2022, 2:57:20 PM3/29/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com
Does anyone know how to remove Edge from Windows Server 2022? If I remember correctly, the browser was a feature in Windows Server 2016 and 2019. So it was easy to remove the feature. Not so in 2022.

Thanks,
Henry

Henry Awad

unread,
Mar 29, 2022, 3:14:17 PM3/29/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com
I actually found a solution so I'm sharing it in case anyone runs into this issue in the future. It's interesting that Microsoft would install a browser on a server by default and doesn't make it easy to remove it. I don't want any browser installed on a server unless it's absolutely necessary on very rare occasions.

Anyhow, here's how to remove Edge:
  • First you need to identify the version number of your Edge installation, which you can do by navigating to “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\” where you should see at least one folder named something like “84.0.522.48”
  • Open an elevated command prompt (Run as administrator)
  • Change the directory to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\84.0.522.48\Installer (change the number of the build with your corresponding build number found in the previous step)
  • Type the command: “setup.exe –uninstall –system-level –verbose-logging –force-uninstall” and press enter
This will uninstall the latest version of Edge.

Henry Awad
Senior Systems Engineer
Technology Services
The Catholic University of America

Michael B. Smith

unread,
Mar 29, 2022, 3:17:07 PM3/29/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com

A number of programs use the WebView and WebView2 controls for rendering graphics.

 

You may find you have to put it back.

 

But good luck!

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ntsysadmin" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ntsysadmin+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ntsysadmin/CAGaCHK6S6ODMbm_6dchjy65aF6P4tmfV-AVzJSnKT_r_oeyyUw%40mail.gmail.com.

Philip Elder

unread,
Mar 29, 2022, 3:18:50 PM3/29/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com

We do a lot of RD Farm setups.

 

We’re quite pleased that Edge was implemented within the OS.

 

There is no vulnerability having a browser installed that’s any different than any other app/software that’s in there by default.

 

Don’t want trouble? Don’t browser from servers. Period. In a pinch it’s a good thing to go directly to www.intel.com and click on their support link to get the driver we need. That’s about the only good reason for a browser on a server.

 

Philip Elder MCTS

Senior Technical Architect

Microsoft High Availability MVP

E-mail: Phili...@mpecsinc.ca

Phone: +1 (780) 458-2028

Web: www.mpecsinc.com

Blog: blog.mpecsinc.com

Twitter: Twitter.com/MPECSInc

Skype: MPECSInc.

 

Please note: Although we may sometimes respond to email, text and phone calls instantly at all hours of the day, our regular business hours are 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday thru Friday.

 

From: ntsys...@googlegroups.com <ntsys...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Henry Awad
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 13:14
To: ntsys...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ntsysadmin] Re: Removing Edge browser from Windows Server 2022

 

I actually found a solution so I'm sharing it in case anyone runs into this issue in the future. It's interesting that Microsoft would install a browser on a server by default and doesn't make it easy to remove it. I don't want any browser installed on a server unless it's absolutely necessary on very rare occasions.

--

Matt Stork

unread,
Mar 30, 2022, 5:42:51 PM3/30/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com

Unhelpful answer: this is what Server Core is for. There are some folders for Internet Explorer, but there is no trace of iexplore.exe.

-Matt

 

From: ntsys...@googlegroups.com <ntsys...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Henry Awad
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 2:14 PM
To: ntsys...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ntsysadmin] Re: Removing Edge browser from Windows Server 2022

 

I actually found a solution so I'm sharing it in case anyone runs into this issue in the future. It's interesting that Microsoft would install a browser on a server by default and doesn't make it easy to remove it. I don't want any browser installed on a server unless it's absolutely necessary on very rare occasions.

--

Philip Elder

unread,
Mar 30, 2022, 5:52:07 PM3/30/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com

Places we now deploy Server Core:

  • Domain Controllers
  • Exchange Servers
  • SQL Servers

 

We’re working towards File & Print as well as the PowerShell is a bit more finicky for these roles.

 

Almost all management is done from a jump server anyway. Troubleshooting is relatively easy with PowerShell too.

 

Philip Elder MCTS

Senior Technical Architect

Microsoft High Availability MVP

E-mail: Phili...@mpecsinc.ca

Phone: +1 (780) 458-2028

Web: www.mpecsinc.com

Blog: blog.mpecsinc.com

Twitter: Twitter.com/MPECSInc

Skype: MPECSInc.

 

Please note: Although we may sometimes respond to email, text and phone calls instantly at all hours of the day, our regular business hours are 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday thru Friday.

 

Solodow, Damien

unread,
Mar 30, 2022, 5:53:30 PM3/30/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com

Windows Admin Center helps here too. 😊

Still grinds my gears that NPS requires non-core.

 

 

Damien Solodow

IS Senior Systems Engineer

Gaylor Electric, Inc.

5750 Castle Creek Pkwy N Drive, Suite 400

Indianapolis

IN

46250

O: 317.815.3103 

M: 317.506.8521

317.759.0077 emergency IS support

Michael B. Smith

unread,
Mar 30, 2022, 5:56:19 PM3/30/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com

Because the code is “stable” and they haven’t needed to update it.

 

(I’m agreeing with you, just explaining why.)

Henry Awad

unread,
Mar 30, 2022, 7:14:08 PM3/30/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com
Haven't deployed server core yet but plan on doing so with domain controllers. Can DNS and DHCP run on server core too? As mentioned by others, we've deployed a jump server and have all the admin tools installed on it. So there shouldn't be a need to login on the DCs for management especially since we've automated many of the repetitive tasks using PowerShell scripts. It has eliminated many human errors especially on the DHCP servers where we have failover setup.

As for using Edge to download software, we prefer that this is done on the jump server and keep things isolated as much as possible.

Michael B. Smith

unread,
Mar 30, 2022, 7:22:53 PM3/30/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com

Yes, DNS and DHCP can run on server core (and they can be completely administered by PowerShell and WAC).

Henry Awad

unread,
Mar 30, 2022, 7:38:00 PM3/30/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com
@Michael Thanks for the confirmation.

Charles F Sullivan

unread,
Mar 31, 2022, 5:16:52 PM3/31/22
to ntsys...@googlegroups.com
On our applicable server images we use GP settings: \User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System. "Don't run specified Windows apps": Enabled: Add wmplayer.exe and msedge.exe (We have GP loopback processing enabled, so this may vary per organization for feasibility.)

If we need to download drivers, etc. we use our own workstations, then copy up to \\server\c$\wherever.



--

Charlie Sullivan

Principal Windows Systems Administrator

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages