Microsoft just updated Edge – and completely broke the browser according to some reports

laptop fail
(Image credit: Syda Productions / Shutterstock)

Microsoft just updated Edge to a new version and some users are reporting serious issues with the web browser basically becoming non-functional.

Neowin first picked up on this, after one of the site’s readers highlighted the problem – and it turns out there are a fair few other people seemingly hit by the gremlin in the works of Edge. (See posts on Reddit and Microsoft’s Answers.com for examples).

The apparent bug means that the Edge browser fails to load websites, either producing an error message saying ‘this page is having a problem’ or that there is ‘not enough memory to open this page.’

This occurs with all websites, and even Edge features such as the Settings panel, bookmarks, or even just a new tab – essentially, nothing works, no matter what you try to open, you get an error.

This is the case with the latest stable version of Edge (122.0.2365.63) and disabling extensions doesn’t help. However, there is a possible solution – with notable caveats, the most prominent of which is that you’ll need to apply this apparent fix with some urgency.

Why? Well, because it involves diving into the Settings panel for Edge, and as we just mentioned, if you already updated to v122.0.2365.63 of the browser, when you try to open Settings, guess what? You get an error and can’t access it. Argh…

So, if you’re reading this now in Edge, and haven’t updated to v122.0.2365.63 and want to apply this suggested fix as a pre-emptive measure, you best hop to it now and get Settings open.

And yes, we haven’t yet mentioned what on earth this fix (first discovered by Nails89 on Answers.com) actually is, so here goes: In Settings for Edge, go to ‘Privacy, search and services’ then scroll down to the Security box (nearly at the bottom) and find the ‘Enhance your security on the web’ option, then turn it off.


Computer user touching on Microsoft Edge, a web browser developed by Microsoft, icon to open the program.

(Image credit: Wachiwit via Shutterstock)

Analysis: Thorny issue

Now, you may have noticed we keep saying ‘apparent’ fix because while this is a successful solution for some folks, at least going by various reports, there are also other Edge users observing that this doesn’t work for them, and the errors remain.

As the Microsoft moderator on Answers.com observed, it doesn’t seem like this problem is quite as straightforward as just flicking that toggle. Other users have reported they’ve remedied the issue by signing out of their profile in Edge, but again, add seasoning here – your mileage may vary.

It can’t hurt to try that, of course, and the problem with the other tactic of turning off Edge’s enhanced security mode is that it leaves you without that extra protection when browsing the web.

While more tech-savvy users may feel they don’t need that enhanced security, it’s a useful setting for those who aren’t so sure about how to stay safe and secure on the web – and so ideally, those folks won’t want to turn it off. (Assuming they can get to the setting before the bugbear makes the panel unreachable).

It’s worth noting that those who don’t want to turn off enhanced security could reduce it from the ‘strict’ level to ‘balanced’ instead and this may help – and will leave you with a basic level of protection still. But it sounds like you may need to switch the whole feature off to benefit – or stand a chance of benefiting from the change, anyway.

Overall, this is a bit of a thorny one, so let’s hope Microsoft is looking into this, and can provide some details on what’s going on for affected Edge users, and hopefully a fix or patch in a timely manner. We’ve contacted Microsoft to check if it has any further info or advice for Edge users, and will update this story with any response we receive.

You might also like

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You Did Last Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

Read more
Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge
Don’t panic – Microsoft’s Edge browser isn’t about to subject you to a flood of unblocked adverts (not yet, anyway)
Angry businessman destroying his desk and laptop with a baseball bat
New patch for Windows 11 24H2 reportedly plays havoc with File Explorer, and some folks are claiming it's broken their PC
Man having Windows 11 problems with his laptop
Fed up of adverts creeping into Windows 11? You won’t like Microsoft’s latest update, then, although it does provide some important bug fixes
Google Chrome with Christmas theme in Windows 11
I've used Edge, Firefox, and Opera, and yet after ten years in tech journalism, I still come back to Chrome
A laptop with the Windows 11 desktop on screen, glowing, while on a work desk
Are you unable to get security updates for Windows 11 24H2? Here’s the likely reason why, and the fix to get your PC safe and secure again
A man sitting at his computer desk on his desktop with his head in his hands, looking a little frustrated.
Windows 11 suffers more bugs in latest update, with the Start menu hit hard by some frustrating issues
Latest in Edge
Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge
Don’t panic – Microsoft’s Edge browser isn’t about to subject you to a flood of unblocked adverts (not yet, anyway)
The Microsoft Edge logo on a black background displayed on a laptop screen.
Microsoft just gave Edge a great new feature to ensure the browser doesn’t slow down the PC, and it’s tempting me to switch from Google Chrome
Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge
Microsoft gets rid of ‘Edge uninstall’ advice page after facing criticism over it having nothing to do with removing the app, and just promoting the browser instead
Microsoft Edge
Sorry, you're not getting Microsoft Edge off of your PC, at least according to its new 'uninstall' document
Woman using a Windows computer with Microsoft Edge
Microsoft’s Project Phoenix could make Edge look better than ever in Windows 11 – but I’m not sure it’s enough to take the fight to Google Chrome
Happy PC gamer shows heart sign with hands
Microsoft could tempt PC gamers away from Chrome with nifty new ‘Game Assist’ mode for its Edge browser
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough