How to hide the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer on Windows 10

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 24, 2017
Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge
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12

Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system ships with two web browsers; the new Microsoft Edge web browser which is the default browser on Windows 10, and Internet Explorer 11.

While Microsoft wants users of Windows 10 to use Microsoft Edge, as it supports newer web technologies and is the browser that Microsoft puts the development focus on, it had to add Internet Explorer to Windows 10 for backwards compatibility purposes.

Microsoft Edge does not support many of the technologies that Internet Explorer supports. Organizations and users that require support for these technologies need to use Internet Explorer on Windows 10 (either directly or in a VM environment).

If you open Internet Explorer on Windows 10 you will notice that Microsoft placed a Microsoft Edge button on the browser's main toolbar. The button takes away space that is used to display open tabs in Microsoft Edge, and you may want to remove it if you don't use it.

Removing the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer

hide microsoft edge button internet explorer

The Edge button on the Internet Explorer toolbar on Windows 10 is relatively small, but there is another issue that some users may experience. It is relatively easy to hit it and not the new tab button that is aligned right next to it.

This is probably more of an issue on touch devices, but it can happen on mouse operated devices as well.

Microsoft added an option to the Internet Options that removes the Microsoft Edge button from Internet Explorer when activated.

hide edge button

Here is how that is done:

  1. Select Menu and then Internet Options in Internet Explorer. You may hit the Alt-key on the keyboard, and select Tools > Internet Options as well if you prefer it that way.
  2. Switch to the advanced tab when the Internet Options window opens.
  3. Scroll down to the browsing section, and locate the preference "Hide the button (next to the New Tab button) that opens Microsoft Edge".
  4. Check the box in front of the preference to hide the Edge button on the toolbar.
  5. Click apply.
  6. Restart Internet Explorer

Changes take affect after you restart the web browser. You can reverse the change by removing the checkmark from the preference in the Internet Options of the browser.

Group Policy option

edge hide button group policy

System administrators may hide the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer in the Group Policy Editor as well.

  1. Tap on the Windows-key, type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter-key on the keyboard.
  2. Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Internet Settings > Advanced Settings > Browsing.
  3. Double-click on Hide the button (next to the New Tab button) that opens Microsoft Edge.
    1. Enable the policy to hide the button in Internet Explorer.
    2. If you select disable, the button is shown and cannot be removed by the user.
    3. If you don't configure the policy (default), the button is shown but users may hide it using the Internet Options.

Tip: Here is the list of all Microsoft Edge policies.

Summary
How to hide the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer on Windows 10
Article Name
How to hide the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer on Windows 10
Description
Find out how to remove the Microsoft Edge button that is displayed on Internet Explorer's main toolbar (next to tabs) on devices running Windows 10.
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Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Paul(us) Bekkers said on August 26, 2017 at 11:21 am
    Reply

    On main Dutch language windows explorer 11.540.15063.0 update version 11.045 (KB4034733) which is installed on main Dutch version of Windows 10 Pro. Build 1703 (Build of operating system 15063.540) the option you are mentioning here above of “Removing the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer” is not present in the advanced options menu?

    Also, I have to state that on Dutch language windows explorer 11.540.15063.0 update version 11.045 (KB4034733) browser extend function menu, all the functions (Ducks) are standing in a different order?

    Is this maybe because I have a Dutch Windows 10 language o.s. and not an English Windows language like you seem to have on the picture?

    Any suggestion of resolving this “Removing the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer” problem in the version I have, without having to use the group policy option?

    1. chesscanoe said on August 26, 2017 at 7:21 pm
      Reply

      I have the same IE11 that you do in English US Windows 10 CU Home. I have the Edge remove option which works. Perhaps you did not horizontally scroll the advanced options window, and thus did not see the word “Edge”? (Just a guess)

      1. Paul(us) said on August 26, 2017 at 9:18 pm
        Reply

        I’m quite sure that I have searched the advanced settings for internet options in MS-IE completely up to the last entry down. Maybe it’s because like I am mentioned here before you and Martin seem to have an English MS-IE and I have a different (in main case a Dutch one) league version.
        The various chapters (sections) are security, http settings, international, multimedia, accessibility, accelerated graphics, viewing web pages, but no even a check or chapter (section or part) for edge.

        Hopefully, Martin knows an answer.

  2. leanon said on August 25, 2017 at 5:32 am
    Reply

    Solution for me on w10 has always been to remove IE, never had any problems yet.

    1. leanon said on August 25, 2017 at 8:45 am
      Reply

      And I wasnt meanig to bash IE just never found a need for it. But thanks anyhow.

  3. don't cry said on August 24, 2017 at 8:25 pm
    Reply

    I just take a fireman’s axe to the system.

    I don’t let burglars into my house…

    So why should I allow Windows 10?

  4. Weilan said on August 24, 2017 at 4:34 pm
    Reply

    How much more cheeky can Microsoft get to push their garbage? Might as well do a campaign to give people discounts in Store for using Edge for certain amounts of time… They make me sick.

  5. accountuser said on August 24, 2017 at 3:34 pm
    Reply

    “How to hide the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer on Windows 10”
    definitely Browser OCD taken to the ultimate extreme

  6. Yuliya said on August 24, 2017 at 11:27 am
    Reply

    >How to hide the Microsoft Edge button in Internet Explorer on Windows 10
    Something about formatting a C drive. .

  7. Yvonn said on August 24, 2017 at 10:19 am
    Reply

    How to do it from cmd/powershell?

    1. CHEF-KOCH said on August 24, 2017 at 10:37 am
      Reply

      Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

      [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
      “HideNewEdgeButton”=dword:00000001

      1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 24, 2017 at 10:39 am
        Reply

        Thanks :)

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