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How to get rid of blank white or grey screen when starting Edge?

‘It is so fine and yet so terrible

to stand in front of a blank canvas’

Paul Cezanne

Edge, for all its limitations and shortcomings, is actually a great solution for roaming around the internet. That is why seeing a blank white or grey screen when trying to browse with Edge is an extremely dispiriting experience. The good news is, we know how to fix grey screens crashing Edge browsers and how to fix a white screen in Edge, whichever your scenario is. So, if a white or grey screen crash closes Edge on your Windows 10 computer, what you should do to resolve the problem is just read on. In this article, you can find no fewer than 10 proven tips on how to get your Edge back on track. Start with the first fix and move on until your issue disappears.

Tip 1. Run the Windows Store App Troubleshooter

If your Edge browser keeps crashing with a blank white or grey screen, the easiest way to go about this problem is to run the Windows Store App troubleshooter, a special tool designed by Microsoft to deal with issues like yours. Here is how you can use this solution to your benefit:

  1. Open the Search app by pressing the Windows logo key + S shortcut.
  2. Type ‘troubleshoot’ (without quotes) into the search box.
  3. Select Troubleshoot from the list of results. You will be taken to the Troubleshoot section of the Settings app.
  4. Navigate to Windows Store Apps and click Run the troubleshooter.

The troubleshooter will scan your Windows Store apps for issues. If it finds that there is something wrong with your Edge browser, you will be provided with possible resolutions.

Tip 2. Clear your browsing data

Blank white or grey screens coming up when you are trying to use Edge might be a direct consequence of its being clogged with corrupt browsing data. In a case like this, your best bet is to clear Edge’s browsing data:

  1. Open the browser and click on Settings and more (the icon you need looks like three horizontally aligned dots) at the top right corner.
  2. From the drop-down menu, select Settings.
  3. Scroll down until you see the Clear browsing data section.
  4. Click on Choose what to clear.
  5. Check all the boxes on the list and press Clear.

Get the all-clear to proceed and restart the browser to see if the manoeuvre above has proved helpful.

If white/grey screen crashes prevent you from accessing Edge’s settings, you can use Auslogics Browser Care, which is a free program that allows you to manage Edge and other popular browsers in a safe and intuitive way.

Tip 3. Disable Edge’s extensions

If a white or grey screen crash closes Edge, disabling all the extensions of the browser may prove helpful in getting rid of the problem. Here is what you should do:

  1. Open Edge’s settings (see the previous tip to know how).
  2. Click on the Extensions option.
  3. Click on the extension you want to turn off and disable it.

Restart your Edge and see if your issue has been resolved.

Tip 4. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Although Hardware Acceleration enables your PC to perform certain functions more efficiently, this setting might be to blame for your white/green screen crashes in Edge. Reportedly, disabling Hardware Acceleration has helped many users fix the problem in question, so do not hesitate to try out this fix:

  1. Open the Run app by pressing the Windows logo key + R keyboard shortcut.
  2. Tap in inetcpl.cpl and click OK.
  3. In the Internet Properties window, navigate to the Advanced tab.
  4. Check Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering.
  5. Click Apply and OK so that your changes can take effect.

Now check if your Edge is OK now.

Tip 5. Remove IBM Trusteer Rapport

A lot of users have reported that the IBM Trusteer Rapport software often triggers Edge issues in Windows 10. To check if that is your case, uninstall the software in question and see how things go:

  1. Open the Run app (Windows logo key + R).
  2. Type appwiz.cpl and press the OK button.
  3. Locate and select IBM Trusteer Rapport.
  4. Click Uninstall. Click Yes to provide your confirmation.

To keep your Win 10 neat and tidy, make sure to remove software leftovers from your system. Thus, do that after uninstalling IBM Trusteer Rapport. Finally, restart your PC and see if Edge works well.

Tip 6. Reset Edge

If you are yet to fix your Edge issue, it is time to reset the browser. That is quite a straightforward procedure – just follow the instructions below:

  1. Press the Windows logo key + S shortcut to open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to the Find a setting search bar and input Edge.
  3. Select Edge from the list of options.
  4. Enter Edge’s Advanced Settings.
  5. Locate and click the Reset button.
  6. Then click Reset again to confirm your decision.

After resetting Edge, check if the browser is up and running again.

Tip 7. Rename Windows Prefetch files

Another effective fix for Edge white/grey screen issues implies renaming Windows Prefetch files. Here are the instructions for you to follow:

  1. Press the Windows logo key + E shortcut to open File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the address bar and type C:\Windows\Prefetch. Press Enter to proceed.
  3. Locate all the files that look like EXE–[a random number].pf.
  4. Right-click on each of the files and select Rename.

Rename Windows Prefetch files to what you want. Then launch your Edge and see if it works the way it is supposed to.

Tip 8. Rename or delete Edge’s default folder

You can trick Edge into creating another default folder by deleting or renaming the current one. This manoeuvre is reported to be an efficient way to make Edge’s blank white or grey screens a thing of the past:

  1. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Users\[your profile name]\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User.
  2. Locate the Default folder. Delete it or rename it to something else.

Now check if your Edge headache has gone.

Tip 9. Scan your PC for malware

It pays to be vigilant, so if your Microsoft Edge browser keeps acting weird whenever your try to browse with it, consider running a full anti-malware scan. The thing is, Edge is a coveted target for malicious entities and nefarious hackers, so your browser might have been infected with something harmful.

If you have a trustworthy non-Microsoft antivirus solution, configure it to search every nook and cranny of your Windows 10 operating system. If you do not have a third-party antivirus product installed, there is no need to worry: you can run the built-in Windows Defender tool. It is designed by Microsoft to safeguard your system:

  1. Click on the Windows logo icon to open your start menu.
  2. Locate the Settings gear and click on it to open the Settings app.
  3. Click on Update & Security and select Windows Defender.
  4. Click Open Windows Defender.
  5. Move to the left pane and click the shield icon.
  6. Click Advanced scan. Then select Full scan.

That said, Windows Defender may not be enough to keep your OS properly protected. That is why we recommend installing Auslogics Anti-Malware. This powerful tool can catch the items that other antiviruses fail to detect and can run alongside other security products without triggering a tug of war.

Tip 10. Use System Restore

If all the fixes above have failed to give you the result you desire, consider taking your OS back in time. Yes, these words should be taken literally: if you have the System Restore feature enabled on your Windows 10, you can go back to a point in time when Microsoft Edge crashes were not here. It is the best solution since you have come this far and still have no idea how these black or grey Edge screens come to be.

Here is how you can restore your system to an earlier state:

  1. Open your Start menu and click on the Control Panel tile.
  2. Open the System and Security settings.
  3. Click File History and select Recovery.
  4. Select Open System Restore. Press Next.
  5. Choose a reasonable restore point to roll back your system.
  6. Click Next and Finish.

After restoring your system, launch your Edge browser. Hopefully, white or grey screens trouble you no more.

Final note: Even if your Microsoft Edge seems to have no obvious issues at the moment, keep in mind that it is a vulnerable piece of software. It is a wise idea to enable Windows Defender Application Guard for Edge so that you can browse more safely. You can also employ Auslogics BoostSpeed to improve your privacy and protect your sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands.

If you have any ideas or questions how to fix grey screens crashing Edge browsers or how to fix a white screen in Edge, please leave your comments below.