If you’re a Microsoft Edge user, you may have encountered a frustrating issue where the browser keeps redirecting you away from your desired homepage to edgeservices.bing.com every time you launch it or start a new session. This can be incredibly annoying and disrupt your browsing experience. Fortunately, there are several potential solutions to this problem that you can try.
Understanding the Cause
Before we dive into the solutions, it’s essential to understand the potential causes behind this redirect issue. In most cases, the culprit is either a browser hijacker or a malicious extension that has modified your Edge settings without your knowledge or consent.
Browser hijackers are a type of malware that can change your browser’s default homepage, search engine, and other settings, often directing you to unwanted websites or displaying unwanted advertisements. These hijackers can sometimes slip through the cracks of your security software and infect your system.
Malicious extensions, on the other hand, can also modify your browser settings, including the homepage and default search engine. These extensions may have been installed intentionally or accidentally, and they can cause similar redirect issues.
It’s worth noting that the edgeservices.bing.com domain is a legitimate Microsoft domain used for various purposes, such as serving advertisements and tracking user behavior. However, if your browser is constantly redirecting you to this domain against your will, it’s a clear sign that something is amiss.
Solution 1: Reset Edge Settings
The first and most straightforward solution is to reset your Microsoft Edge settings to their default state. This should undo any unauthorized changes made by browser hijackers or malicious extensions. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Navigate to “Settings” > “Reset Settings.”
- In the “Reset settings” window, click on “Restore settings to their default values.”
- Confirm the action by clicking “Reset.”
After resetting your settings, Edge should no longer redirect you to edgeservices.bing.com or any other unwanted website when you launch the browser or start a new session.
Solution 2: Remove Malicious Extensions
If resetting your Edge settings doesn’t solve the problem, the next step is to identify and remove any suspicious or malicious extensions that may be causing the redirect issue. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Navigate to “Extensions” > “Manage extensions.”
- Carefully review the list of installed extensions and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious entries.
- If you find any suspicious extensions, click on the “Remove” button next to them.
- Confirm the removal by clicking “Remove” in the pop-up window.
After removing any suspicious extensions, restart Edge and see if the redirect issue has been resolved.
Solution 3: Scan for Malware
If the previous solutions didn’t work, it’s possible that your system has been infected with malware that is causing the redirect issue. In this case, you’ll need to perform a thorough malware scan using a reputable anti-malware or anti-virus software. Here are some recommended steps:
- Download and install a reliable anti-malware tool, such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or HitmanPro.
- Run a full system scan with the anti-malware tool.
- If any malware is detected, follow the prompts to remove it from your system.
- After the malware has been removed, restart your computer and launch Edge to see if the redirect issue has been resolved.
Solution 4: Reset the Default Browser
In some cases, the redirect issue may be caused by a conflict or misconfiguration between Edge and your computer’s default browser settings. To resolve this, you can try resetting the default browser to Microsoft Edge. Here’s how:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the “Run” dialog box.
- Type “control.exe /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms” and press Enter.
- In the “Default Programs” window, click on “Set your default programs.”
- Scroll down and find “Microsoft Edge” in the list of installed programs.
- Click on “Microsoft Edge” and then click “Set this program as default.”
- Click “OK” to save the changes and close the window.
After resetting the default browser, restart your computer and launch Edge to see if the redirect issue has been resolved.
Solution 5: Update Microsoft Edge
If none of the above solutions work, it’s possible that the redirect issue is caused by a bug or compatibility issue with the current version of Microsoft Edge. In this case, updating to the latest version of the browser may resolve the problem. Here’s how you can update Edge:
- Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Navigate to “Help and feedback” > “About Microsoft Edge.”
- Edge will automatically check for updates and prompt you to install any available updates.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest version of Microsoft Edge.
- After the update is complete, restart your computer and launch Edge to see if the redirect issue has been resolved.
Solution 6: Use a Different Browser
If you’ve tried all the above solutions and the redirect issue persists, you may want to consider using a different web browser as a temporary or permanent solution. While Microsoft Edge is a capable browser, switching to an alternative like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera may provide a better browsing experience until the issue is resolved.