How to Disable First Run Experience in Microsoft Edge Chromium?

When the users open the Microsoft Edge for the first time, it will load a welcome page also known as the First Run webpage. This page will show some information about the new changes in Microsoft Edge. It will also show tips and recommend actions that the user should take to improve their experience. However, you will not only see this page for one time, but it will also show after installing new feature updates. This can be a bit annoying for Enterprises or members of the Windows Insider Program. Since Windows Insider Program members will be regularly installing new versions of Windows 10.

Microsoft included the option to stop showing the welcome page by using the Local Group Policy Editor and Registry. In this article, we will show you the methods through which you can easily disable the First Run Experience in Microsoft Edge.

Method 1: Using the Registry Editor

The Windows Registry is a database for all kinds of settings for applications and operating systems. You can configure many of the settings through the Registry as an administrator. It is also the only method for Windows 10 Home users. It is a bit different compared to the Local Group Policy Editor method. The user will have to create the missing keys and values for the setting to work. Follow the below steps and check the process of how it works:

1. Press the Windows and R keys together to open a Run dialog box. Now type “regedit” and press the Enter key to open the Registry Editor. If prompted by the UAC (User Account Control), choose the Yes button.

   

2. You can create a Registry backup before making any new changes. Click on the File menu in the menu bar and choose the Export option. Then, name the backup file and select the location where you want to save it. Click on the Save button.

   

3. In the Registry Editor window, go to the following location as shown:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

4. If the Edge key is missing, you can create it by right-clicking on the Microsoft key and choosing the New > Key option. Now name the key as “Edge“.

   

5. Select the Edge key, right-click on the right pane and choose the New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option. Name the value as “HideFirstRunExperience“.

   

6. Double-click on the HideFirstRunExperience value and it will open a dialog box. Now to disable the First Run Experience, change the value data to 1.

   

7. If the settings are not applied instantly to the browser, you need to restart your computer to apply the changes.
8. You can always revert it back to the default setting by removing the value from the Registry Editor.

Method 2: Using the Local Group Policy Editor

The Group Policy Editor contains all the policy settings for the operating system and Windows applications. It has a better interface and a much easier process compared to the Windows Registry. However, the old policy files may not work for the new Microsoft Edge Chromium. That is why you need to download the latest policy settings for Microsoft Edge Chromium. Now follow the below steps and see how we managed to work it around:

Note: If you are using Windows 10 Home version, then skip this method, because GPO isn’t available in that version.

1. Open the browser and navigate to the Microsoft site. Then, select the version details of your Microsoft Edge and click on the GET POLICY FILES.

   

2. Extract the Zip file by using the WinRAR or any similar application.

   

3. Open the folder and go to the “MicrosoftEdgePolicyTemplates\windows\admx” path. Then, copy the “msedge.admx” and “msedge.adml” files and paste them into “C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions” folder.

   

   Note: The language file ADML will be found in the folder. Copy it from one folder to another as shown in the screenshot.

4. Press the Windows and R keys together on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Now type “gpedit.msc” and press the Enter key or click on the Ok button. This will open the Local Group Policy Editor window.

   

5. Navigate to the following path in the Local Group Policy Editor window as shown:

   Computer Configuration\ Administrative Templates\ Microsoft Edge\

   

6. Double-click on the setting named “Hide the First-run experience and splash screen” and it will open in another window. Now to disable the First-run experience, change the toggle option to Enabled.

   

7. Finally, you can click on the Apply/Ok button to save the changes made.
8. You can always revert this back to the default setting by changing the toggle option to Not Configured in step 6.