Why Edge Bar Reappears After Disabling It in Settings on Windows 11

You disable the Microsoft Edge Bar through the browser’s settings, but it reappears after a reboot or a Windows update. This happens because Edge Bar is tied to a background task that restarts itself even when the toggle is turned off. The root cause involves a scheduled task and a startup entry that override your manual setting. This article explains why Edge Bar keeps coming back and gives you the exact steps to stop it permanently.

Why Edge Bar Reactivates After You Turn It Off

The Microsoft Edge Bar is a small toolbar that sits on the right side of the screen, providing quick access to search, news, and web shortcuts. When you disable it inside Edge settings, the browser stops displaying the bar during that session. However, Edge Bar is also registered as a Windows startup program and as a scheduled task. Both of these components can restart the feature independently of the in-browser toggle.

The startup entry launches Edge Bar every time you log into Windows. The scheduled task runs at system startup or after a Windows update, re-enabling the feature even if you had previously turned it off. Because the in-browser setting only controls the visible state, the background triggers override it. This design is intended to keep Edge Bar available for users who rely on it, but it creates the reappearing behavior for those who do not want it.

The Startup Entry in Task Manager

Windows 11 stores a startup entry for Edge Bar under the name “Microsoft Edge Bar” in Task Manager. When this entry is enabled, Edge Bar starts automatically with Windows. Disabling it inside Edge settings does not remove this entry. You must disable it manually in Task Manager to prevent the bar from launching at boot.

The Scheduled Task in Task Scheduler

Edge Bar creates a scheduled task called MicrosoftEdgeBarTask in Task Scheduler. This task triggers at user logon and also after system updates. Its purpose is to re-enable Edge Bar if it has been disabled. Even if you turn off the bar in Edge settings, this task runs and flips the setting back on. Deleting or disabling this task is the only way to stop the automatic reactivation.

Steps to Remove Edge Bar Permanently

Follow these steps in order. If you skip any step, Edge Bar may still reappear. Complete all three methods: disable the startup entry, delete the scheduled task, and turn off the in-browser toggle.

Step 1: Disable Edge Bar in Startup

1. Open Task Manager
   Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager. If you see the compact view, click More details.
2. Go to the Startup tab
   Click the Startup tab at the top of the window. You will see a list of programs that start with Windows.
3. Locate Microsoft Edge Bar
   Find the entry named Microsoft Edge Bar in the list. The Status column shows whether it is Enabled or Disabled.
4. Disable the entry
   Right-click Microsoft Edge Bar and select Disable. The Status changes to Disabled. This prevents Edge Bar from launching when you sign in.

Step 2: Delete the Scheduled Task

1. Open Task Scheduler
   Press Windows + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter. Task Scheduler opens.
2. Navigate to the Edge Bar task
   In the left pane, expand Task Scheduler Library. Look for a folder named Microsoft and then Edge. The task MicrosoftEdgeBarTask is located inside the Edge folder. If you do not see it, check the root of Task Scheduler Library.
3. Select the task
   Click MicrosoftEdgeBarTask in the middle pane. The lower pane shows its triggers and actions.
4. Disable or delete the task
   Right-click MicrosoftEdgeBarTask and choose Disable to stop it from running. For a permanent removal, select Delete and confirm the deletion. Deleting it prevents any future reactivation.

Step 3: Turn Off Edge Bar in Edge Settings

1. Open Microsoft Edge
   Launch the browser and click the three-dot menu (Alt + F) in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings
   Select Settings from the menu. In the left sidebar, click Sidebar.
3. Disable Edge Bar
   Under the Edge Bar section, toggle the switch to Off. This hides the bar for the current session. After completing Steps 1 and 2, this setting will persist after reboots.

If Edge Bar Still Reappears After the Main Fix

Some users find that Edge Bar returns even after disabling the startup entry and deleting the scheduled task. The following issues can cause this.

Edge Bar Reappears After a Windows Update

A Windows feature update may recreate the MicrosoftEdgeBarTask scheduled task. After a major update, check Task Scheduler again. If the task has returned, delete it once more. You can also create a simple script that deletes the task on each boot, but the manual check is simpler for most users.

Edge Bar Reappears After a Microsoft Edge Update

Edge updates sometimes reinstall the Edge Bar components. After an Edge update, verify that the startup entry in Task Manager is still disabled and that the scheduled task has not been recreated. If it has, repeat Steps 1 and 2.

Edge Bar Reappears When Using Multiple User Accounts

Each Windows user account has its own startup entries and scheduled tasks. If you disable Edge Bar for your account but another user logs in, Edge Bar may still appear for them. Repeat the steps for each user account that shows the bar.

Edge Bar In-Browser Toggle vs Startup and Task Scheduler Controls

Item	In-Browser Toggle	Startup + Task Scheduler
Scope	Current user session only	Persists across sessions and updates
Effectiveness	Hides the bar temporarily	Stops the bar from launching entirely
Persistence	Overridden by scheduled task	Independent of in-browser setting
Recovery after update	Resets to default (on)	May be recreated by update
User account scope	Affects only the signed-in user	Affects only the user who configures it

Edge Bar is a feature that some users find useful for quick web access. If you prefer to keep it but want to stop it from reappearing after a reboot, the startup and scheduled task controls give you the most reliable method. Disabling the in-browser toggle alone is not enough. Use Task Manager and Task Scheduler to take full control over Edge Bar’s behavior on Windows 11.