Replace Edge Stable with Edge Beta (not have both at the same time)

I use Firefox Beta as my regular browser and Edge as my backup. I would like to switch to Edge Beta as the backup but don't need both versions of Edge installed at the same time. Questions:

1.) Is there a way to install Edge Beta and uninstall Edge Stable?
2.) If so, and I needed to reinstall Edge Stable, I assume it is probably embedded in DISM somewhere and re-installed via Powershell, or just download the stable installer and install that way?

Since Edge Stable is so deeply ingrained into the OS, I have chosen to leave mine alone for fear of having any detrimental effects. But I also have Edge Canary. If you choose to uninstall Edge stable, you can install it again from MS store.

I run Edge Dev, but stable Edge is still installed. I just set all the Web defaults to Dev and forget about Stable version.

Like, @BrianInEngland, I run Edge Dev. I also set things to work in Edge Dev. As @glasskuter points out, Edge is deeply embedded in the OS. There's no telling what will happen if you remove it.

In looking around, it looks like Microsoft has blocked the ability to easily uninstall Edge Stable. There may be other ways, such as using so-called declutter-type scripts, but I don't like to mess with those in general.

After installing Edge Beta, making it default browser should prevent Edge stable from opening in most cases.

Thanks...I figured that Stable being so embedded in Windows that this would be an issue. I'll just leave things as they are:)

I disagree with the idea you can't run Edge Beta in place of Edge Stable.

It's best to keep at least one version of Edge installed, because there are random applications (Adobe, games) that require Edge or IE11 compatibility mode to be installed.

If you're worried, make a full backup before proceeding.

Install Edge Beta, using winget or download the MSI installer from Edge for Enterprise website.
winget install --id=Microsoft.Edge.Beta -e

Uninstall Edge Stable, from the command line. Find the latest Edge installer folder (based on version number).

cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application
cd xxx.x.xxxx.xx\Installer
setup.exe -uninstall -system-level -verbose-logging -force-uninstall

Click to expand...

Edge Stable will continue to be listed as "installed", since it's part of the Windows CU. But it's really gone. And you'll probably to have to reconfirm which browser is your default. To replace Edge Beta with Stable, just reverse the two browsers in the previous steps.

On July 21, 2023, MS Edge stable and MS Edge Beta are the same version, 115.0.1901.183. Common to all Windows 11 Builds.
Looks like they are preparing for Copilot.

Stable version:


Beta version: