Problem:
CCleaner fails to clean Microsoft's Edge Chromium because residual & child processes for Edge continue to run in the background.
Workaround:
My workaround involves running a batch script to end Edge's processes, but I would like to see CCleaner come out with a fix.
This batch script needs to be run 'before' CCleaner to completely close Edge.
Better work around, turn off useless background running in edge. It's there for little or no purpose.
to fix the problem, go to ccleaner's "options"/"advanced" and, at the bottom, click "restore default settings." after that, when you run ccleaner, if edge is running, you will see a prompt, asking if you want ccleaner to close edge.
as nergal said, another option is to set edge to where it does not have processes running in the background. the same applies to chrome and firefox: set them to where they don't have processes running in the background.
with edge, to stop its processes from running in the background, in edge's settings, go to "system and performance" and, there, turn off "startup boost" and "continue running background extensions and apps when microsoft edge is closed."
you also need to remove the "bing desktop search bar" from your computer-screen, if you have that on your computer, in order for edge-processes not to be running in the background. if the "bing desktop search bar" is displayed on your computer-screen, edge-processes will be running in the background, at least that was the case with my windows 10 computer.
here is an article about the "bing desktop search bar":
here are two articles about disabling the bing desktop search bar, one of windows 10 and one for windows 11:
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/add-or-remove-desktop-search-box-in-windows-11.7194/
seems to be the same reg-tweak, in both cases, for disabling the desktop search bar.
note that, at least on windows 10, using the reg-tweak to disable the desktop search bar is not required. the desktop search bar itself has an option to simply "close" it, and it stays closed, where edge's background processes do not run in the background.
Thanks for the replies.
Disabling Edge from running in the background permanently isn't an option for me.
I have other software running on my system that requires Live Tiles and Extensions to be running.
My imperfect solution is to launch CCleaner using a batch:
i wasn't very clear in what i was saying. normally, when you run ccleaner, if "edge" is running, you will see a prompt, asking you if you want ccleaner to close it.
you must have ticked the box for "do not show me this message again" which was why you were not seeing the prompt, asking you if you wanted ccleaner to close edge.
i think that clicking "restore default settings," in ccleaner's "options"/"advanced," would restore the default settings, where you again would see the prompt, asking you if you wanted ccleaner to close "edge."
you would see a similar prompt if "chrome" or "firefox" was running.
Thank you redwolfe_98, I will give that a try! ?
Yes, restoring the default settings should cause that message to be displayed again rather the Custom Clean just 'Skipping' clearing the browser.
Of course remember that doing that will also remove any other customisation that you had put in place, so you will have to set that up again.
Thanks "nukecad" your method did the trick!
BTW, would you happen to know what setting in the CCleaner.ini file triggers the "CCleaner needs to close Edge Chromium" message?
I don't believe that particular warning box has a setting you can specify in the ini. (Some other warning messages do).
Which is why the only way I know of to restore it again after you have ticked the 'Do not show...' is by resetting to defaults.
TBH most users want it always on or always off.
Mine is always off because I'll often do a clean with a browser deliberately open so just let CCleaner skip the browser without asking.