Overview
Sometimes CCleaner isn't able to fully clean Edge and shows a message about 'Edge Pre-loading'. This help topic gives a simple option to get around this issue so Edge can be fully cleaned by CCleaner.
Microsoft introduced a feature to Edge which keeps tabs 'pre-loaded' in the background when you close Edge, allowing Edge to load more quickly. When CCleaner cleans Edge, it needs to close content databases to clean it, so if you want Edge fully cleaned, you need to disable the 'pre-loading' feature in Edge. Unfortunately, there is no user interface for this in Edge, so it must be done by manually creating and/or editing a key in the Windows Registry.
Below are two options for achieving this: (thanks to Andavari for compiling these)
- Recommended: a semi-automated process where you can import a pre-configured Registry key to the correct location
- For Experts: Instructions for manually creating a Registry key in the correct location and editing it to set the correct value
In the meantime, we are updating CCleaner to give you the option to disable Edge pre-loading on your behalf.
Automatic fix (recommended)
Download a zipped Registry Key and import it
MicrosoftEdgeBrowserDisablePreLoading_36992e405e1fd1501a0c2bf75ca146ba.zip
- Download the ZIP file above
- Double click the ZIP file to unpack it
- Double-click the .reg file to import it
- Click Run at the 'Unknown Publisher' warning (this is because a member of the community made this file, it's not dangerous)
- Click Yes to allow the file to make changes to your device
- Click , this is because it was created by a member of the community
- Click Yes when it asks if you want to continue to add the file to the Registry
- Click OK and run CCleaner to fully clean Edge
Notes on the above:
- The ZIP file contains the .REG file and a brief readme document
- The MD5 hash of the download is included in the file name for verification
- The VirusTotal result of the file above can be found here
Manual fix (experts only)
Instructions for disabling Edge pre-loading manually
To allow CCleaner to properly clean Edge without an error dialog displayed by CCleaner these keys must be present in the registry to prevent Edge from pre-loading, the keys do not exist by default and have to be created.
1. Copy the information in the code below, and paste it into an empty Notepad window.
2. Save the file in your documents folder using the following file name including the quotes:
"<span>Microsoft Edge Browser - Disable Pre-Loading.reg"
3. </span>Double-click the .REG file, allow the UAC prompt, and then it will be imported. It's recommended that you restart your computer after importing the .REG file.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ; Microsoft Edge browser disable pre-loading after Windows 10 (October 2018 Update). ; This allows CCleaner to properly clean Microsoft Edge after Windows 10 (October 2018 Update). [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main] "AllowPrelaunch"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\TabPreloader] "AllowTabPreloading"=dword:00000000