Microsoft Edge not restoring previous Tab session

After an update, you may notice that although Edge is configured to launch with previous tabs opened, when you reopen the browser, Microsoft Edge does not restore the previous Tab session. This post provides the most suitable solutions to this issue.

Microsoft Edge not restoring previous Tab session

If Microsoft Edge does not restore the previous Tab session on your Windows 11/10 device, you can try our recommended solutions below in no particular order to resolve the issue on your system.

1. Initial checklist
2. Check Edge setting
3. Use the Restore window option
4. Repair or Reset Edge browser
5. Uninstall and Reinstall Edge

Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved concerning each of the listed solutions.

1] Initial checklist

Before you proceed with the solutions below, run through this checklist and see if the Edge browser can now restore previous tab sessions:

• Make sure you’re not signed into another profile. Edge Profiles allow multiple users to operate in a shared environment while maintaining access to their personalized browser settings, bookmarks, and extensions.
• Update Edge browser and Windows OS. Make sure Windows OS and Edge is updated to the latest version on your system.

2] Check Edge setting

To make Edge browser open with all the previous tabs opened:

1. Open Edge, and click on the three-dot on the top left
2. Then click Settings
3. Switch on Startup, and select the radio button which says — Continue where you left off.
4. Exit.

The next time you launch Edge, it will work as expected.

3] Use the Restore window option

If when your session closed abruptly due to one or another reason, and when you relaunch Edge, the browser opens a new window with no tabs showing, you can right-click on a blank area on the Tabs bar and select Restore window – this will pop out the Edge window with all your previous tab session. You can now close the new window without the tabs that opened earlier.

4] Repair or Reset Edge browser

This solution requires you to repair or reset Microsoft Edge browser on your Windows 11/10 device and see if that helps. Most affected users reported that the repair operation fixed the issue for them.

Try the next solution if the issue in highlight persists.

4] Uninstall and Reinstall Edge

If repair or reset failed to resolve the issue in hand, which in most cases, either of the procedure will resolve just about any Edge problems and issues; then you can uninstall and reinstall Edge on your Windows 11/10 PC.

To uninstall Edge browser on Windows 11/10, do the following

• Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
• Navigate to the directory path below:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application

• At the location, double-click on the folder with the browser version number.
• Next, double-click the Installer folder.
• Now, to copy the location from the File Explorer address bar, press Alt+D, then press CTRL+C.
• Next, open Command Prompt in admin mode.
• In CMD prompt, type the command below and hit Enter to navigate to the folder containing the setup.exe file for Edge browser. Substitute the <Location> placeholder with the path copied from File Explorer address bar.

cd /d <Location>

• Now, copy and paste the command below and hit Enter to force-uninstall Edge on your device:

.\setup.exe -uninstall -system-level -verbose-logging -force-uninstall

• When done you can exit File Explorer and CMD prompt.

Alternatively, copy and paste the command below in the elevated CMD prompt and hit Enter:

cd %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Microsoft\Edge\Application\9*\Installer

Similarly, to achieve the same outcome, you can copy your Edge version from the browser About page by clicking the Settings and more menu icon > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Then execute the following command in the elevated CMD prompt. Replace the <YourEdgeVersion> placeholder with the version number you copied previously.

cd %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\Microsoft\Edge\Application\<YourEdgeVersion>\Installer

Once the command executes, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:

setup.exe –uninstall –force-uninstall –system-level

To reinstall Edge on your device, simply download Edge’s latest version from the official page, then run the setup file and follow the on-screen directions to complete the installation.

That’s it!

Related post: How to restore Last session or Chrome tabs after a crash

Why did my tabs not restore?

If your browser tabs do not restore, you can try the Control+Shift+T (or Command+Shift+T if you’re using a Mac) keyboard shortcut, and your most recently closed tab or window will re-open. Keep doing this until your window from earlier is re-populated or the shortcut stops working.

Read: New Tabs not opening or loading in Chrome, Edge, Firefox

How do I restore tabs on Edge?

Launch the Edge browser on the computer—Right-click in the blank Tabs bar. Select the option Reopen Closed Tab. Repeat the Reopen Closed Tab action until you find the desired tab.

Restore pages prompt does not appear; How do I reopen all the closed tabs on Edge?

If the Restore tabs prompt does not appear, then to reopen all the closed tabs on Edge, do the following:

• Press Ctrl+H to open History
• Click on the Recently closed section
• You will see all the recently closed tabs and web pages.
• Press Ctrl+Shift+T to restore them.

I hope you find the post useful.