How to open URL in Microsoft Edge from the command line?

Windows 10Microsoft Edge

Windows 10 Problem Overview

I need to open URL in Microsoft Edge (on Windows 10). When I invoke

start shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe!MicrosoftEdge http://www.google.com

then Microsoft Edge is started correctly but it doesn't open the given URL (www.google.com, in this case). It opens Bing search where the given URL is used as a search term instead.

Windows 10 Solutions

Solution 1 - Windows 10

The following method should work via Command Prompt (cmd):

start microsoft-edge:http://www.cnn.com

Solution 2 - Windows 10

Windows 10: Create a shortcut with this destination:

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /c "start microsoft-edge:https://twitter.com"

Solution 3 - Windows 10

and a shortcut:

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c start shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe!MicrosoftEdge http://localhost:6516

Solution 4 - Windows 10

I too was wondering why you can't just start microsoftedge.exe, like you do "old-style" applications in windows 10. Searching the web, I found the answer -- it has to do with how Microsoft implemented "Universal Apps".

Below is a brief summary taken from that answer, but I recommend reading the entire entry, because it gives a great explanation of how these "Universal Apps" are being dealt with. Microsoft Edge is not the only app like this we'll be dealing with.

Here's the link: http://www.itworld.com/article/2943955/windows/how-to-script-microsofts-edge-browser.html

Here's the summary from that page:

"Microsoft Edge is a "Modern" Universal app. This means it can't be opened from the command line in the traditional Windows manner:  Executable name followed by command switches/parameter values. But where there's a will, there's a way. In this case, the "way" is known as protocol activation."

Kudos to the author of the article, Stephen Glasskeys.

Solution 5 - Windows 10

All the other solutions work for Microsoft Edge (legacy) and on Windows 10 only. As of 2020, it will be discontinued and replaced by Microsoft Edge (Chromium based).

The solution that works with the new Edge on Windows 7, 8 and 10 is :

start msedge URL

Source :

Solution 6 - Windows 10

Personally, I use this function which I created and put in my profile script ...\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\….profile, feel free to use it. As I am from the UK, I prefer to go to .co.uk where possible, if you are from another area, you can add your own country code.

# Function taking parameter add (address) and opens in edge.
Function edge {
    param($add)
    if (-not ($add -contains "https://www." -or $add -contains "http://www.")) {
	    if ($add[0] -eq "w" -and $add[1] -eq "w" -and $add[2] -eq "w") {
		    $add = "https://" + $add
	    } else {
		    $add = "https://www." + $add
	    }
    }

    # If no domain, tries to add .co.uk, if fails uses .com
    if (-not ($add -match ".co" -or $add -match ".uk" -or $add -match ".com")) {
	    try {
		    $test = $add + ".co.uk"
		    $HTTP_Request  = [System.Net.WebRequest]::Create($test)
		    $HTTP_Response = $HTTP_Request.GetResponse()
		    $add = $add + ".co.uk"
	    } catch{
		    $add = $add + ".com"
	    }
    }
    Write-Host "Taking you to $add"
    start microsoft-edge:$add
}

Then you just have to call: edge google in powershell to go to https://www.google.co.uk

Solution 7 - Windows 10

While the accepted answer is correct, it has the unwanted artifact of flashing a console window when running from a non-console application.

The solution I found works best, which is only mentioned here in a comments to the question, is the following command line:

explorer.exe "microsoft-edge:<URL>"

Keep in mind that if contains the % sign you will need to type %% as Windows uses the symbol for variable expansion.

Hope someone finds this helpful.

Solution 8 - Windows 10

I would like to recommend:
Microsoft Edge Run Wrapper
https://github.com/mihula/RunEdge

You run it this way:

RunEdge.exe [URL]
  • where URL may or may not contains protocol (http://), when not provided, wrapper adds http://
  • if URL not provided at all, it just opens edge

Examples:

RunEdge.exe http://google.com
RunEdge.exe www.stackoverflow.com

It is not exactly new way how to do it, but it is wrapped as exe file, which could be useful in some situations. For me it is way how to start Edge from IBM Notes Basic client.

Solution 9 - Windows 10

Looks like things have changed and the previous solution doesn't work anymore.

However, here is the working command to launch CNN.com on Microsoft Edge:

microsoft-edge:http://www.cnn.com

Solution 10 - Windows 10

I want to complement other answers here in regards to opening a blank tab in Microsoft Edge from command-line.

One observation that I want to add from my end is that Windows doesn't detect the command microsoft-edge if I remove the trailing colon. I thought it would be the case when I've to open the browser without mentioning the target URL e.g. in case of opening a blank tab.

How to open a blank tab in Microsoft Edge?

  • From run prompt - microsoft-edge:about:blank
  • From command prompt - start microsoft-edge:about:blank

You can also initiate a search using Edge from run prompt. Let's say I've to search Barack Obama then fire below command on run prompt-

microsoft-edge:Barack Obama

It starts Microsoft's Bing search website in Edge with Barack Obama as search term.

Solution 11 - Windows 10

It will do more or less the same thing in good old dos script fashion

set add=%1
if %add%$ ==$ set add="about:blank" && goto launch

rem http://
set test=%add:~0, 7%
if %test% == http:// goto launch

rem ftp:// 
set test=%add:~0, 6%
if %test% == ftp:// goto launch

rem https://
set test=%add:~0, 8%
if %test% == https:// goto launch

rem add http
set add=http://%add%

:launch
start microsoft-edge:%add%

Solution 12 - Windows 10

microsoft-edge:http://google.com (open google as desired)
microsoft-edge: (just open)

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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionJan ŠtolaView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - Windows 10Charles Morris - MSFTView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - Windows 10simmondpView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - Windows 10Rob GaatJeNixAnView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - Windows 10phreichView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - Windows 10BaptistouView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - Windows 10Sam BrothertonView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 7 - Windows 10LockszmithView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 8 - Windows 10SpockieView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 9 - Windows 10WarProView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 10 - Windows 10RBTView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 11 - Windows 10user7110508View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 12 - Windows 10Jan Kyu PeblikView Answer on Stackoverflow