How to launch MS Edge from c# winforms?

Question

The executable MicrosoftEdge.exe cannot be launched directly like other EXEs in windows. I confirmed that from my own experience, and by reading this and that.

I also cannot launch it via Process.Start("MicrosoftEdge.exe") in my c# winforms app.

There must be some way to launch Edge from winforms without resorting to 3rd-party app and other clutter. I have already tried the following, with no success:

1. Process.Start("MicrosoftEdge.exe") - unhandled exception
2. Process.Start("microsoft-edge") - unhandled exception
3. Process.Start("%windir%\explorer.exe shell:Appsfolder\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe!MicrosoftEdge") - unhandled exception
4. Process.Start(@"c:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge.exe") - no exception, but nothing happens

Note: I can easily launch Chrome and Firefox using method #1 above.

How can I launch MS Edge from my .net winforms app?

Answer 1

The ":" at the end is inportant, otherwise won't work

To open in blank:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("microsoft-edge:");

or specifying an address:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("microsoft-edge:http://www.google.com");

Answer 2

Process.Start can take 2 parameters

string url = "http://www.google.com";
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("msedge.exe", url);

Browsers:

• msedge.exe
• chrome.exe
• firefox.exe
• iexplore.exe

Answer 3

You can use a small workaround to open Microsoft Edge from CMD with this code

string url = "https://www.google.com";

// Starts Microsoft Edge with the provided URL; NOTE: /C to terminate CMD after the command runs
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("CMD.exe", $"/C start msedge {url}");