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Fake Microsoft Virus Warning: Step-By-Step Removal Procedure

If you are confronting an error notification on Microsoft stating that “Your computer has a serious virus”, then there is nothing to be worried about it. As it is a fake warning alert that does not come from the official site of Microsoft. 

Once this error notification pops up on the display, users can’t open the Microsoft Edge. Since the error message is continuously shown on the screen, the only way out is to close the Edge browser. 

The actual error appears with this notification where it provides a toll-free number for the users. Those who had fallen prey have complained that they have been scammed for a ransom to fix this issue. So, you need to be aware of such scams.

Before its too late, you can go through this informative content thoroughly and know how to remove the fake Microsoft virus warning message.

Effective Steps to Eliminate Fake Microsoft Virus Warning Message

There can be various ways to get rid of the Microsoft Edge fake virus warning message. But, here, we are going to provide the most effective ones that have worked for several users. To get the desired result, you can follow the steps in the same sequence as we have mentioned in the below section. So, without further delay, let’s proceed.

Procedure 1: Install Available Updates

To prevent such kind of fake virus warning error message, you have to be sure that all the available Windows Updates are installed on your device. In case, you are using an outdated or backdated version of Windows OS, the occurrence of such error notification is quite a common event. 

Therefore, it is recommended you always keep your device up-to-date, as it will help you to avoid such kind of virus alerts. 

Here are the steps that should be followed to install the available Windows Updates.

  • Open the Start menu by tapping on the Start icon. It is located at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  • Now, click the “All Programs” section and invoke it. Here, you will find a list.
  • From this list, choose Windows Update and hit the “Check for Updates” button from the appeared menu.
  • Next, review whether the updated are available. If updates are available, then go through the onscreen prompts to install the available updates. 

Wait until the process is over, as this might take a while to complete. So, be patient and do not interrupt the process in between. 

Procedure 2- Perform a Clean Boot

It is one of the most reliable ways that helps to determine if the fake Microsoft virus warning appears due to any third-party application or program. In most cases, such situations occur due to software conflicts.  

So, if you get stuck with this fake notification due to this reason, we suggest you perform a clean boot. It will allow Windows to boot the device with the most important applications and services. 

Step 1: To begin the process, log in as Administrator. Then, write “msconfig” in the search field and hit the Enter key to execute the command. 

Step 2: After executing this command, you will find a list. From the list, choose the System Configuration option. 

Step 3: Next, locate the Service tab from the resultant menu. Once you find it, navigate to it and find the “Hide all Microsoft services” option.  

Step 4: Once you find this option, hit the “Disable All” button to proceed further. Now, you need to go to the Startup tab and choose “Open Task Manager” from the same window. 

Step 5: After performing these instructions, hit the OK button to apply the new changes and close the Task Manager window. 

Reboot your Windows-based device when the process gets completed. 

Procedure 3: Remove the Microsoft Edge History

After performing a clean boot, you need to remove the Microsoft Edge history. To do so, follow the undermentioned dedicated steps.

  • Invoke Microsoft Edge and hit the three dots that are present in the upper-right corner of the window.
  • After that, open the Settings window and scroll down to locate the “Clear browsing data” option.
  • When you find it, click on it and choose “Everything” from the appeared menu. Lastly, hit the “Clear” button to remove all the data. 

Removing the browser’s cache tends to eliminate the Microsoft edge fake virus warning error notification. But, if this procedure fails to remove the virus alert message from your device, then proceed to the next successive process.

Procedure 4: Scan your Device Using Antivirus Application

Now, you need to scan your device using an antivirus application. For this purpose, you can download and install any reliable security program. After downloading and installing it, start the scanning process by following the on-screen prompts.  

Once the scanning process is over, reboot your device to let the new changes take effect.

Procedure 5: Reset the Microsoft Edge

After scanning your device, it’s time to reset the Microsoft Edge, We hope, after resetting the Microsoft Edge, you will be able to remove the virus alert from your device. To reset the Microsoft Edge, follow the underlying steps.

Step 1:

Press the combination of the Windows logo + R key. This action will invoke the Run window, Now, write “msconfig” into the dialog box and hit the Enter key to run the command. After performing this instruction, you will find the System Configuration window that appears on the screen.

Step 2:

Now, switch to the Boot tab and place a tick mark to the Safe Mode option. Once you are done with all the above instructions, hit the Apply button as well as the OK button to save the new modifications.

Step 3:

Afterward, press the Restart button from the queue window and the device will boot into Safe Mode automatically. Now, launch the Run window by following the above steps and enter “%localappdata%” into the dialog box. Click on the OK button to proceed to the next step.

Step 4:

Now, you will find a list. From the list, choose the Packages and select the “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” from the appeared menu. Thereafter, navigate to the following path:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. 

Once you’re done, you will find a folder. Here, you need to remove everything from this folder.  

Note- If you find the “Folder Access Denied” error, hit the Continue button. Then, go to “Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” folder and deselect the “Read-only” option. Press the Apply button to remove the content from this folder.

Step 5:

Thereafter, press the Windows logo key along with the Q key. Then, write PowerShell into the search field and choose the appropriate option from the appeared menu. Now, right-click on the PowerShell and hit the “Run as Administrator” option to invoke it in Admin mode.

Step 6:

Once the PowerShell launch with Administrator privileges, write “Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml” –Verbose” and hit the Enter key.

Step 7:

This instruction will re-invoke the Microsoft Edge browser. Now, go to the System Configuration window and select the Safe Mode option. Apply the new modifications by tapping on the Apply button.

Ending Notes:

In this post, we have mentioned all the necessary information regarding the fake Microsoft virus warning message. We hope, after performing all the above procedures, you will be able to remove the virus alert message from your device. But, in case, if you have additional queries, then drop your questions in the comment section below.