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Internet Explorer is still part of Windows Server with Desktop Experience. However, it is technically out of date, which means it cannot run modern web applications like Windows Admin Center.
Edge Chromium as a separate download
Since the first generation of Edge did not exist on the server, the Chromium version now fills this gap. To date, however, it has not been included with the installation media of Windows 10 or the server, so you have to download and install the browser yourself.
On a server with a desktop, the procedure is the same as on a client OS. Under Server Core, which is also one of the supported platforms, some additional steps are required.
It starts with the fact that there is no browser available to download the installation files for Edge. A download via Invoke-WebRequest is difficult because there is no permalink for specific versions.
Select the Edge version on Microsoft's download page
Instead, you have to choose the desired Edge release, selecting various criteria using a form on the download page. You can do this on a workstation, then copy the MSI file to the server and execute it there. I recommend downloading the complete offline installer right away.
Incompatibility problems
If you decide, as usual, to get the version of Edge that Microsoft designates as current, you will receive the following message when installing it under Windows Server 2019 Core:
Microsoft Edge works best with the latest Windows Updates. Once you download updates and restart your device, rerun the installer.
As it turns out, you can install as many Windows updates as you want. The Edge setup will always show this dialog and then cancel the installation.
The Edge setup gives the impression that Windows updates are missing. However, the problem is an incompatible browser version.
Also, switching to the online installer does not help; it will end the same way. It does offer a Get Updates button, which promises to remedy the situation. But if you click on it, nothing happens.
The online installer promises a solution by downloading updates, but it doesn't work
As is so often the case with Microsoft, this is a misleading error message. The problem is that only version 79 of Edge can be installed on Server 2019. If you do so, then your setup will run smoothly.
Installing Edge Chromium on Windows Server 2019 Core
Launching the web browser
If you then want to start the browser, you can, of course, only do this from the command line. Using PowerShell, enter the following:
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& 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe'
Running Edge Chromium 79 on Windows Server 2019 Core
Unlike Internet Explorer, there is no Enhanced Security Configuration for Edge that prevents the user from opening pages from the internet zone (Edge does not even know this zone concept at all). However, a responsible administrator will limit the use of the browser on the server to the necessary tasks anyway.
Unfortunately version 79 no longer can be downloaded from Microsoft 🙁
Oldest version is 80.x
Can you share a link to 79? Thanks
After quick google swipe I was also not able to find it 🙁
I was able to install AND start AND verify it works – version 83 using this tool
https://github.com/UndertakerBen/PorEdgeUpd – it has a "ignore version check" option …
Basicly it downloads an Edge build and makes it portable. Once downloaded I move dit to a 2019 core "testbed" it started without hickup – even loaded all pages I tried – and fast.
rarely one will need browser on core… but what pain it is if needed :/
I found this link in my download history:
http://dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com/filestreamingservice/files/07367ab9-ceee-4409-a22f-c50d77a8ae06/MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi
It still works.
You should NOT ignore the update warning. Instead you should install the latest Windows updates. The minimum, are the Windows Updates mentioned in the docs: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-sysupdate-windows-updates#timeline
Please read my text carefully! In the context of the browser installation the update warning is misleading and will not help to solve the problem.
Wolfgang , please read the documentation carefully. The update warning is not misleading. You need to make sure to have the KB mentioned on the Edge documentation installed. Did you confirm to have required KB installed on Windows (from November 2019)?
The fact that it works with Edge 79 is suggests that you don't have the required updates installed.
After the setup showed the above message, I checked if there were any updates outstanding. But the system has been up to date.
Since you insisted, I checked again. And yes, the OS is fully patched. I have even been able to update MS Edge from v79 to to v87 using the integrated online updater. But after completely uninstalling Edge and running setup.exe to install Edge v87 again, I got the exact same misleading error message. So what we see here is clearly a setup problem.
P.S. I’m talking about Windows Server 2019 Core, not about Windows 10
Run "winver" and check your build number. Your build number should be higher than any of the following:
OS Build 17763.864
OS Builds 18362.476 and 18363.476
OS Build 19041.329
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4523205/windows-10-update-kb4523205
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4524570
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4557957
Check the number of the left of the dot. For the same number on the left, you should have an higher number on the right of the dot than the ones mentioned above.
If it is not, you don't have the necessary updates.
Windows 10 or Windows Server, the SDK is the same. As you can see in the docs, those KB apply to both Windows 10 and Windows Server versions
I just installed Chrome, why bother with Edgehead ?
Glad I found this farcical situation before trying to get a Microsoft browser working on a Microsoft OS, thanks very much!
The command “winver” is not supported on Hyper-V 2019 oder Server Core.
Unbelievable. This is a microsoft browser on a microsoft OS. I was able to install chrome, duckduckgo and firefox. with one click each. Why on earth can’t MS get this right?
It’s a headless os and people are ‘surprised’ they can’t add a gui… #hilarious
Adding a browser makes it a security black hole… just don’t do it!
I agree, there is no need to have a browser on Core when there are ps commands to download files. However, if you like to mess around, until winget is officially release you can use choco package manager to install microsoft edge. Just install choco uising the ps iwr or .net webclient command to download the powershell install script and you can then install MS Edge
Seems to work fine.
Microsoft Edge automatic updates using WSUS / Windows Update fails on server core. Is there a known solution to this problem?
Best regards,
Dennis.
I know this is a old post but since it’s the first that shows up when you search for Edge install on core I figured I would add this to the comments. If you have a offline server. Download the offline installer from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/business/download
Installing from the installer will normally result in you need to install updates before proceeding.
Adding:
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate /v Allowsxs /t REG_DWORD /d 1
Should eliminate this message and allow you to install the more updated version without internet access or Prompt to update
@Joseph Gignac
I was about to post the same thing 🙂
Thanks @Joseph Gignac for the post regarding that registry key! Where I work we cannot just download the latest patches or software versions but have to use approved ones. On a standard GUI Server 2019 new build I could not install Edge until I added that regkey.
Lifesaver!