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I keep getting infinite support tabs opening in my browsers

Gabriel Chester 0 Reputation points
2026-06-07T21:22:45.6466667+00:00

Upon launching discord and clicking on the window, the Discord Help Center page pops out of nowhere on my browser. It keeps going until the browser either crashes, or discord is closes out, and if the browser crashes as soon as it is closed it just reopens. This does it sometimes with file explorer as well and it will open up help tabs in microsoft edge regarding windows help. Im at my whits end and I'm this close to calling it quits and wiping my pc. Before you ask, it isnt the f1 key as I destroyed my last keyboard went out and bought a brand new one and the bug is still present, and even tried using one of my laptops, which after a windows update (using Windows 11) seems to be doing the exact same thing, however on a seperate linux laptop, it doesn't seem to be repeatable.

Microsoft Edge | Tabs, address bar, and search | Windows 11

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  1. Clary-N 11,855 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-09T08:31:17.74+00:00

    Hi Gabriel Chester,

    Thank you again for the detailed information. I understand how disruptive this behavior can be, especially since it’s affecting multiple apps and not just the browser.

    To help narrow this down further, I’d like to focus on isolating whether something in Windows or a background process is triggering these help pages.

    First, please try starting your system in a clean boot state. This temporarily disables non-Microsoft services and startup programs, which helps us determine if a third-party application might be causing the issue. After performing a clean boot, test opening Discord or File Explorer and check if the behavior still occurs.

    *Disclaimer: A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem. 

    These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step so that it will help you get back on track.

    In addition, I recommend creating a new local Windows user profile and testing there. This helps confirm whether the issue is related to your current user profile or something system-wide:

    • Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users.
    • Click Add account > choose I don't have this person's sign-in information >Add a user without a Microsoft account.
    • Enter a username and password > click Next.
    • Sign in to the new profile and test Discord or File Explorer again.

    These two steps will help us quickly determine whether the cause is related to background software or a profile-specific configuration.

    Please let me know how it goes and I’ll be happy to continue working through this with you.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-07T21:23:00.91+00:00

    The behavior described matches a stuck or malicious help/support page loop in the browser, not a normal Windows or Discord feature. Use the following steps to stop the infinite support tabs and stabilize Microsoft Edge.

    1. Force-close the browser when the loop starts
      • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
      • In Processes, select Microsoft Edge (and any other affected browser processes).
      • Select End task for each browser process until all browser windows are closed.
      • If Task Manager is not accessible or the system is unresponsive, hold the power button until the PC turns off, then turn it back on. This is a last resort but will always stop the loop.
    2. Clear Edge history and cached data so the bad page does not auto-reopen
      • Open Microsoft Edge again (after the loop has been stopped via Task Manager or restart).
      • Select Settings and more (three dots) > History > Open history page.
      • Select Delete browsing data.
      • Under Time range, choose All time.
      • First try clearing at least Browsing history and Cached images and files, then select Clear now.
      • If the problem persists, repeat and choose All time, select all boxes, and select Clear now.
    3. Check for malicious or problematic pop-ups and extensions
      • In Edge, open Settings and more > Extensions > Manage extensions.
      • Turn off all installed extensions.
      • If the pop-up/support-tab behavior stops, turn extensions back on one by one to identify which one triggers the issue.
      • Remove any suspicious extension permanently.
    4. Make sure Microsoft Edge is up to date
      • In Edge, press Alt+F to open Settings and more.
      • Select Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
      • Edge will check for updates and install them automatically if available.
      • Restart Edge if prompted.
    5. Scan the device for malware or adware
      • Use Windows Security to run a malware scan as described in Stay protected with Windows Security (see reference below).
      • If any threats are found, follow the recommended actions to remove them.
    6. Repair Microsoft Edge if the behavior continues
      • Close Edge completely for all users.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
      • Find Microsoft Edge, select it, then select Modify.
      • Approve the UAC prompt (Yes).
      • Ensure the device is connected to the internet, then select Repair. This keeps browser data and settings but reinstalls core Edge components.
    7. If the screen or UI is flickering while this happens
      • Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver. If that does not help, restart the PC.

    If the issue is triggered by a specific site or app (for example, Discord Help Center or Windows help pages) and only in the browser, treat it like a browser-based scam or glitch: close the browser via Task Manager, clear history/cache, and avoid revisiting the exact link that starts the loop.

    References:

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