Yesterday, Microsoft released the Edge 90 update to all users in the stable channel. Unfortunately, things did not go well. Many users, including us, now face severe issues with different browser components.
The main problem includes the inability to download updates, extensions, or preview versions from Beta, Dev, and Canary channels.
When the user tries to update Edge to the latest version, it gets the following error:
An error occurred while checking for updates: Unable to connect to the Internet. If you use a firewall, allowlist MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe (error code 7: 0x800421F7 -- system level).l
The link in the error message leads to the official documentation from Microsoft. It says the error 0x800421F7 happens when the server is busy. In other words, the problem is on the Microsoft's side.
It is worth mentioning that any attempts to add Microsoft Edge to the firewall's whitelist do not help to fix the problem. Again, the problem appears not because your PC or network configuration is wrong. Something has happened on Microsoft's servers and hence the issues.
Another problem we are getting is an error when downloading extensions from Edge's Add-ons Store. The browser simply throws the "an error occurred" message without any specific explanations or additional information. Also, there are reports of broken sync and other components misbehaving, such as preview builds. When trying to install Beta, Dev, or Canary channel, the installer shows a similar message asking users to whitelist Edge in the firewall's settings.
How to fix error code 7: 0x800421F7 -- system level in Microsoft Edge
You can simply try again and again until the browser finally establishes contact with Microsoft's servers and gets the updates. That is how we managed to update our computers today. Alternatively, you can download an offline installer of the latest version.
Download the Edge offline installer
1. Go to the Microsoft Edge for Business website.
2. From the Select Channel/Version dropdown, select Stable 90.
3. Next, select Build. There is currently only one option to choose from.
4. Finally, select Platform and choose either 32-bit or 64-bit Windows. As for macOS, there is only one option.
5. Press download.
6. Open the downloaded file and wait for the system to update Edge offline.
As for extensions, sync, and preview channels, there is not that much you can do to fix the problem. All we need to do is wait until Microsoft gets everything back into the working state.
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The update worked in 45 minutes after the first error appearance. At least – for me.