Like many of you I've been having this same freaking issue. The other day my Edge crashed and I lost a whole bunch of tabs so I figured why not updated to the latest version? After all the version I had was quite old (it was still using Microsoft AutoUpdate and not EdgeUpdater). So I decided to update and what a huge mistake that was because the latest version was so bloated and unbearably slow. I could literally open 800 tabs at once (I know, it's a problem) on the old version and it would load them all after about 60 seconds but on the latest version my computer would freeze for 5-10 minutes. Granted I'm still using a Late 2013 Macbook Pro but the difference in load times was shocking. I put up with it for a few days before deciding to just figure out a way to install an older version of Edge even if it means my security is compromised.
Anyway, the issue seems to be fixed for now as the "Checking for updates" spinning circle (on the Edge Settings page) has been spinning for 45 minutes and it's not changing. Just hoping after a restart or shutdown that it doesn't somehow change.
So to fix the issue I did the following using information from this thread and another
reddit thread:
1. Created the plist file using Xcode with the XML from the OP (and the reddit thread) and placed the file in the ~Library/Preferences folder.
Note: When I looked at other plist files in the Preferences folder there were quotation marks around the Apple .dtd URL, but in the code from the OP and the reddit thread they're missing? I'm not sure if this makes a difference but I added the quotation marks. Also, my folder is called "Preferences" and not "Managed Preferences", on Catalina 10.15.7.
2. Deleted everything in the folders /Library/Microsoft/EdgeUpdater and /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Edge Updater and locked the folders to read only for all users
3 (Not mandatory). Created a config payload file from iMazing for Microsoft AutoUpdate to "No updates or checks: Manual" (or something along those lines) then opened it to install it as a profile
I'm now running Version 110.0.1587.69 (Official build) (x86_64). You can download older versions of Edge
here. The website appears to be trustworthy. And to people who say to others "Why would you want to prevent updates? You really should keep things updated" obviously everyone realises that but not everyone has a fast computer or wants to spend $4000 on a new Macbook Pro that can run the latest -- and therefore most bloated and slowest version -- software.
I will also add, I don't know WTF Microsoft are thinking with the direction they've taken Edge in. What was once IMO the best browser available it's now a slow and bloated piece of junk with all the crap they've added, and they've also removed some
good features like Web Select for no apparent reason except to say "F you". It's just so unbearably frustrating, as if all the engineers and managers there are trying to justify their existence by constantly updating Edge to the point where the updates and changes are just unnecessary and straight up silly. It's really turned me off Microsoft as a whole; I've spent probably 12-15 hours trying to fix this idiotic issue; deleting everything related to Edge, making sure I have everything backed up and settings synced, reinstalling only to find that the latest version of Edge has somehow installed itself again etc. This is not how you win over your customers. I'm at the point where if I were to build a gaming PC in the future I don't even want to use Windows anymore with the crap that Microsoft have been pulling with Edge. I'd rather just build a Linux machine and use SteamOS (and yes, I'd have to spend time learning Linux but at least I wouldn't have to deal with Microsoft's crap).
EDIT: Pleased to report that after a shutdown Edge still isn't updating despite trying to. Microsoft can suck a fat one.
