How To Remove Wave Browser From Windows (2026 Guide)

Wave Browser showed up on your Windows PC, and it keeps opening, changing your search, or coming back after you delete it.

Security vendors classify it as a potentially unwanted program (PUP), and it often arrives bundled with other downloads rather than by choice.

The steps below remove it in roughly 15 minutes, and the last two stop it from returning.

Wave Browser removal at a glance

Step	Where to do it	What it removes
1. End processes	Task Manager > Processes	Running Wave and Wavesor tasks
2. Uninstall	Settings > Apps > Installed apps	The main program
3. Startup entries	Task Manager > Startup apps	Auto-launch at sign-in
4. Scheduled tasks	Task Scheduler Library	Updater or relaunch tasks
5. Leftover folders	Program Files, AppData	Files the uninstaller left
6. Browser cleanup	Chrome, Edge, Firefox settings	Extensions, search engine, homepage
7. Malware scan	Windows Security or Malwarebytes	Bundled adware

Why is Wave Browser considered unwanted?

Wave is a Chromium-based browser, and installing it on purpose is not illegal.

Malwarebytes labels it PUP.Optional.Wave and says it is also pushed through channels that install it without the user’s consent.

Removal guides report these common behaviors:

Changed defaults: it can take over your default browser, homepage, and search engine.
Background activity: it can run at startup and keep running after you close it.
Extra content: it can bring in extensions, ads, or redirects.

How do I know Wave Browser is on my PC?

Sign	Where to confirm it
You do not remember installing it	Settings > Apps > Installed apps
Default browser or search engine changed	Settings > Apps > Default apps, browser search settings
It opens when you sign in	Task Manager > Startup apps
Folders or entries named Wavesor Software	Installed apps, Program Files, AppData
It returns after you remove it	Task Scheduler Library, startup items

Wave’s developer name on Windows is Wavesor Software, so search for that name as well as Wave.

Step 1: End Wave processes in Task Manager

Close the processes first, or the uninstaller may fail.

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
End anything named Wave, Wavesor, or another browser you do not recognize, and check the Details tab for leftovers.
Right-click a suspicious entry and choose Open file location if you are unsure what it is.

Step 2: Uninstall Wave Browser from Windows Settings

Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Find Wave Browser, and any entry from Wavesor Software, then choose Uninstall.
Sort by install date and remove other unfamiliar apps added at the same time.

You can also use Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features if Settings does not list it.

Bundled installers often drop several programs together, so the extras matter as much as Wave itself.

Step 3: Disable Wave startup entries

Open Task Manager and select the Startup apps tab.
Disable any Wave, Wavesor, or unrecognized entry.
Press Win+R, type shell:startup, and delete any Wave Browser shortcut in that folder.

Step 4: Check Task Scheduler for relaunch tasks

This is the step most guides skip, and it is a common reason the browser seems to reinstall itself.

Search the Start menu for Task Scheduler and open it.
Open Task Scheduler Library.
Look for tasks that mention Wave, Wavesor, or an unknown browser updater.
Disable a task first, then delete it once you are sure it is unwanted.

Step 5: Delete leftover folders

Turn on hidden items in File Explorer, then look for folders named Wave or Wave Browser.

Location to check	What to look for
C:\Program Files	Folders named Wave or Wave Browser
C:\Program Files (x86)	Folders named Wave or Wave Browser
%userprofile%\AppData\Local	Folders named Wave or Wave Browser
%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming	Folders named Wave or Wave Browser

Delete only folders that clearly belong to Wave, and do not use registry cleaner tools.

Step 6: Do you need to edit the registry?

Most people do not, because Settings, startup, and Task Scheduler cleanup usually stop the problem.

If entries remain after a scan, The Windows Club lists three keys that Wave has used, under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE.

Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WaveBrowser
Wavesor
WaveBrowser

Export a key from Registry Editor before you delete it, so you can restore it if something breaks.

Step 7: Clean Chrome, Edge, or Firefox

Remove extensions you did not install.
Check the default search engine and the startup pages.
Set a trusted browser under Settings > Apps > Default apps.

If problems continue after removing extensions, reset the browser settings.

Step 8: How do I run a full malware scan?

Run Microsoft Defender Offline to catch what normal scans miss.

Open Windows Security and choose Virus & threat protection.
Under Current threats, select Scan options.
Choose Microsoft Defender Offline, then Scan now.

Windows restarts the PC to run this scan, so save your work first.

Malwarebytes can also detect and remove Wave: install it, run a Threat Scan, quarantine the results, and reboot if asked.

Is Wave Browser gone for good?

Restart Windows after the uninstall, then recheck Task Manager’s Startup apps, Task Scheduler, and your browser’s default search engine.

If you still see	Do this
Wave opens at sign-in	Recheck Startup apps and Task Scheduler
Search engine keeps changing	Remove extensions and reset browser settings
Wave folders reappear	Run a full scan, then delete the folders again
Unknown new apps	Uninstall them from Installed apps

How do I stop it from coming back?

Choose Custom or Advanced install and untick optional offers.
Download software only from the maker’s own site.
Keep Windows Security turned on and updated.

Related Windows guides

Sources: Malwarebytes detection page for Wave, Microsoft Windows security guidance.