How to Stop Microsoft Edge From Grabbing System Resources
Microsoft Edge has earned a reputation as an authoritative browser, making it a great default option for most Windows users. However, this is not ideal. If Microsoft Edge is slowing down your computer, there are a few fixes you can try before switching to a different browser. We have tested the app’s performance settings to help you speed up your browser and minimize resource usage on your PC.
Enable efficient mode
Designed specifically for those who use Edge on a laptop, Efficiency Mode reduces browser resource usage and helps improve your computer’s battery life a bit. This change will put inactive tabs to sleep and reduce Edge’s overall resource consumption.
To enable this feature, open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select “Performance” , then turn on the “Efficiency ” mode in the pop-up window.
Disable startup acceleration
Startup Boost allows Microsoft Edge to run a support service in the background, which helps the browser start up faster. When you have Edge open, Startup Boost has little to no impact on resource usage. However, when Edge is not running, it may continue to fetch system resources in the background.
If this resource usage bothers you, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the browser window, then select ” Settings “. In the left pane, click System and Performance and disable Startup Boost .
Disable Background Extensions and Edge Apps
When you close Edge, the browser allows Edge extensions and apps to run in the background. This feature is useful if you have Edge apps such as Microsoft Teams installed as they can continue to work regardless of the browser.
However, if this background activity is affecting system performance, try disabling this feature. This setting is located in the System and Performance section of the Edge settings. Disable Keep running background extensions and apps when you close Microsoft Edge .
Fix the new tab page
By default, Edge’s New Tab page looks a lot like the old MSN, with tons of news, ads, and promoted links. This mess can potentially be a source of performance degradation in Microsoft Edge.
Open a new tab in Microsoft Edge and click the gear icon in the top right corner of this page. Now use the following settings:
- Layout: Focused
- Quick Links: Off .
- Background: Off
- Show greeting: Off .
- Office Sidebar: Off
- New Tab Tooltips: off .
- Content: Content disabled
These changes should clean up the clutter on the new tab page. As a final step, you can click on the three dots icon below the search form and select Hide Recent Bing Searches .
Update Windows and Microsoft Edge
If none of these options resolve your performance issues, it’s time to update both your PC and Microsoft Edge as Microsoft includes bug fixes and stability fixes with every new update. Be sure to restart your computer after updating for these changes to take effect.
The last port of call is malware. You should get a good anti-malware application like MalwareBytes to check your computer for viruses. Cryptomining malware these days is smart enough to slow down your computer to the bare minimum by shutting itself down the moment you open the Windows Task Manager. A quick malware scan and cleanup can isolate and remove these processes.