10 Tweaks to Microsoft Edge to Improve Performance

Microsoft Edge has emerged as one of the leading web browsers thanks to its speed, security, and integration with the Windows ecosystem. While Edge is designed to be efficient right out of the box, there are several ways to fine-tune its settings to boost performance, reduce memory consumption, and optimize your browsing experience. Whether you’re using Edge for work, study, or casual browsing, these tweaks can make a noticeable difference in speed, responsiveness, and overall performance. In this guide, we’ll walk through the top 10 tweaks to improve Microsoft Edge’s performance.

1. Disable Unnecessary Extensions

Browser extensions can be useful tools, but too many can slow down Microsoft Edge, consume extra memory, and even cause security vulnerabilities. The more extensions running in the background, the more likely they are to impact performance.

• How to Disable Extensions:
  1. Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
  2. Select “Extensions” from the dropdown menu.
  3. Review the list of installed extensions, and disable or remove any that are unnecessary by toggling them off or clicking the remove button.

By trimming down the number of active extensions, you’ll free up valuable resources, which can lead to faster performance.

2. Clear Browsing Data Regularly

As you browse the internet, Microsoft Edge stores data such as cached images, cookies, and browsing history. Over time, these files accumulate and can slow down the browser, leading to sluggish performance. Regularly clearing your browsing data helps keep Edge running smoothly.

• How to Clear Browsing Data:
  1. Click the three-dot menu and go to “Settings.”
  2. Navigate to “Privacy, search, and services.”
  3. Under “Clear browsing data,” click “Choose what to clear.”
  4. Select the types of data you wish to remove, such as cached images, cookies, and browsing history.
  5. Click “Clear now.”

For an optimal balance between performance and convenience, you can schedule Edge to clear certain types of data automatically every time you close the browser.

3. Enable Sleeping Tabs

One of the standout features in Microsoft Edge is “Sleeping Tabs.” This feature automatically puts inactive tabs to sleep after a period of inactivity, reducing the memory and CPU resources they use. It’s particularly beneficial if you often keep multiple tabs open for extended periods.

• How to Enable Sleeping Tabs:
  1. Go to the three-dot menu and select “Settings.”
  2. Click on “System and performance.”
  3. Scroll down to find the “Optimize Performance” section and enable the “Save resources with sleeping tabs” option.
  4. You can also set the time interval after which tabs should go to sleep and choose any exceptions for websites that you don’t want to be affected.

This feature can significantly enhance performance, especially for users who multitask or have dozens of tabs open at once.

4. Enable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration allows Microsoft Edge to offload graphic-intensive tasks to your computer’s GPU (graphics processing unit) instead of using just the CPU. This can enhance performance, particularly when browsing websites with heavy multimedia content like videos and games.

• How to Enable Hardware Acceleration:
  1. Open the three-dot menu and go to “Settings.”
  2. Navigate to “System and performance.”
  3. Toggle on “Use hardware acceleration when available.”
  4. Restart Microsoft Edge to apply the changes.

Enabling hardware acceleration can lead to smoother video playback, faster loading times, and an overall improvement in browser responsiveness.

5. Disable Edge’s Startup Boost (If Unnecessary)

Microsoft Edge has a feature called “Startup Boost” that keeps certain browser processes running in the background, so Edge launches faster when you open it. While this can save time on startup, it also consumes system resources when Edge is not actively being used. If you don’t need immediate launch times, you can disable Startup Boost for a performance boost elsewhere.

• How to Disable Startup Boost:
  1. Open Edge’s “Settings.”
  2. Navigate to “System and performance.”
  3. Toggle off “Startup boost.”

Disabling this feature can free up resources, especially on systems with limited RAM or processing power.

6. Manage Edge’s Preloading Features

Microsoft Edge uses a feature called “preloading” to make searches and start pages load faster. However, this can take up additional system resources and potentially slow down performance for users who don’t require this added convenience.

• How to Manage Preloading:
  1. Open the three-dot menu and select “Settings.”
  2. Go to “Privacy, search, and services.”
  3. Scroll down to the “Services” section and find the options “Preload the new tab page for faster browsing and searching” and “Preload pages for faster browsing and searching.”
  4. Toggle these options off if you prefer to prioritize performance over preloading speed.

Turning off preloading can reduce Edge’s memory usage and prevent unnecessary background processes from running.

7. Limit the Number of Open Tabs

Keeping too many tabs open at the same time can significantly degrade browser performance. Each tab consumes memory and processing power, which can slow down not only Edge but also the entire system. While features like Sleeping Tabs can help mitigate this, it’s still a good practice to limit the number of active tabs.

• Use Collections: Instead of leaving tabs open indefinitely, consider using Microsoft Edge’s “Collections” feature to save and organize your favorite websites and articles for later. This allows you to close unnecessary tabs without losing important information.

Closing inactive tabs or using bookmarks to save pages for future use is a simple yet effective way to improve browsing speed.

8. Adjust Tracking Prevention Settings

Microsoft Edge has built-in tracking prevention that helps protect your privacy while browsing. However, using the strictest level of tracking prevention can occasionally cause websites to load more slowly due to blocked content.

• How to Adjust Tracking Prevention:
  1. Go to “Settings” and select “Privacy, search, and services.”
  2. Under the “Tracking prevention” section, choose between “Basic,” “Balanced,” or “Strict” options.
  3. If performance is a concern, you can try switching from “Strict” to “Balanced” tracking prevention to see if it improves loading times without compromising too much on privacy.

A balanced tracking setting can enhance performance without sacrificing too much privacy or security.

9. Update Microsoft Edge Regularly

Keeping your browser up to date is essential for ensuring optimal performance, security, and access to the latest features. Microsoft continuously releases updates for Edge that fix bugs, improve performance, and enhance security.

• How to Update Edge:
  1. Open the three-dot menu and go to “Help and feedback.”
  2. Select “About Microsoft Edge.”
  3. Edge will automatically check for and install updates. If an update is available, restart the browser to apply the changes.

By keeping Microsoft Edge updated, you can take advantage of the latest performance improvements and bug fixes.

10. Turn Off Background Apps in Edge

Microsoft Edge can run background apps even when you close the browser. These background processes can consume system resources and slow down your computer. Disabling this feature can help free up memory and improve overall system performance.

• How to Disable Background Apps:
  1. Open Edge’s “Settings.”
  2. Go to “System and performance.”
  3. Toggle off “Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.”

Turning off background apps can significantly reduce resource usage, particularly if you often have multiple apps or programs running concurrently.

By implementing these 10 tweaks, you can significantly improve Microsoft Edge’s performance, ensuring faster browsing, smoother multimedia experiences, and lower resource consumption. Whether it’s disabling unnecessary extensions, managing your tabs more effectively, or utilizing hardware acceleration, these steps can optimize your browsing experience.

Regularly reviewing and adjusting your Edge settings ensures that the browser remains efficient and responsive as you continue to use it over time. Try these tweaks, and you’ll notice a marked improvement in Edge’s performance, making your browsing sessions more enjoyable and productive.