How to Speed Up Microsoft Edge: The Latest Performance Tweaks

Microsoft Edge has evolved into a fast and feature-rich browser, but over time, even the zippiest browser can start to feel a bit sluggish. Whether it’s due to a pile-up of extensions, un-optimized settings, or just the cruft of daily use, a slow browser can be a real drag on your productivity. The good news is that you don’t have to live with a laggy experience.

With a few simple adjustments, you can significantly speed up Microsoft Edge and get it running like new again. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the latest and most effective tweaks to boost Edge’s performance on your computer.

Leverage Edge’s Built-in Performance Tools

Microsoft has equipped Edge with some excellent, easy-to-use tools designed specifically to enhance performance. These should be your first stop when looking to speed up the browser.

Activate Sleeping Tabs

One of the most significant resource hogs for any modern browser is having numerous tabs open simultaneously. Each tab consumes memory and CPU cycles. Edge’s “Sleeping Tabs” feature is a brilliant solution to this problem.

Sleeping tabs automatically freezes background tabs after a set period of inactivity, releasing system resources for the tabs you are actively using. Here’s how to turn it on:

1. Go to Settings and more (…) > Settings.
2. Click on System and performance.
3. Ensure the toggle for Save resources with sleeping tabs is turned on.

You can also customize how long Edge waits before putting a tab to sleep and add specific sites to an exclusion list if you need them to always stay active.

Enable Efficiency Mode

Efficiency mode is another power-saving feature that helps to minimize power consumption by reducing background browser activity. This not only saves battery life on laptops but can also contribute to a snappier Browse experience by prioritizing resources for your active tabs.

To enable Efficiency mode:

1. Navigate to Settings > System and performance.
2. Under the Optimize Performance section, you can turn on Efficiency mode. You can choose to have it turn on when you’re unplugged or all the time.

Clear Your Browse Data Regularly

Like any browser, Microsoft Edge stores data from the websites you visit, including cached images, files, and cookies. While this cache is meant to speed up loading times on subsequent visits, it can become bloated and eventually slow things down. Regularly clearing this data can give Edge a fresh start.

How to Clear Your Cache

1. Click the three-dot menu (…) in the top-right corner and select History.
2. Click the three dots (…) within the History pane and select Clear Browse data.
3. In the pop-up window, select a Time range. For a thorough cleaning, choose All time.
4. Check the boxes for Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data.
5. Click Clear now.

A word of caution: Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites, so you’ll need to log back in.

Manage Your Extensions

Browser extensions can add powerful new features to Edge, but they can also be a significant drain on performance. Each extension you install consumes resources. It’s a good practice to periodically review your extensions and remove any you no longer use.

Audit and Disable Unnecessary Extensions

1. Click the three-dot menu (…) and go to Extensions.
2. Select Manage extensions.
3. Review your list of installed extensions. For any extension you don’t need, simply toggle it off or click Remove to uninstall it completely.

Try disabling extensions one by one to see if a particular one is causing a noticeable slowdown. Some extensions are more resource-intensive than others.

Fine-Tune Your Edge Settings

Beyond the primary performance features, there are a few other settings you can tweak to eke out some extra speed.

Disable Startup Boost

Startup boost keeps a minimal set of Microsoft Edge processes running in the background when the browser is closed. This allows Edge to launch more quickly. However, if you’re trying to conserve system resources when the browser isn’t open, you might want to disable this feature.

You can find the toggle for Startup boost under Settings > System and performance.

Stop Background Apps and Extensions

Even after you close Microsoft Edge, some extensions and apps might continue to run in the background. You can prevent this to free up your computer’s resources.

In the same System and performance settings page, turn off the toggle for Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed. For a direct link, you can use this URL: edge://settings/system.

Customize the New Tab Page

The default new tab page in Edge can be busy, with a news feed, quick links, and a background image. While visually appealing, this can consume resources. For a leaner, faster experience, you can simplify it.

1. Open a new tab.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page.
3. Select a layout like Focused or Inspirational, or choose Custom and turn off elements like the content feed and quick links for a truly minimalist new tab.

Keep Microsoft Edge Updated

Microsoft is continuously working to improve Edge’s performance. As of early 2025, updates to Edge’s architecture, known as WebUI 2.0, have led to significant speed improvements in various parts of the browser interface. Keeping your browser up to date ensures you have the latest performance enhancements and security patches.

Edge typically updates automatically, but you can manually check for an update by going to Settings > About Microsoft Edge. The browser will check for and install any available updates.

A Faster Browser Awaits

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to speed up Microsoft Edge. By following these simple tips—managing your tabs and extensions, clearing out old data, and tweaking a few key settings—you can enjoy a much faster and more responsive Browse experience. Take a few minutes to apply these changes, and you’ll likely notice an immediate improvement.