Fix: Microsoft Edge High Memory Usage On Windows 11

If your Windows 11 PC is acting sluggish and unresponsive, it can be because of high memory usage by Microsoft Edge.

Many Windows 11 users have reported this common problem where the Microsoft Edge browser consumes a large amount of memory, leading to a slow download in the system’s performance.

This article has some tricks to help you fix this problem and get your system running at peak performance.

Also read: Microsoft Edge Keeps Appearing On Desktop!

Which Factors Are Responsible For Causing The Edge Memory High Usage?

Table of Contents

Several factors can cause Edge memory high usage in Windows 11.

The most common reasons are listed below:

Too Many Browser Tabs Are Open At Once
Outdated Or Corrupt Drivers
Availability Of Browser Extensions And Plugins
Running Too Many Programs Simultaneously
Insufficient RAM Or Storage
Running Outdated Software

How To Fix The Microsoft Edge High Memory Usage In Windows 11?

Microsoft Edge is known to use the same Chromium Engine as that of the Chrome browser, so the CPU and RAM usage is exceptionally less.

But there’s a possibility of the Edge browser consuming more resources, and this is exactly where this article comes into play.

This write-up has offered a few suggestions that will help you get away with this issue.

Let’s get going!

1) Close Unused Tabs

Closing unused tabs will help free up the memory and reduce the overall memory load on your system, improving stability and reducing the risk of crashes or freezes.

Also, closing unused tabs helps improve browser performance by reducing the data the browser has to load and process.

To close the unused tabs in the Edge browser, right-click on the tab and select the “Close tab” option.

It is wise to close the unused tabs to keep memory usage under control and optimize your system’s performance.

If you need to open multiple tabs, use the “Enable Sleeping tabs” option.

2) Enable Efficiency Mode

Enabling the efficiency mode will help reduce Edge memory’s high usage in Windows 11 by limiting the resources the Edge browser can consume.

When this mode is enabled, the Edge browser starts prioritizing power efficiency over performance, which helps reduce memory usage and improves the overall system stability.

Thus, enabling efficiency mode is a simple and effective way to manage Edge memory high usage and optimize your Windows 11 PC’s performance.

To enable efficiency mode in Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:

First, open Microsoft Edge & click on the three-dot menu on the right.
Select Edge “Settings” from the drop-down list.

Navigate to the “System and Performance” tab.

Turn on the toggle button for Efficiency Mode under Optimize Performance.

3) Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is a feature that uses the computer’s graphics card to speed up certain tasks like playing videos or running animations.

While this feature improves the browser’s performance, it also causes Edge memory high usage on some systems.

Disabling hardware acceleration frees up memory and reduces the computer’s graphics card load.

To disable hardware acceleration in Microsoft Edge, follow the steps:

Open Edge settings and turn off the toggle button next to “Use hardware acceleration when available.”

Then, restart the Edge browser and check whether disabling it has helped you to deal with the issue.

4) Disable Startup Boost In Edge

The Startup Boost feature is a performance optimization tool that launches the Edge browser faster.

This feature helps to improve the browser’s startup time and causes Edge high memory usage on some systems.

Disabling the startup boost feature helps to reduce the load on your system’s memory & improve the system’s performance.

To disable the Startup boost in Microsoft Edge, perform the steps mentioned below:

Open Edge Settings.
Turn off the toggle that is present next to “Startup boost.”

5) Delete Unused Extensions

Browser extensions enhance the functionality of the Edge browser by adding new features or modifying existing ones.

But too many extensions installed can also lead to high memory usage, as each extension consumes a certain amount of memory when running.

Deleting unused extensions helps free up the memory and reduce the overall memory load on your system, improving system stability and reducing the risk of crashes or freezes.

This is how you can delete unused extensions in the Edge browser:

In Microsoft Edge, type “edge://extensions/in” in the URL bar and press “Enter.”

Take the help of the toggle to disable unwanted extensions, or click on the Remove button to uninstall them.

Restart Microsoft Edge after you have disabled or removed unwanted extensions and check if it solves the issue.

6) Update Microsoft Edge Browser

Updating the Microsoft Edge browser helps reduce Edge memory by fixing the unknown bugs and issues likely causing the problem.

Also, updating the browser ensures that you have the latest security patches and features that can help you to protect your Windows 11 PC from security threats and vulnerabilities.

Therefore, keeping the browser updated regularly is important to ensure optimal performance and reduce Edge memory’s high usage.

Here is how you can update the Microsoft Edge browser:

Open Edge settings.
Scroll down and click on “About Microsoft Edge” in the left pane.
From the right pane, look for Microsoft Edge to check for updates.

Wait for Windows to check and download your computer’s latest Microsoft Edge update.

7) Clear Browser Cache

The cache can help to improve the browser performance by reducing page load times, but it can also cause Edge memory high usage.

An excessive amount of browsing data is a common cause of browser-related issues.

Clearing the browser cache helps reduce it in Windows 11, as it will help free up memory and reduce the overall memory load on your system.

This will improve the system’s stability and reduce the risk of crashes or freezes.

This is how it can be done:

To open the “Clear browsing data” panel, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete.
Check the box which displays “Cached images and files” & click on the “Clear now” button.

Note: choosing the “Cookies and other site Data” option will sign you out from all the sites you have visited, removing your login credentials.

8) Enable Sleeping Tabs

The sleeping tab is a performance optimization tool that puts inactive tabs to sleep to reduce memory consumption.

When a tab is put to sleep, memory usage is reduced, freeing up memory and improving the system’s performance.

Once enabled, the inactive tabs will be put to sleep automatically after a specific period, reducing the high usage and improving the system’s performance.

Here is how it can be done:

Open Edge Settings.
Select “System and Performance.”
On the right pane, scroll down and move the toggle next to the “Fade Sleeping tabs.”

9) Disable Smart Screen For Microsoft Edge

The smart screen is a security feature built into the Edge and designed to protect against malicious websites and downloads.

It also uses a significant amount of memory and can likely cause Edge memory high usage on some systems.

Disabling this will help to free up memory and reduce the overall memory load on your system.

You should only disable it if you are confident enough to protect your system from malicious websites and downloads using other means.

This is how it can be done:

First, go to “Settings” and click “Update and Security.”
Next, select “Windows Security” on the left pane.
On the right pane, click on “Apps and Browser Control.”

Click on “Reputed-based protection settings” on the “Apps and Browsers Control” screen.

In the next screen, disable “Check Apps and Files” and “SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge.”

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Can Edge Memory High Usage Affect The Performance Of My Windows 11 PC?

Yes, Edge memory high usage can significantly affect the performance of your Windows 11 PC.

Is There A Way To Prevent Edge Memory High Usage In Windows 11?

Preventive measures like limiting the number of open tabs in your browser, disabling unnecessary browser extensions, and performing regular system maintenance tasks can prevent Edge memory from high usage in Windows 11.