Is Microsoft Edge Running Slow? These Fixes Will Help Speed it up!

The Edge browser is the advanced version of Internet Explorer introduced by Microsoft. The issues users faced with Internet Explorer were targeted and improved in the latest browser by the company, the most prominent being speed.

You might have seen hundreds of memes on Internet Explorer being the slowest web browser, and just to clarify, it indeed was! 

On the other hand, Edge is significantly faster and better.

However, since it is deeply rooted in the operating system, sometimes the performance of Windows dictates the speed of the browser. Hence, many users have to go through Microsoft Edge, running slowly. 

If you are also concerned about your browser running slow, this post is certainly for you! We have brought you some amazing fixes to speed up your Edge browser in this one. Without further delay, let’s begin!

Why is Microsoft Edge So Slow?

Before we start with ways to speed up your browser, let us understand why exactly Microsoft Edge is slowing down. There can be various reasons why microsoft edge is slow and freezes. These include

1. Using an outdated version of Microsoft Edge.
2. Keeping Pre-load Tabs On in Settings
3. Using higher settings for tracking prevention
4. Opening up multiple tabs with other background applications.
5. Too many cookies and cache

All these issues might be the reason behind the slower performance of Microsoft Edge. Not to mention the system configuration of the PC you are using also plays a crucial role in the performance of your browser too. 

Ways to Fix Microsoft Edge Running Slow on Windows

To fix the issues mentioned in the previous section, go through the following ways. You can try them out in any order.

Fix #1 – Check for Browser Updates

There are times when an application has bugs in it. These bugs can develop over time and cause overall performance issues such as microsoft edge not responding. The same goes for the browser. Thankfully, Edge comes from a trusted and reliable brand like Microsoft that prioritizes these bugs and fixes them to release the latest updates.

If your browser was not slow before but has recently started slowing down, chances are that the bug has taken over. All you have to do is wait for a bug-fix update to be released, and your browser will be fine. 

To check for updates, follow these two steps.

Step 1 – Open the browser settings from the drop-down menu in the top right corner.Step 2 – In settings, navigate to About Microsoft Edge from the left panel, and you will see the update status.

Fix #2 – Turn OFF Preload Tabs in Settings

Since in a pre-loaded tab. all the information is fetched from the internet, loading them up might take some time, and hence, information on Microsoft Edge may appear open but not visible. Not to mention, the security features such as Tracking Prevention also impact the browser’s overall speed.

Use the following steps to tone the pre-loaded tabs feature down to enhance the speed of slow-running Microsoft Edge.

Step 1 – Open the settings of your Edge browser from the drop-down menu you can find under the three-dotted button in the top right corner of your screen.Step 2 – In settings, navigate to Start, home, and New tab options from the left panel.Step 3 – In the Start, home, and New tabs settings, scroll down to find settings for preloading the tab is ON. Toggle it OFF.

Fix #3 – Change Settings for Tracking prevention

Tracking prevention is a setting that drives off unnecessarily prying websites from tracking your internet usage. It saves you a lot of time and helps you avoid being targeted for ads and campaigns. 

To tune tracking prevention settings, simply follow the given steps. 

Step 1 – Open the settings of your Edge browser
Step 2 – In settings, navigate to Privacy, Search & Services options from the left panel.Step 3 – In the Privacy, Search, & Services options, You will find the toggle for Tracking Prevention with presets.
Step 4 – If the Strict preset is selected, change it to balanced, as the strict setting takes up a lot of memory and may slow the browser down.

Fix #4 – Close Unnecessary Background Apps

Unlike any other application on your PC, Microsoft Edge also requires memory management. If your PC is low on memory, you will witness lags and jerks like microsoft edge not displaying web pages correctly while using the browser. Hence, stop unnecessary backgrounds and avoid keeping multiple tabs open when they are not in use.

Here’s what you can do –

Step 1 – Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager
Step 2 – In the Task Manager, look for processes that use higher memory by sorting the processes based on memory use. Step 3 – Right-click on the application to end the task for apps you are not using. This will free up much memory, allowing your browser to run better. In case you are using the browser, make sure you close unnecessary tabs. 

Fix #5 – Clear Cookies & Cache

If the Microsoft Edge slowing down error has recently appeared on your PC, chances are that your browser is full of caches and cookies that need to be cleared. To delete cache in microsoft edge, simply – 

Step 1 – Open settings on your Edge browser.
Step 2 – In settings, navigate to Privacy, Searches, and Services option from the left panel.Step 3 – Scroll down to find the Clear Browsing Data option. Step 4 – Click on Choose what to clear and select all the boxes to remove the data completely. Step 5 – Click on Clear Now to remove all the data instantly.

Once you have clicked on it, the entire data is removed instantly.

Pro Tip – Remove Hidden Traces of Caches & Cookies for Boosting Browser Performance

In case the above fixes do not speed up the browser to your expectations, there’s one more thing you can try, i.e, Advanced System Optimizer. 

It is a tool that allows you to remove hidden taxes and other browsing data that might be causing the browser to slow down, Here’s how the tool works – 

Step 1 – Download the Advanced System Optimizer from the link below.

Step 2 – Run the application and navigate to Security and Privacy from the left panel.

Step 3 – Click on Privacy Protector to open the module that scans your PC for hidden traces and browser history.

Step 4 – Click on Start Privacy Scan & Let it search for all the hidden traces on your PC.

Step 5 – Let the Scan Finish. Once the scan is over, you will find the results listed as below.

Step 6 –  Click on Clean, and the process of removing the traces will begin!

Step 7 – Let the process continue. Once it ends, you will get a final summary of the entire process.

Relaunch your Microsoft Edge browser, and you will find an instant boost in the overall speed of your browser. 

With that, we have reached the end of this post. We hope these fixes help you speed up your Microsoft Edge. The browser still has a long way to go, as the bugs keep playing with its speed. However, it has a lot of potentials. 

If you have any queries about the fixes shared in this post, feel free to reach out via the comments section. We will be happy to resolve them for you! 

That is all for this one. Good luck!

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