How Do I Speed Up Microsoft Edge?

To significantly speed up Microsoft Edge, focus on maintaining an updated browser, managing browser data like cache and extensions, optimizing performance settings, and ensuring your system is free from issues like malware.

Microsoft Edge, like any web browser, can slow down over time due to accumulated data, numerous extensions, outdated software, or system-level issues. By systematically addressing these common culprits, you can restore its responsiveness and improve your browsing experience.

Essential Steps to Boost Edge Performance

Optimizing Microsoft Edge involves a series of practical adjustments, from routine maintenance to system-level checks. Here's a breakdown of the most effective methods:

1. Keep Microsoft Edge Updated

Regular updates are crucial for performance, security, and stability. Newer versions often include bug fixes, performance enhancements, and optimizations that can make your browser run faster.

• Why it helps: Updates fix known issues, introduce performance improvements, and patch security vulnerabilities that might otherwise slow down your browser or compromise your system.
• How to update:
  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. Click on the three-dot menu (… ) in the top-right corner.
  3. Go to Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
  4. Edge will automatically check for and install any available updates. You might need to restart the browser for changes to take effect.

2. Clear Edge Cache and Cookies

Your browser's cache and cookies store temporary data from websites to help them load faster on subsequent visits. However, an overloaded or corrupted cache can actually slow things down.

• Why it helps: Clearing old or corrupted data can free up space, resolve loading issues, and ensure you're getting the most current version of a website.
• How to clear:
  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 a time range (e.g., "All time").
  5. Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
  6. Click Clear now.

3. Turn Off or Delete Unnecessary Extensions

Browser extensions, while useful, consume system resources. Too many extensions, especially poorly coded ones, can significantly impact Edge's speed and memory usage.

• Why it helps: Disabling or removing extensions reduces the workload on your browser, freeing up CPU and RAM.
• How to manage extensions:
  1. Click the three-dot menu (… ) and go to Extensions > Manage extensions.
  2. Review your installed extensions.
  3. Toggle off any extensions you don't frequently use.
  4. For extensions you no longer need, click Remove.
  5. Consider using a tool like Microsoft Edge Browser Task Manager (Shift + Esc) to identify which extensions are consuming the most resources.

4. Reset Edge Settings

If performance issues persist, resetting Edge's settings can resolve underlying configuration problems without deleting your browsing history, favorites, or saved passwords.

• Why it helps: This reverts Edge to its default settings, which can fix issues caused by incorrect configurations or unwanted changes.
• How to reset:
  1. Click the three-dot menu (… ) and go to Settings.
  2. Navigate to Reset settings.
  3. Click Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm your decision by clicking Reset.

5. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration allows Edge to offload graphics-intensive tasks to your GPU, potentially speeding up browsing. However, on some systems or with certain graphics drivers, it can cause compatibility issues or even slow down performance.

• Why it helps: Disabling it can resolve display glitches, crashes, or slowdowns if your GPU or its drivers are causing conflicts.
• How to disable:
  1. Click the three-dot menu (… ) and go to Settings.
  2. Navigate to System and performance.
  3. Toggle off Use hardware acceleration when available.
  4. Restart Edge for the change to take effect.

6. Repair Microsoft Edge Browser

Windows provides a built-in option to repair or reset applications, including Edge. Repairing can fix minor issues without affecting your data, while resetting will reinstall the browser and clear all your data.

• Why it helps: This is a more drastic step than simply resetting settings and can resolve deeper browser file corruptions.
• How to repair (Windows 10/11):
  1. Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  2. Scroll down to find Microsoft Edge.
  3. Click on Microsoft Edge, then select Modify (or Advanced options if it's a UWP app).
  4. Choose Repair. If repairing doesn't work, Reset is the next option, but be aware this will delete your browsing data.

7. Flush Edge DNS Cache

While Edge doesn't have a separate, user-accessible "DNS cache" flush option within the browser itself, its performance heavily relies on the operating system's DNS cache. Flushing the system's DNS cache can resolve issues where your browser is connecting to outdated or incorrect IP addresses for websites, which can cause delays.

• Why it helps: Ensures your system fetches fresh DNS information, potentially speeding up website loading by connecting to the most current and optimal servers.
• How to flush system DNS cache:
  1. Search for Command Prompt in the Windows Start menu, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
  3. You should see a message confirming that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed.
  4. Restart Edge.

8. Check for Malware

Malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) can run in the background, consume system resources, and hijack your browser, leading to significant slowdowns and unwanted pop-ups.

• Why it helps: Removing malicious software frees up system resources and eliminates processes that interfere with Edge's normal operation.
• How to check:
  1. Run a full scan with your installed antivirus software (e.g., Windows Security).
  2. Consider using a specialized anti-malware tool like Malwarebytes for a second opinion scan, as it often catches things traditional antivirus might miss.
  3. Remove any detected threats and restart your computer.

Quick Fix Table for Common Edge Issues

Issue	Common Symptoms	Solution(s)
Slow startup/loading	Edge takes long to open or load pages.	Update Edge, Clear cache/cookies, Manage extensions, Check for malware.
Pages not loading correctly	Blank pages, broken layouts, errors.	Clear cache/cookies, Flush DNS cache, Reset Edge settings.
Frequent crashes/freezes	Edge becomes unresponsive, closes unexpectedly.	Update Edge, Disable hardware acceleration, Repair Edge, Check for malware.
Too many ads/pop-ups	Unwanted ads, redirected pages.	Manage extensions, Check for malware.
High resource usage	Edge uses too much CPU/RAM.	Manage extensions, Disable hardware acceleration.

By systematically applying these steps, you can significantly improve the speed and responsiveness of your Microsoft Edge browser, leading to a much smoother and more enjoyable online experience.