How to Switch Between Different Performance Levels in Microsoft Edge

|

|

Microsoft Edge, the default browser in Windows 11, now features an Efficiency mode aimed at extending battery life. Inactive tabs are put to sleep, ensuring less energy usage. Two sub-modes exist: Balanced savings, recommended by Microsoft, moderately conserves resources and seeks to prevent browsing slowdowns; Maximum savings, ideal for longer periods without power, conserves more…

This article explains using Balanced or Maximum savings with efficiency mode in the Microsoft Edge browser.

The Microsoft Edge browser is the default browser in Windows 11. However, users can switch to their preferred or favorite browser anytime. Edge is based on Chromium, similar to Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers today.

A new feature added to Edge is an Efficiency mode, designed to help extend battery life by putting inactive background tabs to sleep after 5 minutes or less if sleeping tabs is on.

There are two types of efficiency modes: Balanced savings and Maximum savings. Both methods help extend battery life or reduce energy costs.

Balanced Savings is the option that Microsoft recommends. It helps extend your battery life by saving computer resources. When your device is unplugged, reasonable steps are taken to save your battery. As a result, you should experience no or minor slowdowns when you browse. When your device reaches a low battery, additional steps are taken to save your battery. With these extra steps, you may experience visible slowdowns when browsing. For example, it may cause videos to be less smooth.

Maximum Savings is a good option when you can’t be connected to power for an extended period and need to conserve more battery life. With this setting, additional steps are taken to save your battery for the entire time you are unplugged. However, the changes to your browser will be the same as when different steps are taken in Balanced Savings while on low battery. As a result, you may experience some visible slowdowns when you browse.  

Use balanced or maximum savings with efficiency mode in Edge

As mentioned above, Efficiency mode is designed to help extend battery life by putting inactive background tabs to sleep after 5 minutes or less if sleeping tabs is on.

Here’s how to use a particular efficiency mode in Edge.

First, open the Microsoft Edge browser.

Then click on Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 horizontal dots button on the top right corner and select Settings.

Next, click on System and performance on the left panel.

Under Optimize Performance on the System and performance settings page, select the efficiency mode to use with Edge. The default mode is Balanced savings.

When connected to power, the setting for Turn on efficiency mode will be grayed out if Efficiency mode is not turned on.

Your changes should apply immediately. Exit and restart the Microsoft Edge browser.

Use Balanced or Maximum savings mode in Edge via the Windows Registry Editor

Alternatively, users can use the Windows registry editor to use a particular efficiency mode in Edge.

To do that, open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

If you don’t see the Edge folder key, right-click on the Microsoft parent key, then create the subkey (Edge) folder.

Once Edge efficiency mode is turned on above, you can follow the steps below to select a particular mode with Edge.

Right-click on the Edge folder key’s right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new item named EfficiencyMode.

Double-click the new item you created (EfficiencyMode) and make sure the Base option is Decimal, and then update the Value data:

  • To use balanced savings with efficiency mode, type 4.
  • To use maximum savings with efficiency mode, type 5.

That should do it. Restart your computer for the changes to apply.

That should do it!

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/learn-about-performance-features-in-microsoft-edge-7b36f363-2119-448a-8de6-375cfd88ab25

Conclusion:

This post showed you how to use balanced savings or maximum savings with efficiency mode in the Microsoft Edge browser.

If you find any errors above or have something to add, please use the comments form below.

Like this:



5 responses to “How to Switch Between Different Performance Levels in Microsoft Edge”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.