How To Fix Microsoft Edge Running Slow On Windows 11: 10 Solutions

Why Does Microsoft Edge Slow Down?

Microsoft Edge can slow down for a few common reasons. Too many browser add-ons or extensions can use up your computer’s resources. Also, old temporary files and cookies can build up over time, taking up space and making the browser sluggish.

• Too many add-ons: Browser add-ons are small programs that add features. They run in the background and use your computer’s memory and power. Having too many can slow down your computer and Edge.
• Old temporary files and cookies: Edge saves temporary files (called cache) to make websites load faster. Over time, this cache can become very large or get corrupted. Bad cookies can also cause issues.
• Graphics settings: Your computer uses graphics power to show web pages. Sometimes, this feature can cause problems and actually slow things down instead of speeding them up.
• Too many open tabs: Every open tab uses memory. If you have many tabs open, your computer has to work much harder.
• Outdated browser version: Microsoft regularly releases updates for Edge. These updates fix problems, improve speed, and fix security issues. Using an old version means you miss out on these improvements.
• Tracking prevention settings: This feature helps protect your privacy by blocking websites from tracking you. However, if it’s set too strictly, it can slow down how quickly pages load.

Now that you know what might be causing the problem, let’s fix it.

Solution 1: Restart Microsoft Edge Completely

Restarting Microsoft Edge completely can often fix slowdowns by clearing out its memory. This action removes temporary data that might be causing performance issues, helping your browser run faster on Windows 11.

How to restart Edge:

1. Close all Edge windows. Make sure they are fully closed, not just minimized.
2. Wait for five seconds.
3. Click the Windows ⊞ Start button.
4. Type “Microsoft Edge” in 🔍 the search bar.
5. Click the Edge icon to open it again.

After restarting, try visiting a few websites to see if your browsing speed has improved.

Solution 2: Update Microsoft Edge to the Latest Version

Keeping Microsoft Edge updated is important because new versions often include fixes for speed problems and improve overall performance. Updating ensures you have the latest improvements and security patches for a smoother browsing experience.

How to update Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Help and feedback.”
4. Click “About Microsoft Edge.”

Microsoft Edge automatically checks for and installs browser updates to improve performance and security. After an update finishes, users often need to restart the Edge browser for the new version to take effect. This ensures the browser operates with its latest improvements.

The version number will be shown on this page. After updating, check the version number again to make sure it has changed.

You can also update Edge through the Microsoft Store app if the manual method doesn’t work:

1. Click the Windows ⊞ Start button.
2. Type “Microsoft Store” and open it.
3. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
4. Select “App settings.”
5. Turn on “Update apps automatically.”

Updating Microsoft Edge ensures the browser runs efficiently. Search for "Microsoft Edge" in the Microsoft Store and click the "Update" button if a newer version exists. This action installs the latest improvements and fixes, preventing performance issues like slowness.

Solution 3: Disable Extensions That You Don’t Use

Speed up Microsoft Edge by disabling extensions you no longer use. These add-ons run in the background and consume your computer’s power, so turning them off can free up resources and improve browser speed.

How to manage extensions in Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Extensions.”
4. Click “Manage extensions.”

Installed add-ons appear in a list within Microsoft Edge. For each add-on not used regularly, click the switch beside the add-on’s name to turn it off. Users can always re-enable these add-ons later if they change their mind.

It’s the add-ons themselves that can slow down the browser. Try disabling them one by one to pinpoint the culprit. After disabling an add-on, test your browser speed. If it improves, you’ve found your problem add-on. If not, re-enable it and move on to the next one.

Some common add-ons that can cause slowness are:

• Antivirus add-ons (they check every webpage).
• VPN add-ons (they send your internet traffic through an encrypted connection).
• Multiple ad blockers running at the same time.
• Password managers (though good ones are usually efficient).
• Price comparison tools (they check product prices on shopping sites).

Browser add-ons consume computer resources. If a browser add-on has not been used for 30 days, disable the add-on. Users can re-enable disabled add-ons at any time.

Solution 4: Clear Cache and Cookies

Clearing out old cache and cookies from Microsoft Edge can fix slowdowns caused by corrupted files. This process also frees up storage space on your computer, which can contribute to better browser performance.

How to clear cache and cookies:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Del on your keyboard. This opens the “Clear browsing data” window.
3. Alternatively, click the three dots (Menu), then select “Settings.”
4. Click “Privacy, search, and services” on the left side.
5. Under “Clear browsing data,” click “Choose what to clear.”
6. A small window will appear.
7. Check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
8. In the “Time range” dropdown menu, select “All time” to clear everything.
9. Click “Clear now.”

Initially, websites will load slower after clearing your browser data because Microsoft Edge needs to re-download files. However, subsequent visits will be much faster, and overall browsing speed should improve within a day or two.

Be aware that clearing website cookies will log you out of online services. You’ll need to log back into sites like email, social media, and banking platforms. This happens because cookies store your login details, like usernames and passwords, on your computer.

Solution 5: Disable Graphics Acceleration

If Microsoft Edge is running slow, try turning off graphics acceleration. This setting makes your computer’s main processor handle graphics tasks instead of the graphics card, which can sometimes improve performance.

How to disable graphics acceleration in Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Click “System and performance” on the left side.
5. Scroll down and find the “Graphics acceleration” toggle.
6. Click the toggle to turn it OFF. It should turn gray.

Restart Edge for the change to take effect.

Turning off graphics acceleration in Microsoft Edge can speed up browsing. Test your browsing speed after disabling this feature. If Microsoft Edge becomes faster, keep graphics acceleration off. If no speed improvement occurs after a few hours, reactivate graphics acceleration and proceed to the next troubleshooting step.

Solution 6: Enable Efficiency Mode

Enabling Efficiency Mode in Microsoft Edge helps prevent it from using too many computer resources. This makes your system feel faster and allows other applications to run more smoothly.

How to enable Efficiency Mode:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Click “System and performance” on the left side.
5. Find “Efficiency mode” and click the toggle to turn it ON. It should turn blue.

Windows 11 battery saver mode turns on automatically when the device’s battery level drops below 20 percent. This feature conserves power by reducing background activity and visual effects.

Close and restart Edge.

You might not notice a big difference in browsing speed, but the benefit is that your computer will perform better overall, especially when it’s handling many tasks.

Solution 7: Disable Preloading the New Tab Page

You can free up computer power and memory by disabling the preloading of new tab pages in Microsoft Edge. This stops the browser from using resources in the background, which can help your other tasks run faster.

How to disable preloading:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Click “Start, home, and new tabs” on the left side.
5. Scroll down and find “Preload new tab page for a faster experience.”
6. Click the toggle to turn it OFF. It should turn gray.

Close and restart Edge.

This is a small change, but when combined with other fixes, it can contribute to a noticeably faster browsing experience.

Solution 8: Switch Tracking Prevention to Basic

Switching Microsoft Edge’s tracking prevention to the Basic setting can help web pages load faster. This is because the Basic setting blocks fewer trackers compared to the Strict option, reducing the work the browser needs to do.

How to change tracking prevention:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Click “Privacy, search, and services” on the left side.
5. Under “Tracking prevention,” you will see three options: Balanced, Basic, and Strict.
6. Click the “Basic” option. It should show as selected.

Close and restart Edge.

Switching Microsoft Edge tracking prevention from Basic to Balanced can fix websites not loading correctly. For the highest privacy, users can select Strict, accepting potential slowness. For version 118 of Microsoft Edge, the best setting often balances your need for speed with your desire for privacy.

Solution 9: Reset DNS and Clear Network Cache

Resetting your computer’s DNS and clearing its network cache can fix Microsoft Edge slowdowns that stem from network issues. This process helps your computer find websites more efficiently, resolving potential connectivity problems.

Your computer uses DNS (Domain Name System) to store website names and their internet addresses. Over time, inaccuracies in this list can lead to slow performance. Flushing the DNS list removes old information, prompting your computer to fetch new, correct address data and thus improve internet speed.

How to clear DNS cache in Windows 11:

1. Right-click the Windows ⊞ Start button.
2. Select “Windows Terminal (Admin).” This requires administrator privileges.
3. Type the following command exactly:
   
4. Press Enter.

You should see a message saying, “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

Close the terminal window.

Restart Microsoft Edge.

If you don’t see “Windows Terminal (Admin),” you can use Command Prompt instead. Right-click the Windows Start button and look for “Command Prompt (Admin).” The word “Admin” means you have permission to make system changes.

1. Right-click the Windows ⊞ Start button.
2. Type “Command Prompt” in 🔍 the search box.
3. 🖱️ Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.” This requires administrator privileges.
4. Type the same command:
   
5. Press Enter.

Close the window.

Solution 10: Reset Edge Settings to Default

Resetting Microsoft Edge settings to default values fixes slowdowns caused by incorrect custom configurations. This process restores the browser to its original state, like when you first installed it, reverting all custom changes.

How to reset Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Click “Reset settings” on the left side.
5. Click “Restore settings to their default values.”
6. A confirmation pop-up will appear asking if you are sure.
7. Click “Reset” to confirm.

Edge will restart automatically.

After the reset, Edge will look like a fresh installation. Your homepage and startup pages will change, and your theme might change. But performance often improves greatly. You can re-customize the settings afterward if you wish.

Advanced Solution: Check for Malware and Browser Hijackers

If Microsoft Edge remains slow, it’s important to check for malware or browser hijackers. Hidden harmful software can consume your computer’s resources, causing performance issues in your browser.

How to scan for malware:

1. Click the Windows ⊞ Start button.
2. Type “Windows Defender” or “Windows Security.”
3. Click “Windows Security” to open it.
4. Click “Virus & threat protection” on the left side.
5. Click “Scan options.”
6. Select “Full scan.”
7. Click “Scan now.”

This scan can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on how much data you have on your computer.

If threats are found, Windows Security will usually remove them automatically.

Restart your computer when prompted.

If Windows Defender doesn’t find anything, but you still suspect malware, you can download a program like Malwarebytes to help clean your computer.

Summary

If Microsoft Edge is running slowly on Windows 11, try restarting it, updating, disabling extensions, clearing cache, and adjusting settings like graphics acceleration or Efficiency Mode.