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How to turn Fade inactive tabs on or off in Microsoft Edge

Richard
Written by
Richard
Jun 10, 2026 Updated Sep 15, 2026 2 min read
Browser window with dimmed tabs and glowing active tab
Browser window with dimmed tabs and glowing active tab

Fade inactive tabs in Microsoft Edge is a visual feature that dims sleeping web pages in your tab strip so you can spot which ones are saving memory. Microsoft Edge puts unused pages into a low-power mode and lowers their brightness by default to help your computer run better.

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You can turn this fade effect off in your browser settings if you prefer all open tabs to keep their normal brightness. Open Settings , select Appearance, and toggle the switch for fade inactive tabs to fit your preference.

⚡ Quick Answer

To turn off fading inactive tabs in Microsoft Edge, go to Settings , then System and performance, and finally Performance. Toggle off the “Fade inactive tabs” option. Your sleeping tabs will no longer appear faded.

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How to Stop Sleeping Tabs from Fading

To stop sleeping tabs from fading in Microsoft Edge, you need to change a setting in your browser. Fade inactive tabs is a visual feature that dims browser tabs when they go to sleep to save memory, but you can turn off this fading effect through the system and performance settings if you find it distracting.

  1. Open Microsoft Edge. Start by opening your browser.
  2. Go to the settings menu. Click the three dots ... in the top-right corner. This opens a menu.
  3. Choose “Settings.” In the menu, click on “Settings.”
  4. Find “System and performance.” In the Settings tab, look for “System and performance” on the left side. Click it.
  5. Go to the “Performance” section. Inside “System and performance” settings, find “Performance.” Click on it.
  6. Find the “Fade inactive tabs” option. Scroll down in the Performance settings. Look for a setting called “Fade inactive tabs.”
  7. Turn off the switch. This switch is probably “On” by default. Click the switch to turn it “Off.” The switch will move and might change color to show it’s off.
micrsoft edge browser more option and settings
micrsoft edge browser more option and settings
Microsoft Edge performance settings tile showing Sleeping Tabs option.
Microsoft Edge performance settings tile showing Sleeping Tabs option.
Microsoft Edge settings menu showing the 'Fade inactive tabs' option.
Microsoft Edge settings menu showing how to turn off fade inactive tabs.

Tabs that go to sleep will no longer appear faded after making this change. They match active tabs visually while continuing to conserve power in the background. Removing the faded look prevents visual distractions and maintains consistency across the browser window.

Summary

Managing the fade inactive tabs feature in Microsoft Edge lets you control how sleeping tabs look while saving system resources. You can easily turn this visual dimming effect on or off in the browser settings depending on whether you want a consistent appearance across all your open web pages.

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Richard

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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