How to Stop Edge from Running in the Background? [Easy Steps]
Stopping Edge from running in the background is especially useful for people who want to reduce RAM usage, improve laptop battery life, or speed up their system performance. Many of you notice that Microsoft Edge continues running even after you close the browser window.
This happens because the browser is designed to keep certain services active in the background to improve performance, notifications, and extension functionality. While this feature can make the browser start faster, it also consumes system memory, CPU resources, and battery power.
In this guide, I will explain how to stop Edge from running in the background using simple methods.
Let’s start the process!
How to Stop Edge from Running in the Background?
To stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background, open Edge and go to Settings. Navigate to System and Performance, then turn off the option called Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed. After disabling this setting, Edge will completely shut down when you close the browser.
The steps below will guide you through the complete process.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge Browser
The first step is to launch Microsoft Edge on your computer.
Click the Start menu and search for Microsoft Edge, or simply open it from the taskbar if it is pinned there. Once the browser launches, wait until the homepage fully loads.
You must open the browser because the option to stop background activity is located inside the Edge Settings menu. This setting cannot be accessed from Windows system settings.
If you already have Edge open, you can proceed directly to the next step.
Step 2: Open the Edge Settings Menu
After opening the browser, locate the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the Edge window. This icon is often called the More menu.
Click on the three dots to open a drop-down menu containing several options related to browsing, privacy, and browser configuration.
From the menu, click on Settings. This will open the Microsoft Edge Settings page, where you can control various browser features such as privacy, appearance, startup behavior, and performance.
The Settings page usually opens in a new tab inside the browser.
Step 3: Go to System and Performance Settings
Inside the Settings page, look at the left sidebar where different categories are displayed.
Find and click on the section called System and Performance. This area contains options related to browser performance, hardware acceleration, and background activity.
Once you click this section, the main page will show several settings that control how Edge behaves when it is running or closed.
Scroll slightly until you locate the setting related to background apps and extensions.
Step 4: Disable Background Extensions and Apps
In the System and Performance section, you will find an option called Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.
This setting is usually enabled by default, which is why Edge continues running even after you close the browser.
Click the toggle switch next to this option to turn it off. When the switch is disabled, Edge will stop running extensions and apps in the background after you exit the browser.
Once you disable this option, the change takes effect immediately. The next time you close Edge, it will completely stop all background processes.
This is the most effective way to prevent Edge background activity.
Step 5: Restart Microsoft Edge
Although the setting applies instantly, it is recommended to restart the browser to ensure that all existing background processes are closed.
Close the Edge browser completely and wait a few seconds. Then reopen it once to allow the browser to reload with the new configuration.
After restarting, close the browser again.
Now open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc and check if any Edge processes are still running. In most cases, you will see that Edge no longer runs in the background.
Step 6: Disable Edge Startup Boost
Some versions of Edge include a feature called Startup Boost, which allows the browser to preload processes in the background so that it launches faster.
If you want to completely stop Edge from running when not in use, it is a good idea to disable this feature as well.
Open Edge Settings again and go to System and Performance. Look for the option called Startup Boost.
Turn off the toggle switch next to this option. Disabling Startup Boost prevents Edge from loading background services when Windows starts.
This step helps reduce unnecessary resource usage.
Step 7: Check Task Manager for Background Processes
To confirm that Edge is no longer running in the background, open Task Manager on your computer.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager. Then click on the Processes tab.
Scroll through the list and look for any processes named Microsoft Edge or msedge.exe.
If the settings were configured correctly, there should be no Edge processes running when the browser is closed. This confirms that the browser is no longer consuming system resources in the background.
FAQs
Why does Microsoft Edge keep running in the background?
Microsoft Edge runs in the background to support features such as notifications, extensions, and faster startup times. The browser keeps certain processes active so that these features work even when the browser window is closed.
Does stopping Edge background processes improve performance?
Yes, disabling background activity can help reduce RAM usage and CPU consumption. This is especially helpful on systems with limited memory or older hardware.
Will disabling background apps affect browser functionality?
Disabling background apps does not affect normal browsing. The only difference is that extensions and notifications will not run when Edge is closed. Once you reopen the browser, everything will function normally again.
Is it safe to disable Edge background activity?
Yes, it is completely safe. This option only changes how the browser behaves after it is closed. It does not affect browser security or core functionality.
Why do I still see Edge processes in Task Manager?
Sometimes you may briefly see Edge processes after closing the browser because Windows is shutting them down. If the background setting is disabled, these processes will disappear within a few seconds.