Microsoft Edge is the default web browser on Windows 10. It’s a good browser, but it’s definitely not perfect. One common complaint is that it’s slow. Although the new Microsoft Edge is much improved, some users still report performance issues, especially when compared to other browsers like Google Chrome.
Microsoft Edge might be slow for several reasons. Your computer could lack the power to run the resource-heavy browser, or there might be issues with the browser itself. Luckily, a few strategies can help speed up Microsoft Edge.
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1. Force Stop and Relaunch the Browser
The first thing I do if Microsoft Edge is slow is force stop the browser and then relaunch it. This clears out temporary files or data that might cause issues.
To force stop Microsoft Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Find Microsoft Edge under the Processes tab, click on it, and then click the End Task button at the bottom right. There can be multiple instances of Microsoft Edge running, so make sure to end each one.
After force stopping Microsoft Edge, relaunch it by clicking the icon in your taskbar or Start menu.
2. Clear Cache and Browsing Data
Too much stored data in your browser’s cache can slow down performance. While this data helps load websites faster, having an excess can cause the opposite effect.
Click the menu button (three dots) at the window’s top right corner in Microsoft Edge. Hover over Settings > Cookies and site permissions. Press “Manage and delete cookies and site data” on the new page.
Under the Cookies and site data section, click See all cookies and site data. A new tab will display all stored cookies and site data. To delete everything, click Remove all at the top right.
If you don’t want to delete everything, click on the individual cookies and site data to remove them.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Del to access the Clear browsing data menu. This shortcut opens the same window as before, but with extra options.
3. Get Rid of the Extensions
Browser extensions are an excellent way to customize and boost your web experience. Too many add-ons or poorly optimized ones can, however, slow down your browser.
To view installed extensions in Microsoft Edge, click the Menu, then go to Extensions > Manage Extensions. You can also type “edge://extensions/” into the address bar to open the extensions window.
This opens a new tab listing all your browser’s installed extensions. Toggle the switch next to an extension to turn it off. Click the Remove button to delete it completely.
Update your extensions regularly to keep them compatible with the latest version of Microsoft Edge.
4. Alter the Tracking Prevention Modes
The new Edge browser includes a feature called Tracking Prevention. This privacy tool blocks third-party trackers from collecting your data while you browse the web.
Tracking Prevention boosts your browsing privacy but might slow down Microsoft Edge. The browser works harder to block trackers, particularly in “Strict” mode, which blocks most of them.
To change the Tracking Prevention mode in Microsoft Edge, click the menu button and go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
Under “Privacy, search, and services,” find “Tracking prevention.” You can choose from three modes: Basic, Balanced, and Strict.
Choose the basic mode for better speed. Try the Balanced mode for a mix of privacy and performance. Or, you can turn it off by pressing the toggle switch.
5. Update the Browser
You might be using an older version of Microsoft Edge, causing slow performance. Older browsers can become outdated and might not fully benefit from the latest web technologies. Updating can resolve these issues and improve your browsing experience.
Click the menu button in Microsoft Edge and go to Settings > About Microsoft Edge. A new tab will show details about your browser. If an update is available, an “Update now” button will appear under “About Microsoft Edge”. Click it to download and install the updates.
After installing the update, restart your browser to apply the changes.
6. Reset Microsoft Edge
If nothing else has worked, try resetting Microsoft Edge. This will delete all your browser data, including your history, cookies, and saved passwords. It will also disable any installed extensions.
Click the menu button in Microsoft Edge, then go to Settings > Reset settings.
Click on “Restore settings to their default values” in the new tab. A window will open for confirmation. Click “Reset” to reset Microsoft Edge.
Once done, restart your browser and check if the problem is fixed.
7. Run an SFC Scan
Sometimes, Microsoft Edge slows down because of a corrupted system file. To fix this, run an SFC scan.
SFC is a built-in Windows tool that scans for and fixes corrupt system files. To run an SFC scan, open the Start menu, search for “Command Prompt”, right-click it, and select “Run as administrator”.
In the Command Prompt, type the command below and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
This will start scanning your system for corrupt files. The process can take some time, so be patient.
8. Switch to a Different Browser
If Microsoft Edge remains slow after trying all solutions, it might be time to switch to another browser. There are many good alternatives, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Brave Browser.
Download and install your desired browser. Once installed, you can export your Edge data like history, cookies, and saved passwords to the new browser. For the best experience, I suggest starting fresh.