How to Fix a Slow Microsoft Edge on Win­dows 10 and Win­dows 11

Microsoft Edge is supposed to be fast. But sometimes, for no clear reason, it crawls. Pages hang. Videos stutter. Tabs freeze. You’re not alone—this happens to a lot of people on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The good news? You can usually speed Edge up with just a few quick fixes.

Here’s what to do:

1. Close Extra Tabs and Background Apps

Edge eats up RAM when you have dozens of tabs open. Other programs running in the background make things worse.
What to do:

• Close tabs you don’t need.
• Quit other apps, especially heavy ones like Photoshop or games.

2. Clear Browsing Data

A bloated browser history, cookies, and cached files can slow Edge down.
How:

• Click the three dots (top right) → Settings → Privacy, search, and services.
• Under Clear browsing data, hit Choose what to clear.
• Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”.
• Click Clear now.

3. Turn Off Unneeded Extensions

Extensions are handy, but too many slow down your browser.
How:

• Go to the three dots → Extensions.
• Toggle off or remove extensions you don’t use.

4. Update Edge and Windows

Old versions can be buggy and slow.
How:

• Open Edge. Three dots → Help and feedback → About Microsoft Edge. It’ll update automatically if needed.
• To update Windows, hit Start, type “Windows Update,” and follow the prompts.

5. Disable or Limit Startup Boost

Startup Boost keeps Edge running in the background for faster launches. But on low-end PCs, it can slow everything else down.
How:

• Settings → System and performance.
• Turn off Startup boost.

6. Check for Malware

Sometimes, a slow browser means your PC has unwanted guests.
How:

• Open Windows Security (type it in the Start menu).
• Go to Virus & threat protection → Quick scan.
• Use another trusted antivirus for a second opinion if needed.

7. Reset Edge

If nothing else works, resetting Edge can solve deep-rooted problems.
How:

• Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their default values.

Note: This will disable extensions and clear temporary data, but your bookmarks and saved passwords stay.

8. Try Hardware Acceleration

Sometimes, hardware acceleration helps—other times it makes things worse. Try toggling it.
How:

• Settings → System and performance.
• Toggle Use hardware acceleration when available off (or on if it’s off). Restart Edge.

Final Thoughts

A slow Edge browser doesn’t mean your PC is doomed. Most fixes are quick and don’t need any tech skills. Start with the basics and work your way down the list. If nothing helps, consider switching browsers—or, as a last resort, a clean Windows reinstall.

If you’ve got a tip or found a fix that worked for you, drop a comment below!

Want more tips? Bookmark our blog and stay tuned for more Windows fixes.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!