Is Microsoft Edge Running Slow? These Fixes Will Help Speed it up!

Are you tired of waiting for a web page to load on Microsoft Edge? Well, you are not alone. Several users have complained about the browser’s poor processing speed. While it is a successor to Internet Explorer, infamous for its poor performance, it is still not up to the mark compared to browsers like Chrome and Firefox for many users.

The Edge browser is the advanced version of Internet Explorer introduced by Microsoft. The issues users faced with Internet Explorer were targeted and improved in the latest browser by the company, the most prominent being speed.

You might have seen hundreds of memes about Internet Explorer being the slowest web browser, and just to clarify, it indeed was!

On the other hand, Edge is significantly faster and better, as the developers claim. If you are also concerned about your browser running slow, this post is certainly for you! We have brought you some amazing fixes to speed up your Edge browser in this one. Without further delay, let’s begin!

Why Microsoft Edge May Be Slow on Your PC

Before we start with ways to speed up your browser, let us understand why exactly Microsoft Edge is slowing down. There can be various reasons why the browser is slow and freezes. These include

1. Using an outdated version of Microsoft Edge.
2. Keeping Pre-load Tabs On in Settings
3. Using higher settings for tracking prevention
4. Opening up multiple tabs with other background applications.
5. Too many cookies and cache

All these issues might be the reason behind the slower performance of Microsoft Edge. Not to mention the system configuration of the PC you are using also plays a crucial role in the performance of your browser too. 

Ways to Fix Microsoft Edge Running Slow on Windows

Now, knowing about the factors that may be causing the error on your PC with Edge, it is time to look at some of the fixes that might help you out!

Fix #1 – Check for Browser Updates

Every software you use has a specific time frame within which it requires an update. That is because bugs can develop over time and cause overall performance issues, such as Microsoft Edge not responding.

The same goes for browsers. Thankfully, Edge comes from a trusted and reliable brand like Microsoft that prioritizes these bugs and fixes them to release the latest updates. However, it is still the duty of the user to ensure that the version of Edge they are using is up to date and keep looking for the latest version every 15-days or so.

If your browser was not slow before but has recently started slowing down, chances are that the bug has taken over. All you have to do is wait for a bug-fix update to be released, and your browser will be fine.

To check for updates, follow these two steps.

Step 1 – Open the browser settings from the drop-down menu in the top right corner.Step 2 – In settings, navigate to About Microsoft Edge from the left panel, and you will see the update status.

Fix #2 – Turn OFF Preload Tabs in Settings

Usually, there are a few tabs that your browser opens for you on launch to feed you important information or the ones that you have already set on launch. While it is a nifty feature to use, it often results in slower speeds on Microsoft Edge.

Since in a pre-loaded tab. all the information is fetched from the internet, loading them up might take some time, and hence, information on Microsoft Edge may appear open but not visible. Not to mention, the security features such as Tracking Prevention also impact the browser’s overall speed.

Use the following steps to tone down the pre-loaded tabs feature to enhance the speed of slow-running Microsoft Edge.

Step 1 – Open the settings of your Edge browser from the drop-down menu you can find under the three-dotted button in the top right corner of your screen.Step 2 – In settings, navigate to Start, home, and New tab options from the left panel.Step 3 – In the Start, home, and New tabs settings, scroll down to find settings for preloading the tab is ON. Toggle it OFF.

Fix #3 – Change Settings for Tracking prevention

Tracking prevention is a setting that drives off unnecessarily prying websites from tracking your internet usage. It saves you a lot of time and helps you avoid being targeted for ads and campaigns. 

To tune tracking prevention settings, simply follow the given steps. 

Step 1 – Open the settings of your Edge browser
Step 2 – In settings, navigate to Privacy, Search & Services options from the left panel.Step 3 – In the Privacy, Search, & Services options, You will find the toggle for Tracking Prevention with presets.
Step 4 – If the Strict preset is selected, change it to balanced, as the strict setting takes up a lot of memory and may slow the browser down.

Fix #4 – Close Unnecessary Background Apps

Unlike any other application on your PC, Microsoft Edge also requires memory management. If your PC is low on memory, you will witness lags and jerks like microsoft edge not displaying web pages correctly while using the browser. Hence, stop unnecessary backgrounds and avoid keeping multiple tabs open when they are not in use.

Here’s what you can do –

Step 1 – Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager
Step 2 – In the Task Manager, look for processes that use higher memory by sorting the processes based on memory use. Step 3 – Right-click on the application to end the task for apps you are not using. This will free up much memory, allowing your browser to run better. In case you are using the browser, make sure you close unnecessary tabs. 

Fix #5 – Clear Cookies & Cache

If the Microsoft Edge slowing down error has recently appeared on your PC, chances are that your browser is full of caches and cookies that need to be cleared. To delete cache in Microsoft Edge, simply – 

Step 1 – Open settings on your Edge browser.
Step 2 – In settings, navigate to Privacy, Searches, and Services option from the left panel.Step 3 – Scroll down to find the Clear Browsing Data option. Step 4 – Click on Choose what to clear and select all the boxes to remove the data completely. Step 5 – Click on Clear Now to remove all the data instantly.

Once you have clicked on it, the entire data is removed instantly.

Fix #6 – Flush Edge DNS

If loading time is what you are worried about, the best way to speed up all the websites on your Edge browser is by clearing the DNS on your browser. It helps you load pages faster, making everything appear snappier.

To flush Edge DNS, all you have to do is –

Step 1 – Launch Edge Browser.
Step 2 – Use the Address Bar to navigate to – edge://net-internals/#dns.

Step 3 – On the navigation, you will find the Clear Host DNS button on your screen.

Click on the same, and you’re good to go! With the slower DNS out of your way, your browser’s speed is bound to increase!

Pro Tip – Remove Hidden Traces of Caches & Cookies for Boosting Browser Performance

In case the above fixes do not speed up the browser to your expectations, there’s one more thing you can try, i.e, Advanced System Optimizer. 

It is a tool that allows you to remove hidden taxes and other browsing data that might be causing the browser to slow down, Here’s how the tool works – 

Step 1 – Download the Advanced System Optimizer from the link below.

Step 2 – Run the application and navigate to Security and Privacy from the left panel.

Step 3 – Click on Privacy Protector to open the module that scans your PC for hidden traces and browser history.

Step 4 – Click on Start Privacy Scan & Let it search for all the hidden traces on your PC.

Step 5 – Let the Scan Finish. Once the scan is over, you will find the results listed as below.

Step 6 –  Click on Clean, and the process of removing the traces will begin!

Step 7 – Let the process continue. Once it ends, you will get a final summary of the entire process.

Relaunch your Microsoft Edge browser, and you will find an instant boost in the overall speed of your browser. 

Other than these fixes, you always have the option to repair the installed copy in Windows 11. You can also try to uninstall and reinstall the browser to ensure that there are no system bugs that are causing the issue.

With that, we have reached the end of this post. We hope these fixes help you speed up your Microsoft Edge. The browser still has a long way to go, as the bugs keep playing with its speed. However, it has a lot of potential. 

If you have any queries about the fixes shared in this post, feel free to reach out via the comments section. We will be happy to resolve them for you! 

That is all for this one. Good luck!

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