What Is Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime (How to fix its issues and Reduce CPU Usage)

Should I uninstall Microsoft Edge Webview2 Runtime? I have noticed that this process runs in the background, resulting in decreased loading speeds and high CPU and RAM usage problems.

Before answering whether or not a user should uninstall Microsoft Edge WebView2, we will explain the Webview2 Runtime process and provide steps to disable it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/186rwbk/should_i_unistall_microsoft_edge_webview2_runtime/

What Is Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime?

WebView2 is a component required by certain applications, such as File Explorer PDF preview, Photos app, New Media Player, MS Office, etc., to function. It helps developers add web content to Windows desktop apps, allowing embedding web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into native applications. It uses Microsoft Edge as a rendering engine, is safe to use, and is not malware. It includes:

• A single browser process.
• Single or multiple render processes.
• Helper processes like GPU process and Audio service.

Microsoft Edge WebView2 comes pre-installed with Windows 11, while developers using Windows 10 need to install it.

Can I Delete Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime?

Unless you are facing critical issues because of Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime, uninstalling it is not advisable. If you remove it, Office add-ins, such as File Explorer’s PDF preview, New Media Player, and the Photos app, might not function properly.

Workable Ways  to Fix Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime Issues on Windows 11/10

Though we do not recommend disabling Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime, there are two ways to fix issues (if any) on Windows 10/11.

Method 1: Disable Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime Process

This method will temporarily disable the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime process. It will activate when an app requires the process to function. This method will help free up RAM/CPU for the time being. Here is how to do that:

Step 1: Right-click the Taskbar> select Task Manager to open it.
Step 2: Click on the Details tab in the left panel.

Step 3: Look for MSEdgeWebView2.exe in the list of processes and right-click on it to choose End Task.

This process will pause the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime process, but the process will restart if you run an app like Office or Photos.

Method 2: Uninstall Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime Process

The next method to remove the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime Process is to uninstall it using Command Prompt. Here is how to do that.

Note: Uninstalling the Edge WebView2 program might cause issues with Microsoft 365 apps, especially Outlook.

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box.
Step 2: Type “cmd” and press Ctrl +  Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt tool in Admin mode.

Step 3: Copy and paste the following command with the Enter key.

setup.exe –uninstall –msedgewebview –system-level –verbose-logging –force-uninstall

Step 4: Exit the Command prompt and restart your PC.

Note: To download the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime Process again, use the official link.

Bonus Tip: Use Advanced System Optimizer To Reduce CPU Usage

Advanced System Optimizer is an all-in-one PC optimizer app that can help users maintain their PCs and reduce CPU usage. This amazing app has many modules built-in that can help in various ways, like maintaining the Registry, optimizing hard disks, cleaning junk files, and much more. Here is how to use this app:

Step 1: Download and Install Advanced System Optimizer.

Step 2: Launch the app and click on Start Smart PC Care button.

Step 3: After completing the scan, click the Optimize button.

Step 4: Wait for the optimization process to complete and reboot your PC.

FAQ

1. Why do I have so many Microsoft Edge running in the background?

When you use the Microsoft Edge browser, each tab, extension, and plug-in runs its separate process; hence, you see multiple processes. However, if you are running the browser and still see it running, we suggest you update Edge or manually close the process from Task Manager. Due to a bug, the Close all Edge process is not working. Once the fix is released, you will no longer face this issue.

2. Is it safe to delete the Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime?

To run Office and other Microsoft apps, one should keep WebView 2 installed and running. However, if you face severe issues because of it, you can uninstall it using the steps explained above.

3. How do I stop Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime from installing?

To stop the automatic installation of WebView2 Runtime, follow these steps:
1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center (https://config.office.com) with an admin account.
2. Go to Customization > Device Configuration > Modern Apps Settings.
3. Select Microsoft Edge WebView2 > uncheck the box next to  Enable automatic installation of WebView2 Runtime.

Note—These steps will not uninstall the already installed WebView 2; they will only prevent further installation. Also, there are no policy settings that you can disable to avoid installing WebView 2 Runtime.

4. How do I stop Microsoft Edge WebView2 from running in the background?

To stop Microsoft Edge WebView 2 from running in the background, first close the process from Task Manager and then uninstall it.

Note – If any of the apps you are using require WebView2, you might face functionality issues with them after uninstalling them.

5. How do I stop Microsoft Edge from running automatically?

To prevent Microsoft Edge from running automatically follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open Windows Settings.
2. Select Accounts > Sign-in options.
3. Disable Automatically save my restartable apps when I sign out and restart them when I sign in option.

Have you Fixed the Issue?

We hope you have understood the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime process and how to disable this process. However, we recommend that you do not uninstall this tool from your PC, as Microsoft recommends. You can use Advanced System Optimizer to reduce your CPU usage rather than disabling the process.