Microsoft Edge has a habit of sneaky-behaving in the background, which, honestly, can be a bit of a pain at times. If your laptop’s battery is draining quicker than usual or the system feels sluggish even when you’re not using it, it could be Edge doing its thing behind the scenes. Luckily, there’s an easy fix—just a few tweaks in Windows 11.
How to Stop Microsoft Edge from Running in the Background on Windows 11
This helps free up your system resources and can even squeeze a bit more battery life out of your laptop. It’s especially handy if you’ve noticed Edge updating or firing up on its own when you’re not even clicking on it. Essentially, disabling background activity stops Edge from doing its thing without your say-so, which can give your performance and battery a boost.
Step 1: Open Settings
Hit the Start menu, then click on Settings. Or just press Windows + I — way quicker and becomes second nature after a bit. This is where all the magic happens.
Step 2: Go to Apps
Inside Settings, find and click Apps. This section handles all your installed apps, from the browser to that random game you downloaded ages ago and forgot about.
Step 3: Click on Installed Apps
In the Apps menu, select Installed apps. It’s a list of everything on your PC. Fair dinkum, just scroll through and you’ll find Microsoft Edge pretty easy—especially if you know what to look for.
Step 4: Find Microsoft Edge
Keep scrolling until you see Microsoft Edge. Sometimes it’s in alphabetical order, sometimes you gotta hunt around a bit. Once you spot it, give it a click to open up its detailed settings. That’s where you can turn off the background stuff.
Step 5: Turn off Background Permissions
Click on Microsoft Edge, then look for the toggle titled Let this app run in the background. Flip it to Off. Easy as. Sometimes, after turning it off, a quick restart or signing out and back in helps, just to be sure. Windows can be a bit finicky like that.
Once done, Edge shouldn’t be running away in the background anymore. You’ll probably notice your laptop feels a bit nippier and maybe the battery lasts a smidge longer. Less resource gobbling, and your CPU isn’t babysitting a browser you’re not even using.
Tips for Stopping Microsoft Edge from Running in the Background on Windows 11
- Check for Windows and browser updates—sometimes these settings reset after updates or don’t stick straight away.
- Keep an eye on other background apps. You might want to disable some of those too.
- Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) now and then to see what’s running in the background or if Edge is still sneaking around despite the toggle.
- If you’re really cautious about it restarting, you can set Edge to “Exit” instead of “Minimise,” or even uninstall it if you don’t use it much. Not the best if Edge’s your default, but options are good to have.
- Have a squiz at Windows’ Privacy & Security settings; there are often deeper options to stop apps from running background tasks altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Microsoft Edge running in the background?
Because, of course, it’s updating, syncing, and managing notifications behind your back. That’s pretty much what browsers do these days—almost like they’re secretly working for the spy agencies, even if you’re not actively using them.
Will turning off Edge in the background affect how it runs when I open it?
Nah, it’ll still run fine when you click on it—it just won’t be working away in the background when you’re not looking. No stress.
Can I turn Edge back on in the background later?
Absolutely. Just head back into Settings, find Edge in Apps, and flick that toggle back on. Easy as.
Does stopping Edge from running in the background help save battery?
Yeah, it generally does—especially if you’re on a laptop. Less background stuff means more juice for what you really want to do.
Is it safe to stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background?
Too right. Your browser will still work fine whenever you open it; it just won’t keep doing its thing when you’re not using it.
Summary
- Open Settings (Start > Settings or Windows + I)
- Go to Apps
- Click on Installed apps
- Find Microsoft Edge
- Switch off Let this app run in the background
Hopefully this helps squeeze a bit more life out of your machine. Not sure why it works sometimes, but on my setup, turning off background apps actually made a difference. Might be worth giving it a go—your laptop might feel a little snappier and the battery might last a bit longer. Who doesn’t want that, right?