We‘ve all been there – you‘re trying to get some work done or browse the web, but your Microsoft Edge browser is moving at a snail‘s pace. It‘s frustrating, to say the least. But what exactly causes Edge to slow to a crawl?
As a technology expert, I‘ll walk you through the top 10 reasons Microsoft Edge might be running slowly on your PC and show you how to diagnose and fix each issue. By the end of this article, you‘ll have the knowledge and tools to get Edge back up to lightning speed. Let‘s dive in!
1. You Have Too Many Browser Extensions Installed
I get it, browser extensions can be incredibly useful. They can help you save money while shopping online, check your grammar, or keep your passwords secure. However, having too many extensions installed is one of the most common reasons Microsoft Edge starts to lag.
Extensions take up resources and memory, and the more you have, the more Edge has to work to load each webpage. Some extensions can even conflict with each other, further slowing your browser.
Luckily, the fix is simple:
- Open Microsoft Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Click "Extensions" to view all your installed extensions.
- For each extension, ask yourself if you really need it. If not, click "Remove".
- Restart Edge and enjoy the boost in speed!
2. Your Browser Has Accumulated Too Much Data Over Time
As you browse the web, Edge collects data like your browsing history, cookies, and cache to improve your experience. However, over time this data can really pile up and bog Edge down, especially if you‘re a heavy internet user.
Think of it like your closet – if you never clean it out, eventually it‘s going to be stuffed to the brim and impossible to find anything in. The same goes for your browser data.
To give Microsoft Edge a fresh start:
- Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top right.
- Click "Settings", then "Privacy, search, and services".
- Under "Clear browsing data", click "Choose what to clear".
- Select the data you want to remove (browsing history, cookies, cached images and files, etc.) and click "Clear now".
Clearing this data will log you out of websites, so make sure to have your login info handy. But the speed boost is worth it!
3. Your Internet Connection is Slow or Unreliable
Sometimes the problem isn‘t with Edge at all, but with your internet connection. Microsoft Edge requires a fast and stable internet connection to load webpages quickly.
There are a few ways to check if your internet is the issue:
- Run a speed test using a site like speedtest.net. If your speeds are lower than what you‘re paying for, contact your internet service provider.
- Connect your PC to your router with an Ethernet cable instead of using Wi-Fi. If Edge speeds up, that indicates an issue with your wireless connection.
- Restart your modem and router by unplugging them for a minute, then plugging them back in. This can resolve connection issues.
If your connection is fine but Edge is still slow, move on to reason #4.
4. You Have Too Many Apps Running in the Background
The more apps and programs you have running on your PC, the fewer resources are available for Microsoft Edge.
Some common culprits are messaging apps, music or video streaming services, cloud storage sync, and antivirus software. These all use up CPU and memory that Edge needs to run smoothly.
To close out unneeded background apps:
- Open the Windows Settings app and click "Privacy".
- Click "Background apps" in the left sidebar.
- Toggle off any apps you don‘t need running in the background.
Edge should now have more system resources available and run faster as a result.
5. Edge Needs to be Reset or Repaired
If you‘ve tried all the above steps and Microsoft Edge still isn‘t cooperating, it might be time for more drastic measures. Resetting Edge will restore it to its default settings and can often resolve performance issues.
Here‘s how to reset Microsoft Edge:
- Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Click "Settings", then "Reset settings" on the left.
- Click "Restore settings to their default values", then "Reset".
If you‘re still experiencing slowness after resetting Edge, you can try repairing it:
- Open the Windows Settings app and click "Apps".
- Find Microsoft Edge in the list, click it, then click "Modify".
- Click "Repair", then "Repair" again to confirm.
Resetting or repairing Edge may be inconvenient, but it‘s often the key to restoring the browser to peak performance.
6. You Have Tracking Prevention Enabled
Microsoft Edge includes a feature called Tracking Prevention that blocks third-party trackers from collecting your browsing data. This is great for privacy but can slow Edge down, especially if you have it set to "Strict".
To adjust your Tracking Prevention settings:
- Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.
- Click "Settings", then "Privacy, search, and services".
- Under "Tracking Prevention", click the drop-down menu and select "Balanced" or "Basic" for better performance.
Note that this may come at the cost of decreased privacy, so choose the setting that best balances speed and privacy for your needs.
7. You‘re Using an Outdated Version of Edge
Microsoft regularly releases updates to Edge that include performance improvements and bug fixes. If you‘re running an older version of the browser, you might be missing out on these optimizations.
To check for Edge updates:
- Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner.
- Click "Help and feedback", then "About Microsoft Edge".
- Edge will automatically check for updates and download and install any that are found.
Restart your browser after installing updates to ensure you‘re running the latest and greatest version of Edge.
8. Your Device is Getting on in Years
As technology progresses, older hardware can struggle to keep up with the demands of modern websites and applications. If your PC is more than a few years old, it may simply lack the horsepower needed for speedy browsing.
You can check if your device meets the minimum requirements for Microsoft Edge:
- Windows 10 version 1507 or higher
- At least 1 GB of RAM for the 32-bit version or 2 GB of RAM for the 64-bit version
- A processor with a clock speed of at least 1 GHz
If your device doesn‘t meet these specs, it might be time to consider an upgrade. In the meantime, closing other apps and browser tabs can help lighten the load on your system.
9. Your PC is Infected with Malware
Viruses, spyware, and other malicious software can seriously impact your PC‘s performance, including slowing down Microsoft Edge. Signs your device may be infected include frequent crashes, pop-up ads, and general sluggishness.
Running a malware scan is always a good troubleshooting step:
- Open the Windows Security app (you can search for it in the Start menu).
- Click "Virus & threat protection".
- Under "Current threats," click "Quick scan".
- If any threats are found, follow the on-screen prompts to remove them.
For added peace of mind, consider installing a reputable third-party antivirus solution and running regular scans.
10. You Don‘t Have Enough Memory (RAM) Installed
Random Access Memory (RAM) is what allows your PC to multitask and run multiple programs at once. If you don‘t have enough RAM, your system can slow to a crawl as it struggles to juggle everything.
Microsoft Edge is a particularly RAM-hungry application, especially if you like to keep a lot of tabs open. If you frequently run out of memory, you may need to upgrade your RAM.
To check your current RAM usage:
- Open the Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
- Click the "Performance" tab and select "Memory" in the left sidebar.
- If the graph is consistently high or maxed out, you likely need more RAM.
Adding more RAM to your PC is usually a pretty simple upgrade, but if you‘re not comfortable doing it yourself, take your device to a computer repair shop.
Conclusion
Dealing with a slow browser is never fun, but with a little troubleshooting, you can get Microsoft Edge back up to speed. Whether it‘s something as simple as closing a few tabs or as involved as upgrading your RAM, there‘s usually a solution.
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it might be time to seek the assistance of a computer repair professional who can diagnose and resolve any deeper issues that may be impacting Microsoft Edge‘s performance.
In the meantime, following best practices like keeping Edge updated, being strategic with browser extensions, clearing out old data, and periodically resetting the browser can help keep Edge running smoothly. With a little TLC, Microsoft Edge will be back to lightning-fast speeds in no time!
