8 ways to optimise Microsoft Edge for slower computers

Optimizing Microsoft Edge for slower computers can significantly enhance your browsing experience by reducing lag and improving responsiveness. Here are eight effective ways to achieve this, detailed in around 1000 words.

1. Disable Unnecessary Extensions

Extensions add functionality to the browser but can consume a lot of resources. Microsoft Edge Disabling or removing unused extensions can free up valuable system resources.

How to Disable Extensions:

1. Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Edge.
2. Select “Extensions”.
3. Review your list of extensions and toggle off or remove those you don’t use.

Removing these unnecessary add-ons will streamline the browser and reduce Microsoft Edge the load on your computer.

2. Enable Efficiency Mode

Efficiency mode helps reduce Edge’s resource usage by putting inactive tabs to sleep and optimizing resource allocation.

How to Enable Efficiency Mode:

1. Go to “Settings” by clicking the three-dot menu Microsoft Edge .
2. Navigate to “System and performance”.
3. Toggle on “Efficiency mode”.

This mode is particularly useful for maintaining performance on computers with limited processing power.

3. Clear Browsing Data Regularly

Over time, cached files, cookies, and browsing history can accumulate and slow down the browser. Regularly clearing this data helps maintain optimal performance.

How to Clear Browsing Data:

1. Click on the three bullet menu and go to “Settings”.
2. Select “Privacy, search, and services”.
3. Under “Clear browsing data”, click “Choose what to clear”.
4. Select the data types you want to remove (e.g., cached images, cookies) and click “Clear now”.

Regular maintenance of browsing data ensures that Edge runs smoothly.

4. Adjust Privacy Settings

While privacy settings like tracking prevention are essential, they can sometimes impact performance. Finding the right balance can help.

How to Adjust Privacy Settings:

1. Go to “Settings”.
2. Navigate to “Privacy, search, and services”.
3. Choose “Balanced” or “Basic” under “Tracking prevention”.

Adjusting these settings to a less stringent level can reduce the computational overhead on your system.

5. Disable Background Apps

Edge can run background apps even when it’s closed, consuming resources. Disabling this feature can free up memory and CPU.

How to Disable Background Apps:

1. Go to “Settings”.
2. Navigate to “System and performance”.
3. Toggle off “Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed”.

This ensures that Edge does not use resources when it is not actively in use.

6. Use Startup Boost

Startup Boost helps Edge start up faster by preloading processes, which can be particularly useful for older or slower computers.

How to Enable Startup Boost:

1. Go to “Settings”.
2. Navigate to “System and performance”.
3. Toggle on “Startup boost”.

Enabling this feature can make Edge more responsive when you open it.

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7. Keep Microsoft Edge Updated

Regular updates ensure that you have the latest performance improvements and security patches.

How to Update Edge:

1. Click on the three-dot menu.
2. Go to “Settings”.
3. Navigate to “About Microsoft Edge”. Edge will check for updates and install them automatically.

Staying up-to-date with the latest version of Edge ensures optimal performance and security.

8. Optimize Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can either speed up or slow down performance depending on your system’s capabilities. Testing it both ways can help determine the best setting for your computer.

How to Adjust Hardware Acceleration:

1. Go to “Settings”.
2. Navigate to “System and performance”.
3. Toggle “Use hardware acceleration when available” on or off.
4. Restart Edge to apply the changes.

This setting uses your GPU to handle graphic-intensive tasks, which can offload work from your CPU and improve overall performance.

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Conclusion

By implementing these optimizations, you can significantly improve the performance of Microsoft Edge on slower computers. These steps, from disabling unnecessary extensions to adjusting hardware acceleration, address various aspects of the browser’s operation and system resource usage. Regular maintenance and mindful adjustment of settings will ensure a smoother, faster browsing experience on any machine.

For further reading and more detailed instructions, you can visit:

• Microsoft Support
• How-To Geek on optimizing browsers

By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to enjoy a more efficient browsing experience even on a slower computer.