How to Stop Microsoft Edge from Running in the Background
Microsoft Edge is a web browser developed by Microsoft, and it’s a great alternative to Google Chrome. However, some users may find that Microsoft Edge is running in the background, consuming system resources and causing performance issues. In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background.
Why is Microsoft Edge running in the background?
Before we dive into the solution, let’s understand why Microsoft Edge might be running in the background. There are several reasons why this might happen:
- Resource-intensive tasks: Microsoft Edge may be running resource-intensive tasks like downloading and installing updates, or running background processes.
- Background apps: Microsoft Edge may have background apps that are not properly configured, causing it to run in the background.
- System updates: Microsoft Edge may be running in the background during system updates, which can cause performance issues.
How to stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background
To stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Close Microsoft Edge
The simplest way to stop Microsoft Edge from running in the background is to close it. Here’s how:
- Windows 10: Press the Windows key + X and select Microsoft Edge. Click on the Close button to close the browser.
- Windows 8/8.1: Press the Windows key + X and select Microsoft Edge. Click on the Close button to close the browser.
- Windows 7: Press the Windows key + X and select Microsoft Edge. Click on the Close button to close the browser.
Step 2: Disable Microsoft Edge’s background processes
Microsoft Edge has several background processes that run in the background, consuming system resources. To disable these processes, follow these steps:
- Windows 10: Press the Windows key + R and type services.msc. Press Enter to open the Services console. In the Services console, find the Microsoft Edge service and click on it. Click on the Properties button. In the Properties window, click on the Background services tab. Check the box next to Microsoft Edge and click on the Disable button.
- Windows 8/8.1: Press the Windows key + R and type services.msc. Press Enter to open the Services console. In the Services console, find the Microsoft Edge service and click on it. Click on the Properties button. In the Properties window, click on the Background services tab. Check the box next to Microsoft Edge and click on the Disable button.
- Windows 7: Press the Windows key + R and type services.msc. Press Enter to open the Services console. In the Services console, find the Microsoft Edge service and click on it. Click on the Properties button. In the Properties window, click on the Background services tab. Check the box next to Microsoft Edge and click on the Disable button.
Step 3: Disable Microsoft Edge’s background apps
Microsoft Edge has several background apps that run in the background, consuming system resources. To disable these apps, follow these steps:
- Windows 10: Press the Windows key + X and select Microsoft Edge. Click on the Settings icon (three dots) and select Background apps. Check the box next to Microsoft Edge and click on the Turn off button.
- Windows 8/8.1: Press the Windows key + R and type services.msc. Press Enter to open the Services console. In the Services console, find the Microsoft Edge service and click on it. Click on the Properties button. In the Properties window, click on the Background services tab. Check the box next to Microsoft Edge and click on the Turn off button.
- Windows 7: Press the Windows key + R and type services.msc. Press Enter to open the Services console. In the Services console, find the Microsoft Edge service and click on it. Click on the Properties button. In the Properties window, click on the Background services tab. Check the box next to Microsoft Edge and click on the Turn off button.
Step 4: Update Microsoft Edge to the latest version
Microsoft Edge is a constantly evolving browser, and updating it to the latest version can help resolve issues that may be causing it to run in the background. To update Microsoft Edge, follow these steps:
- Windows 10: Press the Windows key + X and select Microsoft Edge. Click on the Check for updates button.
- Windows 8/8.1: Press the Windows key + X and select Microsoft Edge. Click on the Check for updates button.
- Windows 7: Press the Windows key + X and select Microsoft Edge. Click on the Check for updates button.
Step 5: Monitor Microsoft Edge’s performance
To ensure that Microsoft Edge is not running in the background, you can monitor its performance using the Task Manager. Here’s how:
- Windows 10: Press the Windows key + R and type taskmgr.msc. Press Enter to open the Task Manager. In the Task Manager, click on the Performance tab. Look for the Microsoft Edge process and check its Load percentage. If the load percentage is high, it may indicate that Microsoft Edge is running in the background.
Conclusion
Stopping Microsoft Edge from running in the background can be achieved by closing the browser, disabling its background processes, disabling its background apps, updating the browser to the latest version, and monitoring its performance. By following these steps, you can ensure that Microsoft Edge is running efficiently and not consuming system resources.