Removing a program from Startup ensures that the program doesn’t launch itself and no unnecessary resource is consumed. Some users have reported that while they tried, but every time they try, Microsoft Edge keeps running in the background even after disabling it from the Startup.
Reasons why Microsoft Edge keeps running in the background
- Certain extensions or background processes related to these extensions may not be terminated appropriately when the browser is closed. These processes can keep Microsoft Edge active and prevent the application from closing fully.
- Damaged, missing, or outdated system files related to Edge may fail to function properly and thereby make the browser behave unexpectedly by running in the background even after the user has closed the application.
- Windows OS has a feature that allows users to save running applications before logging out and restore them when the user logs in. If Edge has been running while the system was logged out, it will automatically start running as soon as the system starts, even though it is disabled at startup.
Microsoft Edge running in the background even after disabling it from Startup
To troubleshoot and resolve the above problem, the below-mentioned steps can be followed:
- Turn Off Startup Boost
- Use Autorun Tool
- Disable Hardware Acceleration
- Disable unnecessary plugins and extensions
1] Turn off Startup Boost
Startup Boost is a feature in Microsoft Edge that preloads the browser in memory before it can be launched. Although Startup Boost can help improve Edge’s startup speed, it can keep running in the background even after the user has terminated the application.
- Open Microsoft Edge settings by clicking on the three dots (…) at the top right corner and click on System and Performance.
- Toggle OFF the options that read Startup Boost and Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed
The above settings can also be changed by modifying the Windows Registry as detailed below:
- Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialogue box
- Type regedit to open the Windows Registry
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge. In case, the Edge option doesn’t exist under the Microsoft folder, a new Key by the same name can also be added.
- Add a DWORD ( 32-bit) with the name StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled and set its value to 0.
- Close the registry editor and restart the system for the changes to take effect.
2] Use Autoruns Tool
Autoruns is a free Windows utility that provides a detailed view of all the programs and drivers loaded into memory while the OS boots. It can help us identify and troubleshoot issues with applications running in the background, even when the application is terminated. It can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website, and once done, the below-mentioned steps can be executed to resolve the said issue:
- Run the tool with Admin privileges.
- Navigate to the Logon Tab, which lists all the programs or applications loaded into memory during startup.
- Review the entries to identify Microsoft Edge-related programs and uncheck them if found.
- Restart the system so the changes take effect.
3] Disable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware Acceleration, if malfunctioning, can result in high memory consumption since the background processes related to the browser may continue to run. To disable the hardware acceleration:
- Open Microsoft Edge, click on the three dots (…) at the top left corner, and click on Settings
- On the Settings page, select System and Performance on the left pane
- Toggle OFF the option that reads, Use Graphics Acceleration when available to disable the hardware acceleration.
4] Disable unnecessary plugins and extensions
Disabling browser extensions and plugins for Microsoft Edge can reduce the chances of running any unnecessary browser-related process in the background, even when the browser loading is disabled at startup. The below steps can help disable them:
- Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots (…) at the top left corner.
- Under the Settings menu, click on Extensions -> Manage Extensions
- Click to toggle OFF the unnecessary extensions.
I hope the post helped.
Why is Microsoft Edge suddenly on my computer?
Microsoft Edge has always been on Windows PC, but it is possible you were not using it and instead were using another browser. So, if you saw it suddenly, an update might have made it to launch with the startup.
