Fix Device Manager Refresh Loop in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Is Microsoft Edge hogging all the memory on your Windows 11 machine? Does your system crawl to a snail’s pace when you have multiple tabs open? You’re not alone. Edge, like any modern browser, can become a resource hog, especially with numerous tabs and extensions vying for memory. But don’t despair! This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to drastically reduce Edge’s memory footprint and reclaim your system’s performance. From built-in resource controls to advanced troubleshooting, we’ll equip you with the knowledge to tame the Edge beast and restore smooth, responsive browsing.

Leveraging Edge’s Built-In Resource Controls

Microsoft has introduced powerful resource controls directly within Edge to combat memory overconsumption. These controls, available in version 125 and later, allow you to set a hard RAM limit for the browser, preventing it from spiraling out of control.

Step 1: Accessing Edge Settings

Start by opening Microsoft Edge and clicking the three-dot menu located in the upper-right corner of the browser window. From the dropdown menu, select “Settings.”

Step 2: Navigating to System and Performance

Within the Settings menu, click on “System and performance” in the left-hand sidebar. This section houses all the performance-related configurations for Edge.

Step 3: Enabling Resource Controls

In the “Manage your performance” section, you’ll find a toggle labeled “Enable Resource controls.” Switch this toggle to the “On” position.

Step 4: Configuring the RAM Limit

By default, Edge will only limit RAM usage during gaming sessions. To apply the limit at all times, use the dropdown menu and select “Always” Then, carefully set your preferred RAM cap. Remember that setting the limit too low can cause frequent tab sleeping or page reloads, disrupting your browsing experience. It’s best to monitor your system’s performance and adjust the limit as needed.

Step 5: Monitoring RAM Usage

The “Browser essentials” sidebar (also found within Settings) provides a real-time view of Edge’s current RAM usage. This allows you to monitor how close you are to your set limit and fine-tune the setting for optimal performance.

Optimizing with Efficiency Mode and Sleeping Tabs

Edge’s “Efficiency Mode” is another valuable tool for reducing resource consumption. It works by throttling background activity and automatically putting inactive tabs to sleep.

Step 1: Accessing Efficiency Mode Settings

In Edge Settings, navigate to “System and performance,” as described in the previous section.

Step 2: Enabling Efficiency Mode

Locate the “Efficiency mode” section and toggle it to the “On” position. For maximum impact, set it to “Always“

Step 3: Activating Sleeping Tabs

Scroll down to the “Save resources with sleeping tabs” section. Enable both “Save resources with sleeping tabs” and “Fade sleeping tabs” The latter option provides a visual indication of which tabs are currently asleep.

With these settings enabled, inactive tabs will automatically go to sleep after a period of inactivity, significantly reducing their memory footprint and freeing up resources for active tasks.

The Basics: Closing Unused Tabs and Ending High-Usage Processes

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Each open tab and extension in Edge consumes memory. Too many active tabs can quickly overwhelm available RAM, especially on systems with limited resources.

Step 1: Opening Edge’s Task Manager

Press Shift + Esc while in Edge to open the browser’s built-in Task Manager. This provides a detailed view of resource usage by individual tabs and extensions.

Step 2: Identifying Resource-Intensive Tabs and Extensions

Sort the Task Manager list by the “Memory” column to quickly identify the tabs and extensions consuming the most RAM.

Step 3: Ending Unnecessary Processes

Select any unnecessary or high-usage items and click the “End process” button to close them.

Important: Save any important work before ending a process, as this will immediately close the associated tab or extension.

Clearing Edge’s Cache and Cookies

Over time, corrupted or overloaded browser cache and cookies can lead to increased memory usage. Clearing this data can resolve memory spikes and browser slowdowns.

Step 1: Accessing the Clear Browsing Data Panel

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the “Clear browsing data” panel.

Step 2: Configuring the Clearing Options

Set the “Time range” to “All time” Ensure that “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” are checked.

Step 3: Clearing the Data

Click the “Clear now” button.

Note: Clearing cookies will sign you out of most websites, so ensure you have your login information saved elsewhere if needed.

Disabling Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration offloads certain browser tasks to your system’s GPU. While this can improve performance in some cases, it can also trigger memory spikes or instability on certain hardware configurations.

Step 1: Accessing Hardware Acceleration Settings

Type edge://settings/system into the Edge address bar and press Enter.

Step 2: Disabling Hardware Acceleration

Locate the “Use graphics acceleration when available” option and toggle it to the “Off” position.

Step 3: Restarting Edge

Restart Edge to apply the change and observe whether memory usage stabilizes.

Managing Extensions: Removing the Unnecessary

Extensions can significantly impact memory usage, especially if they are poorly optimized or if you have a large number of them enabled.

Step 1: Accessing the Extensions Menu

Click the “Extensions” icon on the Edge toolbar (it typically looks like a puzzle piece).

Step 2: Removing Unused Extensions

Review the list of installed extensions and click the three-dot menu next to any you no longer use. Select “Remove from Microsoft Edge.”

Step 3: Restarting Edge

Restart Edge to confirm whether memory usage drops after disabling or removing extensions.

Disabling Startup Boost and Background Processes

“Startup Boost” launches Edge processes in the background when Windows starts, increasing idle memory usage even if Edge isn’t actively running. Disabling it can free up valuable RAM.

Step 1: Accessing Startup Boost Settings

In Edge Settings, navigate to “System and performance,” as described previously.

Step 2: Disabling Startup Boost and Background Processes

Toggle off both “Startup boost” and “Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.”

This ensures that Edge releases memory when you close the browser instead of keeping processes running in the background.

Identifying Problematic Websites

Certain websites, particularly those with complex scripts or multimedia content, can cause memory leaks or excessive RAM usage. Identifying and avoiding these sites can prevent Edge from overloading your system.

Step 1: Monitoring Memory Usage with Edge’s Task Manager

Use Edge’s Task Manager (Shift + Esc) to identify tabs with unusually high memory usage.

Step 2: Testing the Website in Another Browser

Visit the same website in another browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox). If memory usage remains high, the issue is likely with the website itself, not with Edge.

Step 3: Adjusting Your Browsing Habits

Consider closing or minimizing your use of resource-heavy sites. If another browser handles these sites more efficiently, consider switching browsers for those specific websites.

Considering a RAM Upgrade or Adjusting Virtual Memory

Windows 11’s baseline memory requirements mean that 4GB to 8GB of RAM can quickly become insufficient, especially with multiple applications and browser tabs open. If memory usage remains high after trying the steps above, consider upgrading your system’s RAM or increasing virtual memory.

Step 1: Accessing Virtual Memory Settings

Right-click “This PC” and select “Properties.” Click “Advanced system settings.”

Step 2: Navigating to Performance Settings

Under the “Advanced” tab, click “Settings” in the “Performance” section, then go to “Advanced” and click “Change” under “Virtual memory.”

Step 3: Configuring Virtual Memory

Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.” Select your system drive, choose “Custom size” and set the initial size to 1.5 times your RAM and the maximum size to 3 times your RAM (in MB).

Step 4: Applying the Changes

Click “Set,” then “OK” and restart your PC to apply the changes.

Upgrading your physical RAM to 16GB or more provides a more robust and permanent solution if you regularly multitask or use memory-intensive applications.

Conclusion:

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce Microsoft Edge’s memory usage on Windows 11 and reclaim your system’s performance. Remember to regularly monitor your browser’s resource use and keep Edge updated to benefit from the latest performance optimizations. With a little proactive management, you can tame the Edge beast and enjoy a smooth, responsive browsing experience once again.