If your Microsoft Edge browser suddenly feels like it’s running a marathon with your PC’s memory — don’t worry, it’s not your imagination. Many users are seeing Edge hog RAM or showing “0 GB / 0 GB” under the new Resource Controls setting, leaving them puzzled about what went wrong.
The good news? It’s not you, and it’s not your hardware — it’s a confirmed bug in Edge’s Resource Controls feature that Microsoft is already aware of. In this article, we’ll walk through exactly what this feature does, how it’s supposed to help you manage RAM usage, why it’s misbehaving right now, and what you can do while waiting for the fix.
So, let’s dig in and understand what’s happening under the hood — because sometimes, even browsers need debugging.
⚙️ Why Edge’s Resource Controls Feature Matters
Browsers today act like operating systems themselves — running extensions, progressive web apps (PWAs), media players, and full web-based games. This means they can use several gigabytes of RAM even when you think they’re “just open in the background.”
When you’re gaming, video editing, or using heavy software, this memory usage can cause your system to run out of available RAM — resulting in stutters or background slowdowns.
That’s where Edge’s new feature — Enable Resource Controls — comes in. It gives users control over how much RAM the browser is allowed to consume.
🔍 Where to Find the Resource Controls Feature
Now, let’s get to the practical part — locating the setting inside Microsoft Edge.
Follow these steps:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
Make sure you’re running the latest version of the browser. (You can check for updates by going toSettings → About Microsoft Edge.) - Go to Settings.
Click the three dots (⋯) in the top-right corner → Select Settings from the dropdown. - Navigate to System and Performance.
On the left sidebar, click System and performance — this is where all performance-related settings are located. - Scroll down to “Performance” section.
Here, you’ll see the option called “Enable Resource Controls.”
Once you toggle it on, you’ll notice a slider bar that lets you choose how much RAM Edge can use.
🧩 How Resource Controls Work in Microsoft Edge
After enabling this option, you’ll find a slider marked with your system’s total RAM. For example, if your computer has 8 GB of RAM, the slider might range from 1 GB to 8 GB.
Here’s what it does:
- If you set the limit to 5 GB out of 8 GB, Microsoft Edge won’t use more than that — even if multiple tabs are open.
- Once that limit is reached, background tabs may be suspended or memory will be optimized to stay under the cap.
This is especially useful if you multitask — say, streaming a video or browsing while running a game or a heavy app like Photoshop.
🎮 Two Modes Available
When configuring Resource Controls, Edge provides two options under the memory control dropdown:
- While PC Gaming (Default Mode)
This mode ensures the feature activates automatically only when your system detects a full-screen game or intensive process.
In other words, Edge temporarily limits its own RAM usage only during gaming sessions — so your game gets the priority. - Always (Manual Control)
This mode enforces the memory limit at all times, not just during games.
It’s ideal for users who want to keep their browser light and under control constantly, such as on laptops or low-RAM systems.
So far, it sounds perfect, right? But here’s the catch — not all versions of Edge handle this feature correctly at the moment.
🧪 Stable Version vs. Canary Version — The Current Bug Explained
At the time of writing, Resource Controls work properly only in Edge Canary (preview build) — not the stable release.
When you open the same feature in the stable version, the slider may appear broken or display “0 GB / 0 GB”, as if the browser isn’t detecting your system’s installed memory.
Symptoms of the Bug:
- Slider is locked and non-responsive.
- Both minimum and maximum RAM values show as zero.
- You cannot adjust or save any changes.
- Restarting Edge doesn’t fix it.
This issue has been observed by multiple users, confirming it’s a widespread bug and not a local configuration error.
🔧 Tried and Tested Fixes (That Currently Don’t Work)
You might be tempted to try a few fixes — and believe me, most users have. However, here’s what’s been tested and found ineffective:
- Toggling the feature off and on again
→ No effect; the slider still shows zero. - Restarting Microsoft Edge
→ The issue persists even after relaunching. - Rebooting Windows
→ Doesn’t reset the feature values. - Disabling other performance options (like Efficiency Mode)
→ Has no impact on the Resource Controls slider.
In short, it’s a confirmed software-side bug — not something that can be fixed through normal user settings.
🧭 What Works: Testing in Edge Canary
If you want to try the feature right now, the good news is that it works perfectly in Microsoft Edge Canary — the experimental version that gets updates earlier than the stable channel.
How to Try It:
- Download Microsoft Edge Canary from the official Microsoft Edge Insider website:
👉 https://www.microsoft.com/edge/insider - Install and open it — it can coexist with your normal Edge installation.
- Repeat the same path:
Settings → System and Performance → Enable Resource Controls.
You’ll notice that the slider now correctly reflects your installed memory — for example, 16 GB, 8 GB, etc. You can freely drag and set your preferred limit.
Once Microsoft resolves the issue, this feature will roll out to the stable channel as well.
🧠 Understanding the Technical Impact of RAM Limiting
To better appreciate what this feature does, let’s look at how memory management works under the hood.
When a browser consumes memory, it keeps:
- Active tabs in high priority.
- Background tabs in standby memory (for quick reloading).
- Extensions running in separate processes.
- Caches for performance optimization.
By applying a hard limit, Edge forces itself to:
- Suspend or discard inactive tabs earlier.
- Flush caches more aggressively.
- Reallocate memory to higher-priority tasks.
So, while limiting RAM usage can save resources, it might also slightly slow down tab switching or reloading since the browser has less memory to work with.
It’s a trade-off between performance consistency and resource availability — something gamers and power users can now fine-tune manually.
🧱 Things to Keep in Mind Before Using Resource Controls
Before you go ahead and set your limit, here are a few important points to remember:
- Don’t set it too low.
If your browser has too little memory available, you may experience more frequent page reloads or “out of memory” errors on media-heavy sites. - Gaming Mode is ideal for most users.
It keeps things automatic — only restricting Edge when necessary. - Extensions still use memory.
The slider controls total Edge memory, including extensions and web apps. If you run multiple add-ons, keep that in mind. - It’s experimental (for now).
Until the bug is resolved and the feature stabilizes, it’s best treated as an early-access optimization tool.
🛠️ Troubleshooting: What to Do if the Slider Shows “0 GB”
If your stable version shows 0 GB / 0 GB, here’s a checklist to confirm it’s not a local problem:
- Ensure Edge is updated.
Go toSettings → About Microsoft Edgeand let it check for updates. - Restart your PC.
Sometimes Windows memory reporting gets stuck between restarts. - Try Canary or Dev builds.
Download the Canary version (linked above) and check if the bug persists there. - Report the issue to Microsoft.
In Edge, click the “…” → Help and Feedback → Send Feedback.
Attach a screenshot and short description (mention the “Resource Controls 0 GB bug”).
The more reports they receive, the faster this will be fixed in upcoming updates.
🧩 What to Expect in Future Updates
Microsoft typically tests such features in Canary → Dev → Beta → Stable channels.
Since the slider already functions correctly in Canary, the fix will likely move into the Dev and Stable versions within a few update cycles.
When it does, users can expect:
- Accurate RAM detection for all systems.
- More responsive performance tuning.
- Possibly, new options for CPU throttling or GPU management.
This update is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to make Edge a “resource-smart browser”, reducing its footprint while maintaining smooth web performance.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the difference between Efficiency Mode and Resource Controls in Edge?
- Efficiency Mode automatically optimizes background processes and tab suspension to save energy.
- Resource Controls, on the other hand, lets you manually define how much memory the browser can use.
You can use both together for maximum performance balance.
Q2. Does limiting RAM make Edge slower?
Yes — slightly. Pages may reload more often if memory runs out. But during gaming or heavy multitasking, this trade-off improves system-wide stability.
Q3. Is this feature available on macOS or Linux?
Currently, Resource Controls appear only in the Windows version of Microsoft Edge. Other operating systems might get it later.
Q4. How can I tell how much memory Edge is using right now?
Press Shift + Esc in Edge to open the built-in Browser Task Manager.
It shows per-tab memory usage, helping you choose a realistic limit for Resource Controls.
Q5. Can I completely disable Edge’s memory cap later?
Yes. You can toggle “Enable Resource Controls” off anytime, restoring default dynamic memory allocation.
🧭 Final Thoughts
Microsoft’s decision to give users manual control over browser memory usage is a welcome move — especially for gamers and professionals running multiple apps simultaneously.
While the “0 GB bug” in the stable version may frustrate some users, it’s temporary. The feature already works well in Canary builds, and once rolled out to everyone, it will help optimize RAM distribution across tasks seamlessly.
So if you’ve ever wished your browser would “use less RAM,” Edge has officially given you the switch to do it — no third-party tools required.
Keep an eye on future updates through Microsoft’s official Edge Insider site, and don’t forget to share feedback if you’re testing it early.
This small slider might just become one of the most powerful additions to your browser’s performance arsenal.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is based on the latest Microsoft Edge Canary and Stable builds as of October 2025. Features and functionality may change with future updates. Always verify via Microsoft Edge Insider for the latest version details.
Tags:
Microsoft Edge, Resource Controls, Edge Performance Settings, RAM Management, Edge Canary, Browser Optimization, Windows 11, Gaming Performance, Edge Update, Tech Fixes
Hashtags:
#MicrosoftEdge #BrowserPerformance #Windows11 #TechGuide #EdgeCanary #BrowserTips #RAMOptimization #GamingPC
