If your Microsoft Edge browser is working slowly, loading pages sluggishly, or hanging frequently, you’re not alone. These issues are typically caused by unused extensions, bloated startup pages, full cache and history, or disabled performance features. This article explains step-by-step how to optimize your Microsoft Edge browser for faster performance and improved download speeds.
✅ Step-by-Step Guide to Speed Up Microsoft Edge
Step 1: Disable or Remove Unnecessary Extensions
Extensions are small add-ons that can help with productivity but can also slow down your browser if too many are installed or if they are not optimized.
Here’s how to disable/remove them:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner.
- Select Extensions > Manage Extensions.
- A list of installed extensions will appear.
- Turn off the toggle for extensions you don’t use.
- Alternatively, click Remove to delete unused ones completely.
🔍 Why this matters: Unused extensions continue to run in the background and consume resources, slowing down your browser’s processing power.
Step 2: Change the Startup Page to Speed Up Loading
Microsoft Edge may load a complex or bloated startup interface, affecting speed. Switching to a simple page like Google can help.
Here’s how to set a minimal startup page:
- Go to the three-dot menu (⋯) > Settings.
- On the left menu, click Start, home, and new tabs.
- Under When Edge starts, select Open these pages.
- Click Add a new page.
- Enter:
https://www.google.comand click Add.
📝 Tip: Starting with a lightweight page like Google reduces load time significantly.
Step 3: Clear Browsing History, Cache, and Cookies
Old browsing data can clutter the browser and reduce speed. Cleaning it up helps Edge run smoother.
To clean browsing data:
- Click the three-dot menu (⋯) > History.
- Click the three-dot menu again within the History popup.
- Choose Clear browsing data.
- In the new popup, set Time range to All time.
- Select:
- Browsing history
- Download history
- Cookies and other site data
- Cached images and files
- Click Clear now.
⚠️ Disclaimer: If you have important data like saved site preferences or passwords, uncheck cookies or history before clearing.
Step 4: Enable Parallel Downloading for Faster Downloads
Parallel downloading splits files into smaller parts and downloads them simultaneously, improving speed.
Steps to enable it:
- In the Edge address bar, type:
edge://flagsand press Enter. - In the Search flags bar, type:
parallel downloading. - Locate the flag named Parallel downloading.
- Change the setting from Default to Enabled.
- Click the Restart button at the bottom to apply the change.
🚀 This experimental feature can dramatically boost download speeds for large files.
✅ Final Result
After following these steps:
- Your Edge browser will load faster.
- Download speeds will improve.
- System memory and CPU usage by Edge will reduce.
- You’ll have a smoother, lag-free browsing experience.
🛡️ Disclaimer
These settings are safe to apply and use. However, changes made through edge://flags are experimental and may change in future updates. Always restart your browser after changing settings for the best results.
🔗 Useful Links
📌 Tags:
microsoft edge, speed up edge browser, browser optimization, edge extensions, clear edge cache, edge flags, parallel downloading, edge browser tips
📢 Hashtags:
#MicrosoftEdge #SpeedUpEdge #EdgeBrowserTips #BrowserOptimization #ClearCache #ParallelDownloading #TechTips #Windows10 #Windows11
If you found this guide helpful, consider bookmarking it or sharing it with others who face slow browser issues. Keep your digital experience fast and frustration-free!
