How to prevent Microsoft Edge from running too many processes on Windows

Learn how Edge works, why its process list clutters Task Manager, and what you can do to fix the situation.

Why does Edge show so many processes on Task Manager?

The reason why Edge creates so many processes actually stems from two reasons: Security and stability. Edge is one of the best Chromium-based browsers and like all browsers using Chromium, it uses a multi-process architecture.

That means instead of using a single process for the browser, it will use a separate process for each tab. It also creates processes for individual elements of each open browser tab.

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For example, there might be a core browser process. Next, you have a rendering process that handles things like HTML, CSS, and other web page code. There will also be a GPU process responsible for communicating with the graphics chip to speed up page rendering. Plugin or extension processes handle browser add-ons.

Spreading browser functions across several processes means that failure of one process is less likely to cause the entire browser to crash. It's also better for security, as process isolation means they don't share memory and can be granted limited privileges.

How to view Edge processes on Windows

You can see the processes Edge is using in Windows Task Manager. This will show you the total number of running processes but provide some details about their purpose. However, you will find that many Edge processes consume very little system resources.

You can also check out the browser's built-in Task Manager for a more detailed look. You can open the Task Manager by pressing Shift + Esc while Edge is running and selected. Here you can see the details of the individual processes that the article mentioned earlier.

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How to reduce the number of Edge processes on Windows

As explained above, many of the Edge processes you see running in the Task Manager are simply part of how the browser works. And some of them put too much strain on system resources.

However, there are some simple ways to reduce the number of processes Edge uses if you're concerned about their impact on your PC's performance.

1. Remove unused extensions

Take a look at your installed browser extensions to see if you can remove any. Each active extension can have one or more processes running, so cleaning up the add-on mess is an easy way to reduce the number.

2. Change Edge's Settings

Some optional Edge installations require their own processes. This includes Startup Boost and Hardware Acceleration. You can disable both of these features in Edge Settings > System and Performance .

3. Close some unused tabs

Each open tab in Edge can lead to 10 or more processes. If you frequently open a lot of unused tabs, closing them immediately will help reduce the number of active processes.

Is there a better browser option for Windows?

Many modern browsers have the same problem, including Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, and Chrome. All of them are based on Chromium. Firefox is one of the few modern browsers that doesn't use the browser architecture developed by Google.

It is worth remembering that multi-process systems are used for a reason, which can provide better stability and security. But if you want to try a new browser, check out TipsMake's list of the best browsers for gamers and the best browsers for Windows 11.

The reason why Microsoft Edge needs to have multiple processes running may be reasonable, but that doesn't mean you have to accept the problem. Processes are an inevitable part of Windows and any application you use, but reducing the number of processes can give a significant performance boost.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 27 February 2023