Microsoft Edge Renames 'Efficiency Mode' to 'Energy Saver' and Reorganizes Performance Settings

Microsoft noted that the new names appear in the Edge browser's Performance settings starting Janauary 2026

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Venkat Shield
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Microsoft will overhaul the Performance settings in the Edge browser, including the names of two features to reflect their benefits.

The change affects two existing features.

Both features work the same as before. Energy saver lowers resource use during normal browsing. PC gaming boost reduces Edge’s impact when a PC game runs.

Edge’s current Performance settings show Efficiency mode and PC gaming options before the redesign.

Energy saver is not enabled by default. Here is how you can enable it.

Enable Energy Saver (formerly Efficiency mode) in Microsoft Edge

  1. Click Menu and select “Settings”
  2. Open “System and performance”
  3. Select “Performance”
  4. Scroll down to “Power”
  5. Turn on “Energy saver”

Microsoft describes Energy saver in Edge as follows:

“Reduces background tab activity and some foreground activity. Puts background tabs to sleep after 30 minutes or less of inactivity, if Sleeping tabs is on. Savings may depend on your device, applications and browser use.”

Edge displays a pop-up description explaining how Energy saver works inside the new Performance settings. Image Credit: Venkat | WindowsReport.

Microsoft Overhauls Edge Performance Settings

The Edge Performance settings page now appears in four sections instead of a single list.

General: This section covers basic performance tools such as Performance detector and Fade inactive tabs.

Power: This section contains the Energy saver toggle.

The updated Performance section displays new categories and the Energy saver option under Power. Image Credit: Venkat | WindowsReport.

Memory: This section holds the Sleeping tabs settings. It controls when inactive tabs go to sleep to free up RAM.

Gaming: This section is for gamers. It contains the PC gaming boost toggle and the Resource controls slider. The slider lets you manually limit how much RAM Edge uses.

Under the new Gaming category, Edge now lists PC gaming boost along with memory control options.

Microsoft mentioned these changes in a roadmap note. It said the new names appear in the Performance settings “after the update”, which is set for rollout from January 2026.

“Efficiency mode feature name will change to energy saver and efficiency mode for PC gaming name will be renamed PC gaming boost to better describe the feature benefits” notes Microsoft.

More about the topics: microsoft, microsoft edge

Venkat

Venkat Shield

Tech Journalist

Venkat is a tech writer with over 15 years of experience, known for spotting new browser features and tech changes before they go public. Based in India, he breaks down under-the-radar browser updates to help readers stay ahead.

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