Microsoft Edge runs slow? We got the best fixes for that
- Microsoft Edge is a solid browser, but users reported certain issues with it.
- Speaking of Edge issues, many users reported that Microsoft Edge is acting slow on their PC.
- Fixing this issue is simple, and you need to check your Internet connection and reset Edge to the default settings.
- This article is one of many from our Edge hub. If you’re looking for the latest Edge news and guides, be sure to check our Edge hub.
According to various tests, Microsoft Edge is a very fast browser, even faster than Chrome. But, some users reported that for some reason, Microsoft Edge on their computers runs very slow.
So, we prepared a couple of solutions to help those who are facing this issue to use Microsoft Edge at its full speed.
Here are some more scenarious where you can apply these solutions, as well:
- Microsoft Edge very slow to respond
- Microsoft Edge slow loading pages
- Microsoft Edge not loading pages
What do I do if Microsoft Edge is slow on Windows 10?
Table of contents:
- Use a faster browser
- Clear cache and browsing history
- Set the new location for temporary files
- Reset Hosts file
- Check your Internet connection
- Delete Edge extensions
- Reset Microsoft Edge
- Run the SFC scan
1. Use a faster browser
If you notice that Edge continues to react very slowly, then before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps below, you should consider switching to a different browser instead.
If the Chromium engine is why you chose Edge, then we wholeheartedly recommend you give Opera a try. It looks amazing and lightweight, and it is among the fastest browsers in the world.
The looks can be further enhanced thanks to the wide array of visual customization tools, and the toolset can also be enriched with the vast library of extensions
Besides speed, Opera also prides itself with the privacy it offers its users, providing them with a built-in ad-blocker, and even a VPN that doesn’t have a daily traffic quota.
Opera
Navigate your favorite webpages instantly with zero waiting times with the help of this ultra-fast web browser.2. Clear cache and browsing history
- Open Microsoft Edge and click on the dotted menu
- Choose Settings
- Under Clear browsing data, click on Choose what to clear
- Choose Browsing history and Cached data and files and click on Clear
You can also use some third-party software to clean your browsing data. If you decide to do that, we recommend you CCleaner, because it’s extremely simple to use, and very effective as well.
You just have to open the program, check Internet cache, and other internet files, under Microsoft Edge (you have to do that only once), and hit Analyze, and then Clean when the analysis is finished.
But to clean Edge files with CCleaner, you have to download the latest version of the software.
This utility is very lightweight, and using it doesn’t require any knowledge except knowing basic English. Simply choose what you want to scan or clear, and then confirm what to delete and what to keep.
CCleaner
If your web browser is running slowly because of cache build-up, simply use CCleaner to clean everything up.
3. Set the new location for Temporary Files
- Open Internet Explorer (not Edge)
- Click on the Gear icon, and select Internet Options
- On the General tab, under Browsing History, go to Settings
- On the Temporary Internet Files tab, click on Move folder…
- Choose the new location for Temporary Internet Files folder (like C:\Users\yourname)
- Then set the Disk Space to use 1024MB and click OK
- Open Microsoft Edge, and see if the browsing is now faster.
3. Reset hosts file
- Open File Explorer, and paste the following into the search bar:
- %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc
- Now, right-click on hots file, choose Open with, and choose Notepad
- Replace the text from the file with the following text:
- # Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handle within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost
- # Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
- Close Notepad, and save the changes
Editor’s Note: This article continues on the next page.
Here’s a solution, switch back to chrome and save yourself all this dicking around. Worked like a charm for me
Thanks so much! The first solution was the key. As soon as I increased the disk space from a paltry 65 to 1024 MB, Edge was working fast again! I think the disk space setting was recently changed by another program I was using, which claims to speed up your browsers. NOT!
The first solution worked. In fact, the default folder doesn’t even exist. I created one and it is fast now. However, this makes me wondering why a browser made by Microsoft on a OS made also by Microsoft can’t even get this right? Like, making sure the internet temp file folder exists, or have enough space for it? Chrome or FireFox don’t need any of this fix to work!
thanks a million, the first thing made my edge faster, great, thanks.
There is something fundamentally wrong with Edge. For instance, take this page’s URL and measure the time it takes in a clean Edge browser to scroll to the comments here in this section of the page. Then do the same for Chrome. I see this slow load on 30% of the sites I go to. Edge spends plenty of time trying to format the window or downloading the reference URIs slowly or something. I have no idea what it is doing, other than wasting my time.
I found my troubles began (painfully slow, Edge browser), the day after the last Windows 10 update I received, 3 to 4 weeks ago. Since then it takes 10 to 15 seconds to load a page or respond to the Enter button. Now it could just be coincidence, but I don’t think so. Why should I pay to use software you recommend to fix this as I didn’t cause it in the first place? Over to you Microsoft. Give us the benefit of your wisdom please. None of the cures above have helped in my case.
Edge is just half baked. Been dealing with lag, freezes, and unresponsive behavior since Edge inception. Maybe it’s more because it’s a crappy Universal App and all other browsers are software based? Maybe Microsoft just went the wrong direction with Edge? Why did it take Microsoft months just to add in extensions? Why is it that less than 4% of desktop browser users even use Edge and 73% or better use Chrome? You have to figure that there is a lot to dislike about Edge when so many don’t use it. Three times as many use IE than Edge which has to be killing Microsoft who no doubt want to see IE go away. The common thread here is that Edge is not what users want and they have migrated to another non Microsoft browser for good. I never see Edge winning over anyone but the hard core all Microsoft product user. Even then it appears many of those die hard followers are not embracing Edge. In my opinion Microsoft needs to rethink Edge and consider a do over of the browser.
OK, folks. Clean re-install helped. Edge’s got back to normal. Just of wonder: what could be wrong; I didn’t see any indication (like error/warnings in EventLog, etc.) just slow load of everything.
Nothing helps – tried everything except clean Windows install. Other browsers (IE, Chrome, WaterFox) are just fine.
System Win 10 Pro Insider x64, build 15031 (problem with Edge started as I recalled since build 15002), RAM 16 GB, CPU i7
Just go to “about:flags” and check the box “Allow unrestricted memory consumption for web pages (this might impact the overall performance of your device)”. After this change my Edge is a million times faster.
Thanks for the tips. Seem slack – Chrome doesn’t need any detailed tweeking to run fast.
The first suggestion worked for me. Thank you!
Remove the shortcuts to that and that other piece of crap Microsoft browser, and just download firefox. or that resource hogging spyware google puts out…
Solution 1 – Set the New Location For Temporary Files
This solution fixed my problem with slow browser 🙂 Thanks a lot… I am back to normal…
They need to fix the problem I have tried some of the solutions and they do not work. Have not tried the host file yet. When I first installed Windows 10 and Edge last year it seemed faster than it is now. I also have trouble with it keeping up with typing in some forums.
I had slow issues with Chrome, so decided to try Edge. It was SO MUCH faster, I decided to keep it! Now, after a week or two, it’s FAR slower than Chrome ever was! I’m thinking about going back to Chrome, or, maybe, Firefox!
Used 1st Solution and it helped! Tnx a lot 🙂
# is a REM. It is like having nothing in the hosts file. The lines are ignored, so are not necessary.
Using Google Chrome made Edge run a lot faster… It doesn’t load my pages quicker than ever!
.. Solution 1 does NOT move Edge temporary internet files (only IE.. any version)
Perhaps self driving cars will finally force congress and states to fix our road system.