Stop Microsoft Edge from running in background on Windows 11 and 10

Microsoft Edge is the default web browser in the latest version of Windows 10. However, it can be changed to the other default web browsers, such as Chrome or Firefox. You can also change the default web browser back to Microsoft Edge, if you want.

The problem is that sometimes Microsoft Edge keeps running in background after you close it after browsing a website. The system tray turns purple (in Windows 10) and indicates that Microsoft Edge is still running in background.

When this happens, you cannot use your computer smoothly unless you stop Microsoft Edge from running in background manually.

It keeps draining your system resources, slowing down your computer and sometimes freezing it. This is an unwanted behavior that affects only the Microsoft Edge browser. Below you will find the effective and easy way to stop Microsoft Edge from running in background on Windows 11 and 10.

How to stop background processes after closing Microsoft Edge

1. End Task from Task Manager: Open the Task Manager by pressing “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” and find the Microsoft Edge process. Right-click on it and select “End Task.” This will close the process and stop any background processes related to Edge.
2. Use a third-party software: There are several software available that will automatically close background processes when the related application is closed. One popular example is “CCleaner.”
3. Modify Group Policy: If you want to disable background processes for all browsers, you can modify the Group Policy. Open the “Group Policy Editor” by typing “gpedit.msc” in the search bar and navigate to “Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge.” Select “Configure Microsoft Edge First Launch Settings” and enable the option to “Prevent background processes when Microsoft Edge is closed.”

Note: These steps may vary based on your Windows version.

Using Microsoft Edge settings

1. Open Microsoft Edge: To stop background processes after closing Edge, you will need to access the Edge settings.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen: This will open the Edge menu.
3. Select Settings: From the Edge menu, select the “Settings” option.
4. Scroll down to “System” and click on “Background processes”: In the Settings menu, scroll down to “System” and click on “Background processes.”
5. Toggle off “Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed”: In the Background processes section, toggle off the switch for “Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed.”
6. Close Microsoft Edge: Close Microsoft Edge and all background processes related to Edge will be stopped.

Note: The option to turn off background processes may vary based on your version of Microsoft Edge.