In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to turn on/off Efficiency mode in Microsoft Edge, helping you regain full control over your browser’s performance.
Here is a quick step guide to turn Off/on efficiency mode in Microsoft Edge:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three dots in the top-right corner to access Settings and more.
- Select Settings.
- Navigate to System and performance.
- Scroll down to the Optimize performance section.
- Find the toggle next to Efficiency mode and switch it to Off or on.
Moreover, in this quick guide, we’ll show you how to easily enable or disable Efficiency Mode in Microsoft Edge so you can browse in your own way and get your browsing experience back on track.
Additionally, we’ll also explain what Efficiency Mode does and when it might be helpful, so you can make informed decisions about your browsing experience.
What is Efficiency mode in Microsoft Edge ?
Efficiency mode is a feature in Microsoft Edge that helps make your device’s battery last longer. When it’s turned on, it uses less power by changing how tabs work in the background and foreground.
Additionally, it also makes unused background tabs go to sleep after 30 minutes or less when you’re not using them.
Primarily, Edge Efficiency mode works well on devices that use batteries, like laptops. It can also be good for desktop computers.
Benefits
Firstly, longer battery life: This is the main advantage. By limiting resource usage, Efficiency Mode can dramatically improve the life of your laptop or tablet on a single charge.
Consequently, this is especially beneficial if you are on the go and don’t have easy access to an outlet.
How does it work ?
- Reduced background tab activity: to begin with, efficiency mode puts less emphasis on background tabs. This means that animations, scripts, and timers could be paused or limited in these tabs. Nevertheless, you will still be able to access them, but they may not update automatically or appear visually smooth.
- Sleeping Tabs: Furthermore, after a period of inactivity (usually 30 minutes or less, depending on settings), Efficiency Mode may put background tabs to sleep. Essentially, this basically freezes the tab, consuming minimal resources until you click on it again.
- Possible Foreground Throttling: In addition, in some cases, Efficiency mode may also slightly limit resource usage for the active foreground tab. As a result, this could mean smoother performance for your main browsing window, but highly demanding web pages may experience a slight decrease in responsiveness.
Also Check: How to enable Memory Integrity in Windows ?
Trade-offs to consider
- Slower Performance of Background Tabs: As mentioned above, background tabs may become less responsive or visually choppy. Therefore, if you rely on multiple tabs to constantly refresh or run in the background, Efficiency Mode can be annoying.
- Possible Slowdown on Demanding Websites: While minimal, there is a chance that resource-intensive web pages may experience a slight drop in performance with efficiency mode enabled.
How can turn OFF or ON Efficiency mode in Microsoft Edge ?
Microsoft Edge features an Efficiency mode designed to optimize performance and conserve system resources. While it can enhance battery life and overall performance, you may want to manually adjust its settings.
Whether you need to turn it off for faster browsing or on to save battery during extended use, customizing Efficiency mode can improve your experience.
In this section, we’ll show you how to turn OFF or ON Efficiency mode in Microsoft Edge for optimal performance based on your needs.
Through Microsoft Edge Settings
First and foremost, this is the most common and user-friendly way to disable Efficiency Mode.
- To begin, open Microsoft Edge.
- Next, click the three dots in the top-right corner to access the Settings and more menu.
- Then, select Settings.
- After that, navigate to the System and performance section. You can find this by either scrolling down or using the search bar within Settings.
- Subsequently, look for the Optimize performance section.
- Following this, locate the toggle switch next to Efficiency mode.
- Finally, click the toggle to switch it to Off or ON.
Using Keyboard Shortcut (Limited Availability)
- First, open Microsoft Edge.
- Then, press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard.
- While holding Alt, simultaneously, press Shift and E simultaneously (Alt + Shift + E).
Note: However, this method is currently only available in specific versions of Microsoft Edge Canary and Dev channels (testing versions for developers). It might not be present in the official stable release yet.
Turn Off or On Efficiency Mode via Task Manager
Another method involves using the Task Manager:
Open Microsoft Edge: Initially, launch the browser on your device.
Open Task Manager:
- Next, press Shift + Esc to open the Edge Task Manager.
Find Efficiency Mode:
- Subsequently, in the Task Manager, look for a column labeled “Efficiency mode.”
- If the column is not visible, then, right-click on any column header and ensure “Efficiency mode” is checked.
Enable or Disable Efficiency Mode:
- After that, find the specific process you want to modify.
- Then, right-click on the process.
- Finally, select “Enable Efficiency mode” to turn it on, or “Disable Efficiency mode” to turn it off.
Close Task Manager: Once you’ve made your changes, you can close the Task Manager.”
Also Check: How to create and configure a new distribution point group ?
Turn Off or On Efficiency Mode via Group Policy Editor (for Windows)
Open Group Policy Editor:
- To begin, press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Then, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
Navigate to Edge Policies:
- Subsequently, in the Group Policy Editor, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge > Performance and Optimization.
Configure Efficiency Mode:
- Now, find the policy named “Configure Efficiency Mode.”
- Following this, double-click on it to open the settings.
Enable or Disable Efficiency Mode:
- Then, to turn off Efficiency Mode, select “Disabled.”
- Alternatively, to turn on Efficiency Mode, select “Enabled.”
- Finally, click “Apply” and then “OK.”
Restart Microsoft Edge: Lastly, for the changes to take effect, restart Microsoft Edge.
Turn Off or On Efficiency Mode via Registry Editor (for Windows)
Open Registry Editor:
- Initially, press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Next, type regedit and press Enter.
Navigate to Edge Key:
- In the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Performance and Optimization.
Modify Efficiency Mode Value:
- First, look for a DWORD value named EfficiencyModeEnabled.
- If it doesn’t exist, create it by right-clicking on the right pane, selecting “New,” then “DWORD (32-bit) Value,” and naming it EfficiencyModeEnabled.
- To turn off Efficiency Mode, set the value to 0.
- Conversely, to turn on Efficiency Mode, set the value to 1.
Close Registry Editor: Afterwards, after making your changes, close the Registry Editor.
Restart Microsoft Edge: Finally, for the changes to take effect, restart Microsoft Edge.
Confirmation
- After following the methods above, Efficiency Mode should be either disabled or enabled. Subsequently, you can verify this by checking the toggle switch in the Settings menu (Method 1) or by using the keyboard shortcut again (Method 2, if applicable). Indeed, these two methods are straightforward and ideal for confirming the change.
Additional Considerations
- Restarting Microsoft Edge: While not always necessary, you can restart Microsoft Edge after disabling Efficiency Mode for the changes to take full effect.
- Automatic Re-enablement: Moreover, efficiency Mode might automatically re-enable in some situations, especially if your battery level drops critically. However, you can adjust these settings within the Windows power options.
Also Check: How to start Windows 11 in safe mode ?
When should you Disable the Efficiency mode in Edge ?
Here’s a breakdown of when you might consider disabling Efficiency Mode in Microsoft Edge:
Prioritizing Performance
- Frequent Multitasking: If you constantly juggle many active tabs and rely on them to stay refreshed and responsive, Efficiency Mode’s background tab limitations might become bothersome. Disabling it ensures smoother performance for all tabs.
- Demandingly Interactive Websites: For websites with heavy animations, complex graphics, or real-time features (like online games or video editing tools), even a slight resource throttle from Efficiency Mode could be noticeable. Disabling it can provide a smoother experience.
- Streaming High-Resolution Content: If you frequently watch high-resolution videos on Edge, Efficiency Mode might slightly reduce playback quality. Disabling it allows the browser to dedicate more resources for optimal video performance.
General Browsing Preferences
- Noticeable Performance Slowdown: If you find general browsing sluggish with Efficiency Mode enabled, consider disabling it for a more responsive experience. This might be especially true on older computers with less powerful hardware.
- Dislike of Background Tab Behaviour: If you rely on background tabs constantly updating or staying visually smooth, Efficiency Mode’s limitations might be disruptive. Disabling it ensures consistent behaviour for all tabs.
Situations Where Efficiency Mode is Less Crucial
- Plugged-in Usage: When your laptop or tablet is plugged into a power source, battery life isn’t a concern. Disabling Efficiency Mode in this scenario won’t significantly impact battery health and can potentially improve performance.
- Low Reliance on Background Tabs: If you typically only use a few tabs at a time and don’t heavily rely on background activity, Efficiency Mode’s impact might be minimal. Disabling it might not be necessary.
Conclusion
Turning Efficiency mode on or off in Microsoft Edge is a simple process that can significantly impact your browsing experience.
Whether you choose to enable it for extended battery life or disable it for maximum performance, the choice is yours.
Remember, Efficiency mode works best for battery-powered devices and when you’re not engaged in resource-intensive tasks.
However, if you frequently multitask with numerous tabs or use demanding web applications, disabling it might be beneficial. Experiment with both settings to find what works best for your browsing habits and device capabilities.
By understanding and customizing this feature, you can optimize Microsoft Edge to suit your needs, ensuring a smooth and efficient browsing experience tailored just for you.
Reference:
Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)
Efficiency Mode in browsers like Microsoft Edge is designed to optimize performance and conserve system resources, particularly to extend battery life on laptops. It reduces resource usage by limiting background activity and managing tab performance. This helps improve overall system efficiency, especially during low-power situations.
To turn off Efficiency Mode in Microsoft Edge, open the browser and click on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner. Go to “Settings,” then select “System and performance,” where you can toggle off Efficiency Mode. Alternatively, you can check the Task Manager or use the Group Policy Editor for more advanced control.
You should turn on Efficiency Mode in Microsoft Edge if you want to conserve battery life, especially on laptops. It helps reduce resource usage by limiting background activities, improving overall system performance during low-power situations. However, if you need maximum performance for intensive tasks, consider disabling it.
