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September 18, 2024

How to enable and disable sleeping tabs in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge sleeping tabs are a feature designed to improve browser performance by putting inactive tabs to sleep. When a tab is asleep, it uses minimal system resources, allowing your computer to run more efficiently. This feature is particularly useful for users who tend to keep multiple tabs open simultaneously.

Run your browser faster with Edge sleeping tabs

A woman working at her home office on a laptop

Credit: Designer in Copilot

When you enable sleeping tabs in Microsoft Edge, inactive tabs are put to sleep, freeing up system resources. This reduction in resource use leads to a faster and more responsive browser. With sleeping tabs, Edge can allocate more memory and processing power to active tabs, resulting in a smoother browsing experience.

Benefits of Edge sleeping tabs

Using Edge sleeping tabs can significantly enhance your browsing experience. Here are some ways that sleep tabs can help you browse more productively:

1. Improved performance:

Sleeping tabs reduce the amount of memory and central processing unit (CPU) usage. You’ll notice improved responsiveness when switching between tabs, letting you make the most of your browsing experience.

2. Extended battery life:

By minimizing resource consumption, sleeping tabs help save battery power¹ on your device. Now you can enjoy browsing for longer periods without worrying about a swiftly draining battery.

3. Better multitasking:

With less strain on your system, you can run other applications smoothly while keeping multiple tabs open in Edge. Want to listen to music while fine-tuning a final project report for work? Edge sleeping tabs make it possible to do both with less lag.

Save battery power on your device

Sleeping tabs not only improve performance but also help conserve battery power. When tabs are asleep, they consume less energy, which is especially beneficial for users on laptops and other devices. This reduction in power consumption can help you extend the battery life of your device, allowing you to browse for longer periods on the go without needing to find an outlet to recharge.

How to turn on sleeping tabs in your Edge settings

Enabling sleeping tabs in Microsoft Edge is a straightforward process. To turn on this feature, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
In the left-hand sidebar, click on “System and performance.”
Scroll down to the “Optimize Performance” section.
Toggle the switch next to “Save resources with sleeping tabs” to enable the feature.
You can also customize the inactivity period before a tab goes to sleep by clicking on the dropdown menu and selecting your preferred time.

Sleeping tabs will fade slightly to indicate that they’ve released resources. You can wake up a sleeping tab by clicking on it like a normal tab, and your content will be there immediately. To disable sleeping tabs, simply follow the same steps above and toggle the switch off.

Conclusion

Microsoft Edge sleeping tabs are a great way to minimize the load on your device and save energy. Try Microsoft Edge today to experience the benefits of sleeping tabs and enjoy a faster, more efficient browsing experience.

Features and functionality subject to change.
Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.
[1] Battery life varies significantly based on device configuration, usage, network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, and other factors.