[Fix] Microsoft Edge (MSEdge.exe) Always Keeps Running in Background Even After Closing the Browser

If you upgraded to new version of Microsoft Edge web browser, you might have noticed that the browser keeps running in background even after closing Microsoft Edge program window.

When you launch Microsoft Edge browser, its executable MSEdge.exe starts running in background. You can check it using Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) tool. But when you close the browser, MSEdge.exe process doesn’t stop and keeps running in Task Manager.

So in simple terms, multiple MSEdge.exe processes always run in background irrespective of Microsoft Edge is opened or not.

Following screenshot shows multiple msedge.exe processes running in Task Manager in Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge browser was not running in the device at that time:

It happens due to a new feature introduced in Microsoft Edge which is called “Startup Boost“. This feature has been implemented in Microsoft Edge to make the browser launch faster.

By default, Startup Boost feature is activated and enabled and it allows MSEdge.exe process to always run in background. Since the process keeps running in memory, whenever the user launches Microsoft Edge browser, it launches instant without any delay.

You can consider Startup Boost feature as preloading the browser in system memory to speed up Microsoft Edge launch. It allows Microsoft Edge process to start as soon as you sign into your user account in Windows.

If Microsoft Edge is primary browser in your system and you use it regularly to browse websites, then it should not be a problem to you as Microsoft Edge will open quickly.

But if you don’t use Microsoft Edge as primary browser and use it less frequently, then you might not like this feature as MSEdge.exe will keep consuming system resources.

If you don’t want this new functionality and want to prevent or restrict Microsoft Edge browser executable (MSEdge.exe) from always running in background, this tutorial will help you.

Fortunately, Microsoft has provided a built-in option to turn on/off Startup Boost feature so users who didn’t like the feature, can deactivate it manually.

Once you disable Startup Boost feature, Microsoft Edge will no longer run in background if the browser window is closed.

Following steps will help you in disabling Startup Boost feature in Microsoft Edge browser to block it from always running in background:

1. Open Microsoft Edge browser and click on the 3-dots menu button present at the right-side of the toolbar. Now select Settings option from the main menu.

Alternatively, you can press ALT+F keys together to show Edge Menu and then press S key to open Settings page. You can also directly open Edge Settings page using edge://settings/ URL in address bar.

2. Now click on System tab in left sidebar and in right-side pane, you’ll see Startup Boost option.

If “Startup Boost” option is enabled i.e. ON, it means preloading feature is enabled in Microsoft Edge and the browser’s executable (msedge.exe) will always run in background.

To stop Microsoft Edge from always running in memory, disable i.e. set the Startup Boost option to OFF.

Also disable “Continue running background apps when Microsoft Edge is closed” option.

That’s it. Now close Microsoft Edge browser window and MSEdge.exe will also quit and will no longer run in background.

Also Check:

[Windows 10] What are Microsoft Edge EXE Processes Running in Task Manager and How to Disable Them?

[Fix] Too Many “Microsoft Edge Update.Exe (32 bit)” Processes Running in Task Manager in Windows