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Closing Microsoft Edge’s last window does not always stop its background processes. Background apps and startup boost are separate features. You can turn them off to reduce background activity, but processes used by other applications, including WebView2, may still remain.
Turn off background apps
- Open Edge and enter
edge://settings/systemin the address bar. - Find the option to continue running background extensions or apps when Edge is closed. Wording and placement can vary by version; use Settings search if necessary.
- Turn it off and close the browser. Save any work in web apps before doing so.
Microsoft documents this behavior in the BackgroundModeEnabled policy. Disabling background mode can affect background notifications or app activity.
Turn off startup boost separately
On the same System and performance settings page, turn off Startup boost if you do not want Edge to pre-start for a faster launch. The StartupBoostEnabled documentation explains that startup boost can start processes at Windows sign-in and restart them after the last browser window closes.
Turning off only background apps can leave startup boost enabled. Disabling both may make the next browser launch slower; the effect depends on your computer.
Check the result in Task Manager
After closing Edge, open Task Manager and review the process names and resource use. Give the browser time to finish activity. If you still see a process, determine whether it belongs to Edge, an open browser app or another application before ending it.
WebView2 lets other Windows applications embed web content. Its processes are not proof that the Edge browser’s background setting failed. Do not uninstall the runtime simply to remove an unfamiliar process; an application may depend on it.
When settings are controlled by your organization
Open edge://policy to see whether a policy controls startup boost or background mode. On a work or school computer, ask the administrator to change the relevant policy. A disabled switch or a setting that returns after restart is not a reason to paste an unverified registry script.
If high CPU or memory use continues
Check open tabs, extensions and the browser’s task manager before changing unrelated settings. Keep Edge and the operating system updated. Do not turn off graphics acceleration simply because you want background apps closed; those settings solve different problems.
If the entire computer becomes unresponsive, follow our PC-freezing troubleshooting guide. No single Edge setting can guarantee zero background processes or a fixed reduction in memory use.