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My Edge doesn't shut down completely when closed

Anonymous
2024-02-27T10:00:30+00:00

Hi everyone,

My Edge doesn't shut down completely when closed, it still runs in the background even though I've turned off Edge's background feature.

This consumes a lot of resources on my computer. I want to close Edge completely, can anyone tell me how to solve it?

Thank you very much!

Microsoft Edge | Other | Windows 11

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-02-27T13:45:11+00:00

    Hello. There is a proper workaround:

    https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/1ac4ioa/a_workaroud_to_prevent_background_running_after/

    The name of Edge's policy that stops this misbehavior shows that Edge's new Sidebar/Copilot feature integration was the culprit.

    Credit to @Careless-Elevator768 and all we have been investigating and reporting this annoying "feature" or misbehavior since October 2023 till today.

    Here are the instructions from the linked Reddit post (with some additional reminder or consideration):

    1. Turn off "Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed" and "Startup boost" Edge's settings (System and Performance > System).
    2. Open regedit.exe (Registry Editor) - Running it as Administr is recommended.
    3. Go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" (if this path does not exist, add a new Key with that name).
    4. Add the following new DWORD (32-bit) Value: StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled and set it to 0.
    5. Reboot Windows or kill the task and restart MS Edge.
    6. NOTE: "Managed by your organization" will be displayed below the Close Microsoft Edge option (Settings and more, Alt+F) and "Your browser is managed by your organization" mentioned at the top of the Edge's Settings tab/page.

    I hope this helps. Enjoy!

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-03-06T21:16:23+00:00

    I hope this gets fixed soon because I am not comfortable changing the registry entries.

    So, I have two programs that don't close completely: Edge and Outlook.

    I already go to Task Manager to close Outlook. I will now add Edge to the Close App ritual in Task Manager.

    My concern with the apps not closing correctly, besides utilization, is that the extensions don't close and they stay open as Edge runs in the background. Having the extensions running is a security problem which is a concern.

    Life was better when hitting the X in the upper right hand corner closed Edge and all the extensions.

    I'm seriously looking at other browsers.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2024-06-30T19:35:36+00:00

    First thing I tried, doesn't work. Just keeps running in task manager eating up memory, unlike Chrome.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-28T02:39:47+00:00

    Hi Chien Sage
    My RAM is 16Gb but the system is more than half running. Although Edge background only takes up about 250Mb, for me that is too much.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-28T02:43:23+00:00

    Hi RodroG,

    Thank you very much for this.

    I will try setting them up.

    Once again, thank you!

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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