This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the tab Performance detector in Microsoft Edge for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The Microsoft Edge web browser is based on Chromium and was released on January 15, 2020. It is compatible with all supported versions of Windows, and macOS. With speed, performance, best in class compatibility for websites and extensions, and built-in privacy and security features.
Microsoft Edge proactively takes steps to minimize resource usage when your device is under pressure to keep your device running smoothly. One way Microsoft Edge does this is by putting tabs to sleep when memory pressure is detected on your device. Sometimes the proactive steps that Microsoft Edge takes are not enough to completely resolve the issue. For those instances, Microsoft built a feature called the Performance detector.
The performance detector helps identify high resource usage (memory (RAM) and/or processing power (CPU)) of background tabs and when an issue is detected, provides a way for you to fix it.
Under Performance in the Browser essentials hub, when resource usage is normal, the Performance detector will say Low usage next to Memory and CPU and the gauge below it will be green.
When Microsoft Edge detects that your background tabs are using too much memory (RAM) and/or processing power (CPU), a heart pulse icon with a red dot will appear in the toolbar to indicate an issue has been identified.
If you select this icon, the Performance detector will say High usage next to Memory and CPU and the gauge will be red to indicate an issue has been detected. Website tabs that are using the most memory and/or CPU will be listed under the gauge.
To help bring your background tabs memory and/or CPU usage back to green, you can use the performance detector to close or put to sleep high usage tabs.
Reference:
Learn about performance features in Microsoft Edge - Microsoft Support
Learn about performance features in Microsoft Edge, such as sleeping tabs, efficiency mode, and performance detector.
support.microsoft.com
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Tab Performance Detector in Microsoft Edge for Current User from Settings
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Tab Performance Detector in Microsoft Edge for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: Performance detector turned on and off
1 Open Microsoft Edge.
2 Click/tap on the Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 dots button, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on System and performance in the left pane. (see screenshot below)
If you do not see a left pane, then either click/tap on the 3 bars menu button towards the top left OR widen the horizontal borders of the Microsoft Edge window until you do.
4 Turn on (default) or off Performance detector for what you want under Manage your performance on the right side.
Enable or Disable Tab Performance Detector in Microsoft Edge for All Users using REG file
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
This option uses the PerformanceDetectorEnabled policy for Microsoft Edge.
1 Do step 2 (always on), step 3 (always off), or step 4 (default) below for what you want.
2 Always Turn On Tab Performance Detector in Microsoft Edge for All Users
This will override and gray out Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 5 below.
Always_enable_Edge_tab_performance_detector_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"PerformanceDetectorEnabled"=dword:000000013 Always Turn Off Tab Performance Detector in Microsoft Edge for All Users
This will override and gray out Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 5 below.
Disable_Edge_tab_performance_detector_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"PerformanceDetectorEnabled"=dword:000000004 Default User Choice Tab Performance Detector in Microsoft Edge
This is the default setting to allow using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 5 below.
Default_user_choice_Edge_tab_performance_detector.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"PerformanceDetectorEnabled"=-5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
