Edge keeps running in the Background

This can also be a condition of Microsoft Co-Pilot

(https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftedge/forum/all/why-is-edge-running-in-the-background-after/c40cf11f-0018-45da-b01f-83f6ada9508f)

You can disable co-pilot and that will normally stop Edge from running in the background even when you have "Continue to run" turned off.

Bob

I believe most of us that are having the, ( Edge Browser continues running in the background after closing the app. ), issue have a broken registry

path. To fix the issue we need to add to the registry path as follows below;

This Regedit should fix this issue:

It is a good idea before changing the registry to backup your pc., though I won't get into the different ways to backup you pc only the fix for Edge.

1. Go to your search bar and type - regedit -, then open the regedit.exe program.
2. Follow this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
3. Right click on - Microsoft - scroll down to - New - and select - Key -, then name the Key - Edge - and hit enter. ( If Edge already exists then continue to the next step. )
4. Right click on - Edge - scroll down to - New - and select - Dword (32bit) Value -, then name the Dword (32bit) Value - StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled - ( No spaces! )
5. Right click on - StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled - select - Modify - type in 0 for the - value data: - and leave - Base - as Hexidecimal. Then hit OK. ( Note: You must select or type - 0 - and hit enter to actually enter the - Hexideciamal Value - in the - Edit DWORD (32bit) Value - box to have the registry use it properly.)

Remember step five is turning all of those background processes to - 0 - ( OFF ), if you ever need them turned on again open Regedit and follow the Registry Path - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge - and turn the - Value Data - for - StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled - to - 1 - ( ON ).

For those of you that are wondering the name, - StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled -, is very confusing and seems almost irrelevant but upon looking to see the active list of programs running in the background connected to Edge they are linked and of course because this regedit really does work. Just be careful and be patient if you are a first time Regedit user. I say this because you can mess a lot of stuff up in there and depending on what was altered may depend on your pc ever running again which is why it is a good idea to backup your pc / registry before changing anything.

Yes, this works! It should be the only regedit work around that is used to stop it from running after Edge has been closed. All other buttons in Edge Settings worked for me. Again, only after Edge being started and used for some time did the program continue to run in the background when closed. This regedit solution should be the only thing you need to get it to shut down completely when closed. I just put a fresh Windows 11 OS on my PC and finally decided to see if I could solve this Edge issue and I am glad I did. I found only one single post about this regedit and it worked plain and simple. I think some copies of Windows 11 are missing the registry for Edge. So make a registry for it and it will be fixed.

I tried a several work arounds that were posted here to this same issue and nothing kept it from continuing to run in the background after it was closed. This was very annoying!

This work around actually works:

Turn off "Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed" and "Startup boost" Edge's settings (System and Performance > System).

Open regedit.exe (Registry Editor) - Running it as Administrator is recommended.

Go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" (if this path does not exist, add a new Key with that name).

Add the following new DWORD (32-bit) Value: StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled and set it to 0.

Reboot Windows or kill the task and restart MS Edge. ]

Be sure to restart your computer after you have made the DWORD StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled, it should be set to 0 once you make it but look to be sure. I also had to make the "Edge" key because it was not in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft. This is a very simple work around and it actually stops Edge from running in the background after you close it.

Finally right?

Hi All,

I know ... this is old and usually easy ... turn off "Startup Boost" and "Continue running background apps ..."

I have those off and it always worked they way it supposed to.

All of a sudden Edge keeps running.

Indication for still running comes from Ccleaner, which removes all trackers. All of a sudden I get the message:

(paraphrased) Ccleaner can't clean because Edge is still running ... needs to be forced shut down"

In Task manager I also still see 11 Edge processes going even though Edge is shut off.

Again ... "Startup Boost" and "Background Apps ..." are unchecked in settings.

Any suggestions?

I repaired Edge already and nothing changed. Its updated.

PS: I checked in another machine (Win10), same Edge version ... no problems here ... all Edge processes in Task Manager disappear

when shutting Edge down.

Thanks

Answer ( Given by: DV 764 , From: Microsoft Community )

 The original question was:     Why is my microsoft edge still running in the background? even though I have turned off "Startup boost"? 

[ DV_764

Replied on February 29, 2024

Turn off "Continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed" and "Startup boost" Edge's settings (System and Performance > System).

Open regedit.exe (Registry Editor) - Running it as Administr is recommended.

Go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" (if this path does not exist, add a new Key with that name).

Add the following new DWORD (32-bit) Value: StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled and set it to 0.

Reboot Windows or kill the task and restart MS Edge. ]

  I am not DV 764 but I will pass this knowledge on! I found this answer to this annoying issue a ton of us have been having with Microsoft Edge and it is

the only thing I have found to work for the same exact issue. It sounds as if it will not work if you read the value but trust me it does work. If you are

like me and don't have Edge listed in the above regedit location then create a NEW KEY for Microsoft as that is as far as you can go. Name the new key Edge so as to finish the registry path. Then Follow DV 764's instructions to fix this upsetting issue. Best of luck and stay safe, always backup your registry

editor when modding things just in case you make a major mistake! ]