Edge keeps running in the Background

Anonymous
2023-10-23T13:57:28+00:00

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

Microsoft Edge | Other | Windows 11

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

160 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-12-22T15:24:13+00:00

    Hello coicevoice,

    I had this (..update as soon as...) on for weeks and never made a difference in reg. to the issue.

    HOWEVER!

    I looks like I have found the solution... not only to "Edge keeps running..." but also to another post "How to stop the annoying "Trending Now" drop down under the search bar"

    I simply open Edge as "In Private" window. It solved both issues (at least for now)

    In regards to continuing background processes: I opened Edge with all kinds of websites, Youtube, Amazon, signed in, etc., ... Edge always closed immediately all processes in Task Manager!!! Up at the top and no background processes further down! I tested this for a while and always worked ... so far.

    At the same time the annoying Trending Now is gone as well. However, if someone likes all the ads, weather, sports, etc., news, this is not for you.

    The screen is just the plain background (gray in my case, as I like it.) and none of the news/ads are possible. Good!!

    However, there are a couple of permanent explanations about "In Private" and what it does.

    BTW: You can set the "In Private" window to open as default:

    right click Edge short cut icon on task bar > right click Edge > Properties > in the "Target" line add to the end of the path

    -in private (with a space between Default and the hyphen ..... Default -inprivate) > Apply > OK

    It can be reversed if you want to. I had this for a while and it works great. Clicking the shortcut now always opens In Private.

    I'll post this same answer also in the other post regarding "Stop Trending Now"

    Hope it remains working and for everybody.

    Cheers

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-22T08:27:24+00:00

    it's a longshot, but since it's a windows bug that needs to be fixed, perhaps someone might try this: go to windows update, and there is a setting that says, "get the latest windows updates as soon as they're available". turn that on. perhaps the next build has fixed it already?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-18T15:36:20+00:00

    Same here - two machines ... but Win10 still good ... no problems in that regard at all.

    Also - my Ccleaner prompts me to force close Edge and it's just one click to shut Edge down completely ...

    (when choose Custom Clean ... just one click and takes a split second)

    no need to go into Task Manager.

    Cheers

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-16T11:39:47+00:00

    This issue is in Windows 11 Edge & Windows 10 Edge.

    I have 2 machines, both configured the same regarding Edge & Settings etc.

    Before the latest Microsoft update I previously had an update for Windows 11 Edge installed & this issue suddenly appeared. My Windows 10 machine did not have the issue after the update.

    I downloaded the Windows 11 Edge Canary version & the problem existed on that version as well.

    However, since installing Windows 11 "2023-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5033375)" & Windows 10 with "OS Builds 19044.3803 and 19045.3803" this issue now appears in both Windows 11 & Windows 10.

    The only workarounds I've found to work are to use the Task Manager & "End Task" or restart or shutdown the machine, only then can the cookies be cleaned by ccleaner or whichever cookies cleaner is used.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-12-14T13:12:12+00:00

    I agree and see the same weird Edge behaviors you described on Win 11. I also think it's something MS introduced with a Win 11 update that is most likely affecting the Edge's System and Performance settings.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments