Edge keeps running in the Background

Turning off Hardware Acceleration does NOT do anything.

My other machine has it ON and does NOT have the problem.

Also - Hardware Acceleration was always on, even before the problem first occurred.

Be reminded that the problem only occurred lately ... was never a problem in the past.

There is a solution, after some experimenting, which I prefer (@Vivaldi browser) But I have taken the time to explore this. Make a GPO as above but you want is set to disabled, make sure the policy is under computer not user. You must have enterprise or pro-11. Turn off Startup boost and continue running background extensions and apps when Microsoft Edge is closed, in Edge settings. Go to your search type "services" look for Microsoft edge, there should be three, make sure each one is set to manual, Apply restart. SOLVED, I've tested this over and over and every time Edge is opened and closed it is not running in the background. And yes you can leave hardware acceleration on.... Make sure this is set to disabled, "Allows Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows Startup, when the system is idle, and each time Edge is closed" Also, make sure Edge under task manager is not set to startup enabled if so set to disabled. Some of you might have to also disable Co-Pilot in the sidebar.

Under task bar settings. I have copilot disabled group policy since it's useless, same as Bing Chat just the ability to change PC settings. If all else fails a guaranteed way is make a new text file, place this in it without the parentheses.

(taskkill /f /im msedge.exe) save as all files and with the .bat extension, example- KillEdge.bat Run this after using edge.

Thanks, but it does not work. Win 11 Pro.

Same as before. I can open Edge and then close it withing a few seconds and the background tasks stop upon each close.

But when I open Edge and actually use it for a bit and then close it, the background tasks do not stop unless Edge is ended in Task Manager (or via batch file as you suggest).

This happens regardless of Edge settings, policy settings, or service settings.

Also, Edge just auto updated to the latest version and the issue remains.

Hi do2xg,

I'm not at the machine in question at the moment but will definitely try later.

(note! - here, at Win10 machine .. no problems!!)

Also: the three services for Edge ... all three are set to manual but two of them with (Triggert) ...?

should I set to just manual?

Also: just to clarify ... the problem is not that Edge starts by itself but keeps running in the background after closing.

Only after "end process(es)" or using force close with Ccleaner, Edge is completely closed.

It only happens after actually opening a website ... not when only opening Edge and closing right away.

I'll check settings in Group Editor (as described by you) later and try "disabled"

But here is an important point:

Shouldn't it be "enabled" ... then set below to "prevent pre-launch" ... with "enabled" meaning: having a choice??

while setting to "disable" simply means having no choice at all and default applies.

Thanks

Hello DJK_999,

same here... opening Edge and closing shortly without using it / opening a site, etc ... all closes / no background processes.

But as soon as I go on a website, then close ... background apps kepp running until force closed (Ccleaner) or "end process".

as you mentioned above ... no changes after recommendations by do2xg ... I will see later.

AGAIN: right now, here at the Win10 machine .. no issues / problems of any kind!!! even with no changes made in Group Editor.