Saving System Resources with Sleeping Tabs

Written by Eric Wyatt (last updated July 12, 2021)

1

Sleeping tabs in Microsoft Edge Chromium (Edge) browser is a simple feature that you never thought you'd need. When tabbed browsing first appeared in our web browsers, it was a fantastic feature that allowed us to declutter our virtual desktop from the barrage of countless windows filling up our screens. As helpful as tabbed browsing is, it is easy to get carried away. Rather than 20 separate windows, we now might have five browser windows with ten tabs each. Many users fail to realize that each window and each tab open on their computer takes up and increases memory usage. If you're on a laptop, having lots of windows or tabs decreases battery life, as it increases CPU load.

To combat this, Microsoft added a feature known as sleeping tabs. The way sleeping tabs work is that after you specify an amount of time inactivity, Edge will put a tab to "sleep." When a tab is asleep, it will be visibly less bright or dimmed. When Edge pauses the web page or site, it suspends page scripts or minimizes CPU allotment for those tabs that have gone to sleep.

To enable sleeping tabs, simply do the following:

  1. Launch Edge.
  2. Within the address bar, type edge://settings/system and press Enter. Edge displays the System section of the Settings page.
  3. Under the Optimize Performance section, make sure the "Save resources with sleeping tabs" toggle is turned on.
  4. Close the Settings section of Edge; your change should take effect immediately.

That is it. With the toggle turned on, tabs will go to sleep, freeing up system resources as you're surfing the web. If you want to turn sleeping tabs off, repeat the steps above and turn the toggle mentioned in step 3 to off.

 This tip (13882) applies to Windows 10.

Author Bio

Eric Wyatt

Eric Wyatt is a swell guy (or so his friends tell him). He is a formally trained designer and branding expert, bringing a wide range of skills to his Tips.Net articles. ...

MORE FROM ERIC

Volume Conversions

Remembering volume conversions can be tricky. Fortunately, the Windows 10 calculator offers volume conversion capabilities.

Discover More

How to Find Your Windows 10 OEM Product Key

Your OEM product key is assigned by your Original Equipment Manufacturer to your version of Windows. Using the Command ...

Discover More

Installing a Native Progressive Web App

Windows 10 with the Edge Chromium browser allows you to install Progressive Web Apps. These allow for fast installation ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Understanding IP Addresses

IP addresses are at the heart of computer networking. They are typically handled automatically, but you may find it ...

Discover More

Edge Chromium Setting URLs

Edge Chromium allows access to settings using shortcut URLs. Use this list of Edge settings shortcut URLs to quickly ...

Discover More

Creating a Desktop Shortcut for a Favorite Web Page

If you visit a certain Web page frequently, you may wish to create a desktop shortcut to take you there. This tip tells ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 0 + 7?

2021-07-12 13:10:08

C L Boyd

My work place's default browser on our computers is Google Chrome. Does that browser have the ability for sleeping tabs, and if so, how are they enabled or disabled in Google Chrome?

Newest Tips
Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.