Modern browsers can use a lot of memory and this can slow your machine down.
Some apps like WhatsApp are Electron based browsers so they appear as apps but are essentially browsers that look like apps, these all use the same amount of memory as a browser
Examples of Electron apps
- Signal
- Notion
- Figma
Microsoft Teams is built either on Electron or Webview2 both are based on a browser also has very high memory usage.
Generally suggestions if you have high memory usage
Edge Browser
- Keep open tabs only 5 or 6 open at any time
- Edge/Settings/System and performance/System
- Disable Continue running background extensions and apps when Edge is closed
- System and performance/Performance
- Memory Enable Sleeping Tabs: This puts inactive tabs to sleep to free up RAM.
- Activate Efficiency Mode: Reduces resource usage (CPU/RAM) to improve battery life.
- Enable RAM Limiter (Resource Controls): In edge://settings/system/managePerformance, turn on the "Enable resource controls" toggle to set a specific RAM usage cap.
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Use Startup Boost: Turn off edge://settings/system/startupBoost if you want to free up memory when the browser is closed.