Microsoft Edge efficiency mode reduces CPU and RAM usage to save battery life

Microsoft Edge Update Dev New
Microsoft Edge Update Dev New (Image credit: Future)

Updated November 19, 2021 at 8:55 AM: This post has been updated with the date efficiency mode started rolling out to Edge.

What you need to know

  • Microsoft introduced an efficiency mode in Microsoft Edge to reduce battery consumption.
  • Efficiency mode reduces CPU and RAM usage to extend the battery life of PCs.
  • Microsoft announced efficiency mode alongside several new Edge features that focus on saving time and money.

Microsoft announced several new features for its Edge browser this week. Most of those tools focus on saving time and money while shopping, such as the new price notification feature. The company also introduced efficiency mode for Microsoft Edge to reduce battery consumption.

Efficiency mode kicks in when a PC's battery is low. The feature reduces CPU and RAM usage to lower how much power it draws from a device.

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Here's Microsoft's description of the feature from the blog post introducing it:

When your device's battery is low, Microsoft Edge will set itself to efficiency mode and significantly reduce system resource usage like CPU and RAM, extending battery life and helping you get more done while on the go.

If you don't like Edge switching to efficiency mode, you'll be able to toggle the option off through the browser's settings.

The feature initially rolled out with Edge version 95 in October but was highlighted by Microsoft's recent blog post.

While you're browsing the web with Edge, make sure to check out our guide on how to use the browser to help you save time and money on Black Friday.

Sean Endicott
News Writer

Sean Endicott is a News Writer at Windows Central, where he covers Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps, and the broader PC ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has written well over a thousand articles across the Microsoft landscape, covering breaking news, analysis, and feature reporting.

He writes Windows Wrap, a weekly column covering the biggest stories in Windows and the PC industry, and what they mean for the platform going forward.

Before joining Windows Central full-time, Sean worked in journalism and media production after earning a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of tech, he is an award-winning American football coach based in Nottingham, England, and was named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.