Woman wearing pink headphones playing video games in her studio with her friend cheering for her

March 25, 2025

5 common mistakes gamers make in Edge

Looking to enhance your gaming experience? Microsoft Edge is more than just a browser; it’s a gamer’s secret weapon. To make sure you’re getting the most out of it, let’s explore some common mistakes that could be slowing you down and how Edge’s features can help you stay ahead of the game.

#1 Overlooking performance settings

One of the most common mistakes is not adjusting the performance settings. Gamers often miss out on the Efficiency mode, which helps reduce resource usage, allowing for a smoother gaming experience. Make sure to enable this feature in the Settings menu under System and Performance.

#2 Ignoring tracking prevention

Edge’s Tracking prevention feature is designed to protect your privacy, but it can also improve performance. By blocking trackers, Edge helps reduce the load on your system, which can lead to better gaming performance. Ensure that this feature is set to Balanced or Strict for optimal results.

To change the tracking prevention level in Microsoft Edge, click on the Settings and more menu (…) in the top right of your browser and select Settings. In Settings, navigate to Privacy, search, and services. Under Tracking prevention, choose Balanced or Strict.

#3 Not using vertical tabs

Vertical tabs are a unique feature in Edge that can help gamers manage multiple tabs more efficiently. This can be particularly useful when you have several game guides or forums open simultaneously. Activating vertical tabs can declutter your browser and free up system resources. To enable vertical tabs, navigate to Settings, then Appearance. Under the Customize toolbar section, toggle on the Show vertical tabs button option.

#4 Neglecting to clear cookies & browsing data

Over time, browsing data can accumulate and slow down your browser. Gamers often forget to clear their cache and cookies, which can lead to suboptimal performance.

Regularly clearing your browsing data can keep Edge running smoothly. To do this, navigate to Settings and choose Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the Clear browsing data section and click on Choose what to clear. In the pop-up window, select the Time range for which you want to clear the data, check the boxes for the types of data you want to remove, and then click on Clear now.

#5 Disabling graphics acceleration

Graphics acceleration is a feature that allows Edge to offload graphics rendering to the GPU, which can significantly improve performance. Some gamers disable this setting without realizing its benefits. Make sure graphics acceleration is enabled. Go to Settings and choose System and performance to set your preference.

Edge: Your ultimate gaming companion

By avoiding these common mistakes and leveraging Edge’s unique features, you can enjoy a smoother and more efficient gaming experience. Try Microsoft Edge for your gaming sessions and see the difference it can make. Happy gaming!

DISCLAIMER: Features and functionality subject to change. Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.