Tabs Loading Unpredictably in Microsoft Edge Workspaces

Question

Tabs Loading Unpredictably in Microsoft Edge Workspaces

DaleB 0

Computer: Dell Latitude 7450

OS: Windows 11

Edge: Version 139.0.3405.111 (Official build) (64-bit)

I maintain a MS Edge Workspace instance that currently has 130 tabs which are used for ongoing research I perform for my job. Each day when I open MS Edge, it loads my primary window, which just has 10 pinned tabs, and I can start work from there. But at some point in my day I need to open the research workspace and... I might as well just go to lunch at that point and let it load.

Some days, the workspace loads quickly with all the tabs inactive - sleeping. This is great, as only the tabs I need are activated when I click on them. But sometimes, the workspace tries to load EVERY SINGLE TAB all at the same time. This process can take 15 minutes or more and meanwhile the computer is completely unresponsive.

Why does workspaces sometimes loads everything at once, and other times all the tabs are sleeping? I need it to load with them sleeping. Every time, not sometimes.

Thanks!

3 answers

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Answer 1

Hello Dale. The variable loading of tabs within Microsoft Edge Workspaces, where tabs sometimes load in 'sleep' mode and sometimes they all load together, is based on how Edge works with memory management and restoring your session. When you restore Workspaces, Edge generally will utilize sleeping tabs and frozen tabs to save system resource and improve performance. An underlying aspect is based on many factors including system memory availability, the active history of the tab, and, whether Edge considers the session as a new launch, recovery from a crash, or a forced shutdown. If Edge believes your session is a recovery of a interrupted session, Edge may try to restore the session and the tabs to the last activity instead of keeping the tabs as sleep, hence you get the full load.

To confirm that tabs will always open in a sleeping state, check Edge's performance settings in Settings > System and Performance, enable "Save resources with sleeping tabs" and "Fade sleeping tabs", and disable any Startup Boost settings forcing full-session restoration. When you close Edge, avoid closing Edge with the Workspace still open; close the Workspace window, and it should save in a dormant state. Microsoft's Workspaces implementation is still being fine-tuned circa handling large quantities of tabs, so this issue may continue happen sporadically until better tab state is handled in future updates.

Here's the reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-workspaces

Best regards,

DaleB 0 Reputation points

2025-08-26T15:14:44.75+00:00

Awesome - thank you for the thoughtful response! I've checked the settings and have enabled "Save resources with sleeping tabs" and "Fade sleeping tabs." I checked the startup boost, and this only states that it keeps the browser kernel in memory... it doesn't say anything about forcing a full-session restoration. As stated:

"Startup boost starts core Microsoft Edge processes in the background to keep them ready when the browser is closed, so Microsoft Edge will start more quickly when launched."

and

"Startup boost keeps the browser running in the background with minimal processes when the browser is closed, which has a limited impact on device resource usage. Startup boost does not add any additional resources when browser windows are already open."

It sounds beneficial to me. I think my issue stems from some of the practices you described that trigger a full state restoration - I typically shut down my computer with the Workspace open, which could appear as an abrupt closure/crash sometimes. I will change that habit and see if between all these steps, the full-restoration thing stops happening. I'll report back here later with the results.

Answer 2

AceRobertT 14,285

Hello Dale. Thanks for getting back. That seems like a good plan, Dale and I really appreciate how systematic you're being in your approach. You're absolutely right about Startup Boost, which is almost always helpful as it doesn't necessarily trigger a full-session restoration. What you're seeing, as you suspected, is the shutdown behavior with the Workspace still open, which Edge sees as a "dirty exi". Thus, in order to save the state, it tries to aggressively reload everything.

By closing the Workspace window before shutting down, you're letting Edge know that it exited gracefully. That granted is needed for it to next restore tabs in a suspended state. Small difference, but for you setup with 130 tabs, that small difference takes you from one quick start to a system hang.

Best regards,

DaleB 0 Reputation points

2025-09-05T13:34:19.63+00:00

I was waiting for some work days to cycle through and see what happens with this. I'd say I've seen about 4 cycles of "startup, open browser, load workspace," and what I'm seeing is literally the opposite of what you suggest. In the instances where I manually close the workspace window before shutting down Edge, upon reopen the next day everything tries to load all at once. And just this morning, after my computer crashed with the workspace window open, upon reboot and reopening the workspace window, all tabs started inactive (asleep).

This tells me this behavior is either misunderstood or is behaving erratically.

Answer 3

I'm sorry but your explanation, while thoughtful and seemingly well-informed, has not been reflected in daily use. So far in the past several days, the tabs in my workspace have started "asleep" when I open it - and most of the time I am shutting down my computer with the browser windows open.

I'm not sure if this is now firmly in the past or if it will reappear in the future. As you said in your original answer, "Microsoft's Workspaces implementation is still being fine-tuned circa handling large quantities of tabs, so this issue may continue happen sporadically until better tab state is handled in future updates." Suffice it to say all I can do is observe best practices (verify the correct settings are checked) and hope for the best - and complain loudly when things start malfunctioning 😆

Thanks for your assistance!

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Tabs Loading Unpredictably in Microsoft Edge Workspaces

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