Speed Up Chrome on Windows 11: Turn Off Efficiency Mode for Improved Browsing

Experiencing sluggish performance in Google Chrome on your Windows 11 machine? This is particularly noticeable when multiple tabs are open. Fortunately, Windows 11 offers an Efficiency Mode designed to act as a smart energy saver. However, for avid Chrome users, this mode might hinder your browsing experience rather than enhance it. Disabling Efficiency Mode could be the key to restoring your Chrome’s speeds.

Understanding the Impact of Windows 11’s Efficiency Mode on Chrome

Since the launch of its 22H2 update, Windows 11 has automatically activated an “Efficiency Mode”for various web browsers, aimed at conserving battery power. The approach involves lowering the priority of background processes associated with browsers.

To assess the impact of this mode, open multiple tabs in Chrome and then launch the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Look for a green leaf icon within the process group, signifying that “the process group is operating in Efficiency Mode, ”limiting resource consumption. This icon can appear multiple times, indicating different Chrome process groups.

Chrome processes running in Efficiency Mode in Windows 11 Task Manager, highlighting CPU usage.

While Efficiency Mode is beneficial for battery savings, heat reduction, and quieter operation during light browsing, heavy users may experience adverse effects.

When background scripts and processes are limited, several issues can arise, including:

Unexpected CPU spikes due to suppressed processes
Increased fan noise and overheating
Lagging scrolling on specific tabs
Delayed responsiveness when switching tabs

For desktop users, the Efficiency Mode lacks significance since there is no reliance on battery performance. Instead, you may face increased fan noise and a frustrating browsing experience.

How to Disable Efficiency Mode for Chrome on Windows 11

One common method to deactivate Efficiency Mode in Windows is to right-click on individual processes and select Efficiency Mode. However, you can’t do this when the green leaf icon appears as the option will be greyed out.

Moreover, toggling off Efficiency Mode for each process individually doesn’t yield prolonged benefits, as Chrome defaults to Efficiency Mode upon reopening.

Turning off Efficiency Mode for Chrome processes individually.

Fortunately, there is a straightforward command-line adjustment that allows you to permanently disable this mode. Begin by right-clicking the Chrome browser icon and selecting Properties.

Accessing Chrome's Properties on a Windows 11 desktop.

Next, navigate to the Shortcut tab, click in the Target field, and position the cursor at the end of the text, including the quotes. Then, enter a space followed by the command:

--disable-features=UseEcoQoSForBackgroundProcess

Click Apply, followed by OK, and then close the Properties window.

Modified Target field in Chrome Properties to disable Efficiency Mode.

After this modification, launch Google Chrome using the new shortcut you created. The green leaf icon indicating Efficiency Mode should no longer appear beside Chrome processes.

With Efficiency Mode disabled, you should notice a marked improvement in Chrome’s performance. Expect the fan noise to decrease significantly, enhancing your overall browsing experience. Your individual tabs and scripts will now function without restrictions, leading to quicker tab responsiveness and an overall more fluid browsing process.

To streamline access, consider pinning this modified Chrome shortcut to your taskbar. If you utilize multiple Chrome profiles on your device, remember to repeat the shortcut modification for each profile.

Why Does Google Chrome Perform Slowly on Windows 11?

Similar to other web browsers, Chrome can become resource-intensive, particularly with multiple tabs open, leading to responsiveness delays. Issues such as accumulated cache and corrupted site data can further exacerbate sluggish performance. Fortunately, we have compiled various strategies to expedite your Chrome browsing experience, regardless of these challenges. For users of alternative browsers, similar techniques can be implemented to enhance speed and efficiency.

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