Microsoft Edge WebView2 Using Memory: Causes and Solutions

Microsoft Edge WebView2 can be a memory hog, but there are reasons behind it. One major cause is the way it handles JavaScript execution, which can lead to high memory usage.

Using multiple instances of WebView2 can also cause memory issues, as each instance has its own memory allocation. This can be particularly problematic in applications that require frequent loading and unloading of WebView2 controls.

To mitigate these issues, developers can use the WebView2 memory management features, such as the garbage collector and the memory profiler. These tools can help identify and address memory leaks, reducing the overall memory usage of the application.

By understanding the causes of high memory usage in Microsoft Edge WebView2 and using the available tools and techniques, developers can create more efficient and effective applications.

For another approach, see: Why Does Dropbox Use so Much Memory

Microsoft Edge WebView2 is using a lot of memory, and it's not just a minor issue. It's causing problems on Windows 11 devices, with some users reporting memory usage peaking at over 14GB.

Multiple instances of the WebView2 process can lead to cumulative memory use, making it a significant contributor to high memory consumption.

Heavy web content, such as multimedia elements and complex JavaScript, can also cause high memory usage. This has been observed in applications like Excel Add-Ins, which can use over 2GB of memory when hosting heavy web pages.

Memory leaks in applications can result from development flaws, leading to memory not being freed up properly. This has been reported by users who have deleted cached info and seen a significant reduction in memory usage.

Outdated software, such as older versions of WebView2 or host applications, can also lead to performance issues and high memory usage.

Here are some factors that can contribute to high memory usage by WebView2:

The Microsoft Edge WebView2 process is a crucial part of the Microsoft Edge web browser, designed to enhance your browsing experience within Windows applications.

It operates in the background, assisting Windows apps in connecting to the internet and displaying web content, without launching your default web browser. This functionality is made possible due to WebView2.

The process can sometimes consume more memory than it should, leading to performance issues.

There are only a few ways to resolve the increased memory consumption issue.

Here are some possible causes of high memory usage by the WebView2 process:

To monitor running processes and identify potential issues, you can use Task Manager to review processes frequently and terminate any that seem out of the ordinary.

Here's how to check if WebView2 is consuming excessive memory:

1. Open Task Manager: Right-click on the taskbar and select "Task Manager" or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

2. Check the Processes Tab: Look for "Microsoft Edge WebView2" in the list of processes. You can click on the "Memory" header to sort processes by memory usage.

3. Note Other Applications: Pay attention to other applications running at the same time, as they might also be utilizing WebView2 and contributing to overall memory consumption.

If you're comfortable with technical solutions, checking for application errors can be a good starting point to identify issues leading to high memory usage.

Application errors can sometimes hint at underlying problems that cause Microsoft Edge WebView2 to consume excessive memory.

To take your troubleshooting to the next level, consider checking for application errors.

Office apps like Teams, Outlook, and Excel Add-Ins are known to use high memory utilization on Windows 11 devices due to WebView2.

WebView2 is a component that enables web-based features in office apps, but it can sometimes cause memory leaks, leading to high memory utilization.

Jaap Smit, a user, reported that version 128.0.2739.67 of Teams consumed up to 350 MB of available RAM per active session, adding up to over 2 GB of memory usage.

Eric Linder, another user, experienced a similar issue with WebView2 using over 2 GB of memory when used by an Excel Add-In.

Lutz Heinrichs, a user, observed that Outlook 365 peaked at 14 GB of memory usage after reading two emails with links, which caused Windows to suspend the process.

Clearing cached info in the OS and deleting all forms of cached info in browsers and standard OS-related cache/tmp folders can help reduce memory utilization due to WebView2.

Microsoft Engineers should focus on fixing WebView2 to prevent massive memory leaks under normal use cases, rather than relying on end-users to find workarounds.

Here is a summary of the issues reported by users:

Fixing high memory consumption due to WebView2 can be a challenge, but there are some practical steps you can take. Clearing cache and browsing data is a good place to start, as it can help reduce memory usage.

In some cases, deleting cached info in the OS and clearing all possible cache options in browsers and OS-related folders can make a significant difference. For example, one user reported that clearing cache reduced their total used memory of all WebView2 tasks from over 2 GB to under 0.5 GB.

If you're experiencing high memory usage from Microsoft Edge WebView2, you can try checking the Processes Tab in Task Manager to see if WebView2 is consuming excessive memory. Look for "Microsoft Edge WebView2" in the list of processes and note other applications running at the same time, as they might also be utilizing WebView2.

Microsoft Edge users can also try clearing cache and browsing data, which can be useful in reducing memory usage. One user reported that clearing cache and browsing data helped reduce their memory usage from over 2 GB to under 0.5 GB.

Additional reading: Nextjs Memory Cache

In some extreme cases, WebView2 can consume as much as 14 GB of memory, leading to system crashes and other issues. If you're experiencing such high memory usage, it's essential to identify the root cause and take corrective action.

Here are some steps to identify high memory usage:

By following these steps and taking corrective action, you can help reduce high memory consumption due to WebView2 and improve your system's performance.

Reinstalling Microsoft Edge WebView can be a simple yet effective solution to high memory usage issues.

You can try reinstalling WebView2 by removing it and then installing it again. This process can potentially remove damaged data files that might be causing the problem.

To reinstall WebView2, head over to the Microsoft Edge developer site and click on the download link for either x64 or x86.

Once you've downloaded the installation file, run the runtime installer and follow the setup instructions.

Here's an interesting read: What Is Webview2 Manager