Public mode

No access to your tenant or devices. Every item links to its source. What this means

Sources need attention Customize Public modeDiscuss ChangeIntel on Discord

Microsoft Edge Group Policy settings

911 settings · 156.0.4314.80 · 10 Nov 2026

5 settingsCSV
Back to the list

Microsoft Edge › Sleeping tabs settings

Configure auto discard sleeping tabs

Computer and userIntune-readyAutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled

Supported on Microsoft Edge version 120, Windows 7 or later

Shown as of 156.0.4314.80, 10 Nov 2026. See it in the latest templates.

What it does

Setting this policy enables inactive (sleeping) tabs to be automatically discarded after 1.5 days of inactivity. This is done to save memory. When the user switches back to a discarded tab, the tab needs to be reloaded. If the 'SleepingTabsEnabled' (Configure sleeping tabs) policy is enabled, then this feature is enabled by default. If the 'SleepingTabsEnabled' is disabled, then this feature is disabled by default and can't be enabled. If enabled, idle background tabs will be discarded after 1.5 days. If disabled, idle background tab won't be discarded after 1.5 days. Tabs can still be discarded for other reasons if this policy is disabled.

What it writes

Hive
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
Value name
AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled
When enabled
DWORD 1
When disabled
DWORD 0

Configure and deploy

Choose a state; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

State
Apply to

Enabled · Computer · template defaults

Registry file (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled"=dword:00000001


PowerShell

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Configure auto discard sleeping tabs
# Name: AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
  • The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
  • Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.

ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled

ADMX SyncML candidate

<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
  <SyncBody>
    <Replace>
      <CmdID>1</CmdID>
      <Item>
        <Meta>
          <Format>chr</Format>
          <Type>text/plain</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Target>
          <LocURI>./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_msedge/AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;</Data>
      </Item>
    </Replace>
    <Final/>
  </SyncBody>
</SyncML>
Intune remediation scripts

Detection

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()

function Test-RegistryValueExists {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}

function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    $valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
        return $false
    }

    $actual = $valueObject.$Name
    switch ($Kind) {
        'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
        'QWord' {
            $actualBits = if ($actual -is [uint64]) { $actual } else { [BitConverter]::ToUInt64([BitConverter]::GetBytes([int64]$actual), 0) }
            $expectedBits = if ($Expected -is [uint64]) { $Expected } else { [BitConverter]::ToUInt64([BitConverter]::GetBytes([int64]$Expected), 0) }
            return $actualBits -eq $expectedBits
        }
        'MultiString' {
            $actualArray = @($actual)
            $expectedArray = @($Expected)
            if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
                if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        'Binary' {
            $actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
            $expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
            if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
                if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
    }
}

# Policy: Configure auto discard sleeping tabs
# Name: AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled') | Out-Null
}

if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
    Write-Output 'Compliant'
    exit 0
}

$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1

Remediation

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Configure auto discard sleeping tabs
# Name: AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: msedge.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1

History 48 retained releases

  1. 157.0.4341.425 Nov 2026
    Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge · Value name: AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled
    • Description [removed: Setting this policy enables inactive (sle…][added: This policy setting lets you configure wh…] to [removed: be automatically discarded after 1.5 days of…][added: turn on auto discard. Auto discard reduces me…] When the user switches back to a discarded t…[removed: needs to be reloaded. If][added: is reloaded. By default, auto discard is turned…] the [removed: 'SleepingTabsEnabled' (Configure sleeping tabs) policy][added: current one. A new browsing session begins when the bro…] is [removed: enabled, then this feature is enabled by default. If][added: used more than 12 hours after the start of] the …
      Whole description, marked

      [removed: Setting this policy enables inactive (sleeping) tabs][added: This policy setting lets you configure whether] to [removed: be automatically discarded after 1.5 days of inactivity. This is done to save memory.][added: turn on auto discard. Auto discard reduces memory usage by discarding inactive background tabs.] When the user switches back to a discarded tab, the tab [removed: needs to be reloaded. If][added: is reloaded. By default, auto discard is turned on. Microsoft Edge discards an eligible background tab after it has remained in the background through three consecutive browsing sessions, including] the [removed: 'SleepingTabsEnabled' (Configure sleeping tabs) policy][added: current one. A new browsing session begins when the browser] is [removed: enabled, then this feature is enabled by default. If][added: used more than 12 hours after the start of] the [removed: 'SleepingTabsEnabled' is disabled, then this feature is disabled by default and can't be enabled. If enabled, idle background tabs will be discarded after 1.5 days.][added: previous session, or more than 18 hours on devices with 16 GB or more of memory. The tab's inactivity period starts over when the user switches to it or navigates to it.] If [removed: disabled, idle background tab won't be discarded after 1.5 days. Tabs can still be discarded for other reasons if ][added: this policy is enabled, auto discard is turned on. If this policy is disabled, auto discard is turned off. If ]this policy is [removed: disabled.][added: not configured, auto discard is turned on.]

  2. 150.0.4078.8016 Jul 2026
    • Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

46 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name
AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled
Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.Edge
Template file
msedge.admx
Release
Microsoft Edge 156.0.4314.80 · file set 76649ce29a47f619…
Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled)" explainText="$(string.AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" name="AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled" presentation="$(presentation.AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled)" valueName="AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SleepingTabs" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120" />
      <enabledValue>
        <decimal value="1" />
      </enabledValue>
      <disabledValue>
        <decimal value="0" />
      </disabledValue>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabled" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:SleepingTabs
<category displayName="$(string.SleepingTabs_group)" name="SleepingTabs" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:SleepingTabs
<category displayName="$(string.SleepingTabs_group)" name="SleepingTabs" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SleepingTabs_group">Sleeping tabs settings</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:category:microsoft_edge
<category displayName="$(string.microsoft_edge)" name="microsoft_edge" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:microsoft_edge">Microsoft Edge</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Edge:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Edge:SUPPORTED_WIN7_V120">Microsoft Edge version 120, Windows 7 or later</string></strings>
ChangeIntel

An IT change radar: releases, security, known issues, retirements, documentation changes, and service status from public sources. Every item links to supporting evidence; dates and statuses can change after they are read.

Sources read 15 Nov 19:06 UTC · 254 of 275 readable · 250 fully read · documentation 468/469 current