Microsoft Edge › Sleeping tabs settings
Configure auto discard sleeping tabs
Supported on Microsoft Edge version 120, Windows 7 or later
Shown as of 156.0.4314.50, 26 Oct 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.
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/AutoDiscardSleepingTabsEnabledADMX 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><enabled/></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
- 157.0.4341.425 Nov 2026Registry 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.]
- Description
- 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 156.0.4314.50 · file set
b3317429f5796e05…
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>