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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTo enable or disable hardware acceleration in Microsoft Edge, open Settings > System and performance and switch Use graphics acceleration when available on or off. You can also go directly to edge://settings/system; restart Edge after changing the setting.
The setting allows Edge to use graphics acceleration when it is available, but it does not guarantee that every feature or video format will use the GPU. To check what Edge is using, open edge://gpu.
Enable or disable hardware acceleration from Edge Settings
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and choose Settings.
- Open System and performance.
- Find Use graphics acceleration when available.
- Turn the switch on to allow graphics acceleration when available, or off to turn it off.
- Restart Edge to apply the change.
To open the same settings page directly, enter edge://settings/system in Edge’s address bar.
Check whether Edge is using the GPU
- Enter
edge://gpuin the address bar. - Review the Graphics Feature Status section.
- For video playback, check whether Video Decode reports hardware acceleration.
GPU use is feature-specific. Some features may use hardware acceleration while others show software rendering, depending on the device, graphics driver, operating system, and supported video format.
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Troubleshoot software rendering or video playback
If a graphics feature remains software-rendered, check that graphics acceleration is enabled and update the GPU driver from your device manufacturer. Software rendering of video, WebGL, and canvas content can increase CPU usage, according to Microsoft’s performance troubleshooting guidance.
For video, restart Edge and check Video Decode on edge://gpu. If you need to identify the decoder used during playback, open edge://media-internals in another tab and inspect the video player information. Hardware acceleration being enabled does not ensure that every video codec is supported by your GPU and driver.
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Configure the setting for managed Windows or macOS devices
Organizations can manage this setting with the Microsoft Edge policy HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled. The policy is supported on Windows and macOS in Edge version 77 and later; it is not supported on Android or iOS. It applies across profiles and requires an Edge restart after changes.
Windows Group Policy
In the Group Policy editor, go to Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge and configure Use graphics acceleration when available. An enabled or unconfigured policy allows graphics acceleration when available; a disabled policy turns it off.
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Windows Registry
For a mandatory Windows policy, use the registry path SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge and the value name HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled. Use Group Policy where available and take care when editing the registry.
macOS managed preferences
On macOS, the managed preference key is HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled. These policy controls are intended for managed devices; ordinary users can change the setting in Edge Settings.
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Which setting should you use?
| What you want to do | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| Allow Edge to use the GPU when available | Turn on Use graphics acceleration when available, then restart Edge. |
| Turn off graphics acceleration | Turn the setting off, then restart Edge. |
| Check whether a feature or video uses the GPU | Review Graphics Feature Status or Video Decode at edge://gpu. |
| A feature remains software-rendered | Confirm the setting is on and check for a GPU driver update from your device manufacturer. |
FAQ
What is hardware acceleration called in the current version of Edge?
Microsoft labels the setting Use graphics acceleration when available. Microsoft policy documentation refers to graphics acceleration.
Does enabling graphics acceleration mean every video uses the GPU?
No. GPU use depends on the feature, video format, device, and graphics driver. Check Video Decode on edge://gpu to verify the current status.
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Why does Edge show software rendering?
Edge may use software rendering when the device, driver, or feature does not support hardware acceleration. Confirm that the setting is on and check for a GPU driver update from your device manufacturer.
Do I need to restart Edge after changing the setting?
Yes. Restart Edge after changing the setting so the change can take effect.
Can I manage this setting on Android or iPhone?
The HardwareAccelerationModeEnabled management policy is not supported on Android or iOS. The desktop management instructions in this article apply to Windows and macOS.
The Bottom Line
Open edge://settings/system, change Use graphics acceleration when available, and restart Edge. Check edge://gpu to see whether the feature or video path you care about is hardware accelerated; if it remains software-rendered, check the GPU driver and device support.
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