Microsoft Edge WebView2 Constantly Using 20% GPU with No Applications Running

Introduction

Microsoft Edge WebView2 is a component that allows developers to embed web content into their applications. It's a powerful tool for building modern applications that require web functionality. However, some users have noticed an issue where the WebView2 process consistently uses 20% of their GPU resources, even when no applications are running.

Understanding the Issue

The issue of Microsoft Edge WebView2 using GPU resources even when no applications are running has been reported by many users for several months. This problem can be caused by several factors, including:

• Background processes: WebView2 may have background processes that are still running, even if no applications are using it.
• Browser extensions: Some browser extensions can cause WebView2 to use GPU resources, even if they are not actively being used.
• Windows updates: Sometimes, Windows updates can cause issues with WebView2, resulting in excessive GPU usage.

How to Check if WebView2 is Using GPU Resources

To check if WebView2 is using GPU resources, you can use the Task Manager in Windows. Here's how:

1. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard.
2. In the Task Manager, click on the "Performance" tab.
3. Click on the "GPU" tab in the Performance window.
4. Check if WebView2 is listed in the "Processes" section and if it's using GPU resources.

Solutions to the Issue

There are several solutions that you can try to resolve the issue of Microsoft Edge WebView2 constantly using GPU resources:

Solution 1: Restart the WebView2 Process

Restarting the WebView2 process can help resolve the issue. Here's how:

1. Open the Task Manager.
2. In the Task Manager, find the "Microsoft Edge WebView2" process.
3. Right-click on it and select "End task" to stop the process.
4. Restart the application that's using WebView2 to start the process again.

Solution 2: Disable Browser Extensions

Disabling browser extensions can help resolve the issue. Here's how:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the window.
3. Click on "Extensions" in the menu.
4. Disable any extensions that you don't need.

Solution 3: Reinstall Microsoft Edge

Reinstalling Microsoft Edge can help resolve the issue. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Click on "Apps" in the left-hand menu.
3. Click on "Microsoft Edge" in the list of apps.
4. Click on "Uninstall" and follow the prompts to uninstall Microsoft Edge.
5. Go to the Microsoft Edge website and download the latest version of the browser.

Solution 4: Update Microsoft Edge WebView2

Updating Microsoft Edge WebView2 can help resolve the issue. Here's how:

1. Open the application that's using WebView2.
2. Check for updates to the application.
3. If an update is available, install it and restart the application.

• Microsoft Edge WebView2 can use GPU resources even when no applications are running due to background processes, browser extensions, or Windows updates.
• You can check if WebView2 is using GPU resources by using the Task Manager in Windows.
• Solutions to the issue include restarting the WebView2 process, disabling browser extensions, reinstalling Microsoft Edge, and updating Microsoft Edge Web ```vbnet View2.

  References

  • Microsoft Edge WebView2 Documentation. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/webview2/
  • Microsoft Edge WebView2 Issues with High GPU Usage. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/microsoft-edge-webview2-issues-with-high-gpu/a3a52c8d-d802-4b41-b94c-4a8cf33f4742
  • Microsoft Edge WebView2 GitHub Repository. https://github.com/MicrosoftEdge/WebView2
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