Microsoft Edge launches up to 33 percent faster on Windows 11 during heavy multitasking, according to company announcements detailing system performance updates that also accelerate core menus by 20 percent and reduce resource demands on entry-level devices.
Opening Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 is getting noticeably quicker, provided the software is already running in the background. Microsoft announced that its Accelerated App Launches feature improves browser launch speed by 15 percent for most eligible users, with gains reaching 33 percent during heavy multitasking workloads. The improvement requires Edge version 150 or later and a supported Windows 11 update.
Bypassing Intermediary Windows Processes
The performance boost applies when Edge is already active or running in the background, though it does not cover cold starts where no browser process is active. The underlying mechanism eliminates an extra step in how Windows opens an existing browser process. Edge can now register its running process directly with Windows, allowing subsequent launch requests to reach it straight away instead of relying on an intermediary process to locate and forward the request. Accelerated App Launches supports opening Edge from the Start menu or taskbar, as well as launching supported links that use Edge as the default browser.
The feature requires Windows 11 version 25H2, 26H1, or 26H2 with the applicable October 2026 update or a later release containing the improvement. Preview updates released by Microsoft indicate that Windows 11 version 24H2 is not supported. Home and Pro editions of 24H2 reached the end of support on October 13, while Enterprise and Education editions continue receiving security updates until October 12, 2027.
Broader Speed Gains Across Windows 11
Alongside the browser updates, HVG reported that Microsoft disclosed performance improvements across other core areas of the operating system. The Start Menu, File Explorer, Settings, search interface, and right-click context menu now open 20 percent faster. Furthermore, multitasking performance can run up to 40 percent faster, a metric tested using 20 open browser tabs, a 4K video, Outlook, File Explorer, and large documents running simultaneously.
For devices equipped with 8GB of RAM, Microsoft Teams now runs in efficiency mode by default, which can decrease device load by up to 20 percent. Everyday office software such as Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook can also require up to 360 megabytes less memory, helping non-Microsoft programs manage system resources more efficiently on constrained hardware.
Microsoft Plans to Contribute Underlying Technology to Chromium
Accelerated App Launches operates independently of Startup Boost, which keeps Edge processes running in the background through configurable settings and enterprise policies. Microsoft plans to contribute the underlying technology to Chromium so that other Chromium-based browsers can eventually adopt the functionality. The company is also exploring additional uses for the accelerated launch mechanism within Edge, including PDF opening, though no rollout schedule has been confirmed.