Edge Launches 15% Faster on Windows 11

Microsoft's Accelerated App Launches skips a Windows lookup step, and Microsoft plans to offer the technology to Chromium.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Computers

Microsoft announced on October 29 that its Accelerated App Launches feature improves Microsoft Edge launch speed by 15% for most eligible users, rising to 33% during heavy multitasking. The feature is shipped in the sense of being available through Windows 11 updates, but it requires Edge version 150 or later and does not support Windows 11 version 24H2.

Why it matters

The change targets the Windows lookup step that previously had to locate a running Edge instance before forwarding a launch request, a delay that applied every time a user opened the browser. Microsoft also plans to contribute the technology to Chromium, which would let other Chromium-based browsers adopt it if they choose.

Microsoft reports a 15% launch speed gain for most eligible users and up to 33% during heavy multitasking, measured against the prior launch path. The stub does not give absolute launch times or the test methodology behind either figure.

The players

Microsoft

Microsoft builds Windows 11 and the Edge browser, which runs on the Chromium engine it plans to contribute this feature to.

Chromium

Chromium is the open-source browser engine that underlies Edge and Google Chrome, and the project to which Microsoft plans to contribute this technology.

The details

When Edge is already running in the background, Windows previously started an intermediary process to find that instance and forward each launch request. Under Accelerated App Launches, Edge registers its running process with Windows, so later launch requests reach it directly and skip that lookup step. The boost does not apply when no browser process is active, so a cold start gets no benefit.

- October 13: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions reached end of support.
- October 28: Microsoft released preview updates KB5127936 and KB5127653.
- October 29: Microsoft announced Accelerated App Launches.
- October 12, 2027: Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and Education security updates end.

The Tech Race

Microsoft's plan to contribute Accelerated App Launches to Chromium positions Edge as a source of engine-level changes rather than only a consumer of them. Other Chromium-based browsers, including those from competitors, could adopt the mechanism if Chromium accepts it, though no adoption timeline is given.

Users on eligible Windows 11 versions with Edge 150 or later can see faster launches when the browser is already open or running in the background. Windows 11 24H2 users are not supported, and cold starts will not see the gain.

The takeaway

Watch whether Chromium accepts Microsoft's contribution, since that would determine if other browsers gain the same launch path. Users on Windows 11 24H2 should check their update status, because that version is excluded from the feature.