MICROSOFT is testing a new accelerated app launch feature in Windows 11 preview builds, initially limited to the Microsoft Edge browser. The aim is to make Edge start faster when a user launches it, with potential for other developers to apply for access.
The approach changes the traditional startup flow: instead of creating a temporary process that checks whether Edge is running and relays the launch request, Edge pre-registers its window with the system so a new launch can be directed directly at the already-known window. Microsoft says this reduces latency, particularly when the device is busy with other tasks. The improvement targets warm starts; if Edge is not already running in the background, the accelerated path won’t apply. By default, Edge keeps a few background processes alive after closing, so subsequent launches should feel quicker under the new mechanism.
Microsoft also outlined a developer interface coming to allow other apps to adopt a similar mechanism, though access will be limited. To participate, developers must obtain a special unlock token from Microsoft and implement single-instance logic to prevent issues when launching multiple instances. The feature is currently planned to support Windows 11 versions 26H2, 26H1 and 25H2; Windows 11 24H2 and earlier are out of support, meaning the accelerated launch feature won’t operate on those builds. 20 October 2026.