Windows 11 is embracing a new feature that promises to enhance user experience by introducing “accelerated app launches.” The first application to benefit from this innovation is none other than Microsoft Edge. This advancement allows Windows to streamline the process of opening Edge when it is already running in the background. Instead of initiating an additional temporary process, Windows now directs the request straight to the existing instance of Edge, resulting in a noticeably quicker launch time, as evidenced in recent tests.
Windows 11 now skips an extra process when opening Edge
On October 16, 2026, Microsoft rolled out KB5127936 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel, marking a significant update for Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2. This update, which transitions Build 26200.9807 and 26300.9807 respectively, introduces the accelerated launch feature for Edge as part of a broader initiative aimed at improving app performance across the operating system. However, users may need to wait a bit longer for the feature to appear following the update installation.
According to Microsoft’s changelog, “Windows now routes your request directly to the running instance instead of first starting an extra, temporary process.” This change effectively reduces the launch path, allowing Edge to respond more swiftly, particularly on devices that are multitasking.
It’s important to note that this enhancement primarily benefits what are known as warm launches, where Edge is already active in the background. Thanks to Edge’s Startup Boost feature, it remains running even after being closed, making this improvement more relevant than one might assume. However, launching Edge for the first time after a system restart will not see the same speed increase, and Microsoft has yet to disclose the exact time savings in milliseconds.
Edge before and after the update, tested
In testing conducted on a modest virtual machine equipped with just 4GB of RAM, the performance of Edge was scrutinized. Prior to the installation of KB5127936, Edge opened relatively quickly from the taskbar after a restart, but a noticeable lag was observed when launching it while other applications, such as Store and Paint, were active.
Post-update, the launch speed of Edge remained consistent when opened from the taskbar after a restart. However, when Store and Paint were running, Edge launched significantly faster, showcasing the effectiveness of Windows 11’s accelerated app launch feature.
Microsoft wants every Windows app to launch faster, too
Traditionally, many Windows applications operate on a multi-instance basis, meaning each launch initiates a new process and window. In contrast, single-instance applications like Edge activate the existing window when launched again. Microsoft’s app instancing documentation clarifies that “attempting to launch a second instance of a single-instanced app typically results in the first instance’s main window being activated instead.”
The challenge lies in the process that Windows employs to facilitate this. When a user clicks on a single-instance app’s icon or a link, Windows still initiates a new process to verify if the app is already running, passing the request to it before exiting. This unnecessary intermediary step can introduce delays, particularly on busy systems.
Microsoft has been actively working to eliminate this middleman. A resource titled “Register your application for accelerated warm launches,” published over a year ago, outlines the process for developers. With accelerated launches, the running app registers a window with Windows, allowing subsequent launches to send requests directly to that window, thereby “reducing overall latency by eliminating the intermediary process.” However, developers must navigate several prerequisites to implement this feature.
- The APIs are classified as a Limited Access Feature, requiring developers to request an unlock token from Microsoft.
- Applications must register through an experimental API, IExperimentalAPIInvoker, for Start tile and link launches.
- Acceleration applies only to links for which the app is the default handler.
- Developers must maintain their own single-instance code, as the feature “doesn’t cover every kind of launch, from every source application, on every version of Windows.”
Consequently, while Edge is currently benefiting from this advancement, it does not guarantee that other applications like Spotify or Discord will experience similar improvements in the near future. However, should Microsoft expand access to these APIs, any single-instance app running in the background could potentially bypass the intermediary process as well.
Windows already has other ways to speed up app launches
Microsoft has previously attempted to enhance app launch speeds by keeping them active in the background. For instance, Edge’s Startup Boost feature “starts core Microsoft Edge processes in the background to keep them ready when the browser is closed,” a strategy mirrored by Office applications, which maintain a paused state for Word on systems with at least 8GB of RAM. File Explorer has also seen improvements through preloading, although tests indicated that it still lagged behind Windows 10 in terms of speed.
Accelerated launches take a different approach by eliminating unnecessary processes rather than simply keeping more applications in memory. This method prioritizes efficiency, reducing the workload on the system. Additionally, Microsoft is working to optimize WinUI for lower RAM usage, suggesting that upcoming months could see Windows 11 becoming more responsive while consuming less memory, as evidenced in the 26H2 update that reportedly uses 2GB less RAM.
If Microsoft adheres to its typical rollout schedule, the accelerated launch feature for Edge is expected to be available as an optional update later this month, coinciding with the November 2026 Patch Tuesday update on November 10. However, the gradual rollout means that some users may experience the update later than others.
