Microsoft is currently testing a new feature in Windows 11 preview builds designed to accelerate application launch times. The mechanism optimizes the startup process by allowing applications to register their windows to receive launch requests directly, bypassing the traditional method of creating temporary processes to check for existing instances.
The feature is currently exclusive to the Microsoft Edge browser. It specifically targets warm starts, meaning it requires the application to already have background processes running. Edge naturally maintains these background processes after windows are closed, which facilitates the accelerated launch behavior.
Third-party developers can request access to this functionality through Microsoft. The interface is currently listed as a limited-access feature, requiring developers to obtain a specific unlock token. Additionally, developers must implement their own logic to manage single-instance execution to prevent conflicts.
The accelerated launch capability is expected to be available for Windows 11 versions 25H2, 26H1, and 26H2. It will not be supported on Windows 11 24H2 or older versions of the operating system.
