Microsoft is testing a new feature called 'Accelerate App Launch' for Windows 11, designed to reduce the time required to open applications that are already running in the background. The Microsoft Edge browser is the first application to implement this improvement.
The update is currently being rolled out to users in the Release Preview channel via the KB5127936 patch. It is available for Windows 11 versions 25H2 (Build 26200.9807) and 26H2 (Build 26300.9807).
The optimization specifically targets 'warm starts,' meaning it only affects applications that have not been fully closed. The feature does not improve the initial launch speed of Edge after a system reboot.
Under the previous mechanism, opening an application like Edge triggered the creation of a temporary process. This process checked for existing instances, forwarded the request, and then terminated. This 'middleman' process caused delays during multitasking.
The new mechanism allows running applications to register their windows with the system in advance. When a user requests to open the app, Windows routes the request directly to the registered window, bypassing the creation of a temporary process and reducing system overhead.
