How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Pre-launching at Startup in Windows 10
Microsoft Edge is a new web browser that is available across the Windows 10 device family. It is designed for Windows 10 to be faster, safer, and compatible with the modern Web.
By default, Microsoft Edge pre-launches as a background process during Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed waiting to be launched by the user. Pre-launching helps the performance of Microsoft Edge and minimizes the amount of time required to start up Microsoft Edge.
Starting with Windows 10 build 17713 (announced in Windows 10 build 17723), you can use a new Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed group policy that lets you decide whether Microsoft Edge can pre-launch during Windows sign in, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed. By default this setting is to allow pre-launch.
If you allow pre-launch, disable, or don’t configure this policy setting, Microsoft Edge pre-launches during Windows sign in, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed; minimizing the amount of time required to start up Microsoft Edge.
If you prevent pre-launch, Microsoft Edge won’t pre-launch during Windows sign in, when the system is idle, or each time Microsoft Edge is closed.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Microsoft Edge pre-launching during Windows sign in, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed for all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Microsoft Edge pre-launching.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Pre-launching in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Pre-launching using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Microsoft Edge pre-launching background processes
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option TWO below.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge
3 In the right pane of Microsoft Edge in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Not Configured is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Prevent pre-launching in the "Options" drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 You can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
AllowPrelaunch DWORD
delete = Enable
0 = Disable
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you want.
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Pre-launch_Microsoft_Edge.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Pre-launch_Microsoft_Edge.reg
Download
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Tab Preloading in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Background Apps in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Page Prediction in Microsoft Edge in Windows 10
Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Pre-launching in Windows 10
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New #1
Just checked my app history and cleared it in Task Manager, and acter about 10 minutes, Edge had used 30 seconds of CPU which seems a bit high considering I never opened it. So what does Edge do when pc is idling I wonder?
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New #3
Hi,
Another jewel Shawn
Interesting GP wouldn't just be set to disabled instead of enabled and the second choice though :)
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New #6
Hi,
Well at least the reg file doesn't use MS double talk
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New #8
Hey Shawn, want to take just a minute to thank you again for your excellent tutorials and general help on this forum. I'm retired and will be 80 in a couple of months and can use all the computer help I can get. Since Netscape's time, I've thoroughly enjoyed tweaking my browser(s) so that they would run correctly, while giving me all the bells and whistles one could want. And, over the years, there have been many problems with my browsing that were due to some kind of malfunction with W10. I don't know how to write code, but I'm good at following directions and your tutorials have certainly help me maintain my sanity.
For example, just the other day, Edge was loading itself, although it wasn't wanted. I ran a Google. Found a lot of answers to which there were conflicting responses. Thus, I didn't trust the solutions. Went to the W10 forum, found your tutorial and never thought twice about not following it. Thanks, again.
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New #9
You're most welcome flycaster. I'm glad the tutorials have been able to help you over the years.
Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Pre-launching in Windows 10
How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Pre-launching at Startup in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Browsers & Email
08 Dec 2019
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