How to Enable or Disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge Chromium

How to Enable or Disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge Chromium

Microsoft has adopted the Chromium open source project in the development of Microsoft Edge on the desktop to create better web compatibility. This new Microsoft Edge runs on the same Chromium web engine as the Google Chrome browser, offering you best in class web compatibility and performance.

The new Chromium based Microsoft Edge is supported on all versions of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server (2016 and above), Windows Server (2008 R2 to 2012 R2), and macOS.

Starting with Microsoft Edge version 88, Microsoft is experimenting with a new feature called startup boost to improve the Microsoft Edge browser startup experience. Startup boost launches a set of Microsoft Edge processes in the background, so Microsoft Edge will become available more quickly when launched. The browser will launch in the background when you sign in to your device and continue running when you close all browser windows.

See also:

Startup Boost FAQ | Microsoft Edge Articles
Get help with startup boost | Microsoft Support

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off startup boost for the Chromium based Microsoft Edge in Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

Microsoft is still in the process of experimenting with this feature, so it may be a little while before you see it in your respective channel and build.

Currently, startup boost is only available in the latest version of Microsoft Edge Dev and Canary, so not everyone will have this feature available yet.

Contents

Option One: Turn On or Off Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge in Microsoft Edge Settings
Option Two: Enable or Disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge for All Users using a REG file

OPTION ONE

Turn On or Off Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge in Microsoft Edge Settings

1 Open Microsoft Edge.

2 Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+F) 3 dots menu icon, and click/tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on System on the left side. (see screenshot below step 4)

If you do not see a left pane, then either click/tap on the 3 bars menu button towards the top left OR widen the horizontal borders of the Microsoft Edge window until you do.

4 Turn on or off (default) Startup boost for what you want. (see screenshot below)

5 You can now close the Settings tab if you like.

6 If you turned on startup boost, you may get a notification letting you know Microsoft Edge is now configured to run when you log in (aka: run at startup) (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge for All Users using a REG file

You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.

This option uses the StartupBoostEnabled policy to enable or disable Microsoft Edge processes to start at OS sign-in and restart in background after the last browser window is closed.

The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

StartupBoostEnabled DWORD

(delete) = Default
0 = Always disabled
1 = Always enabled

1 Do step 2 (enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you would like to do.

2 To Force Always Enable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge for All Users

This step will force the Startup boost setting in Option One to always be turned on without users being able to change this setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Force_enable_startup_boost_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg

Download

3 To Force Always Disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge for All Users

This step will force the Startup boost setting in Option One to always be turned off without users being able to change this setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Force_disable_startup_boost_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg

Download

4 Undo Force Enable or Disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge for All Users

This is the default setting.

This step will allow users to use Option One to turned on and off the Startup boost setting in Microsoft Edge.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Default_user_choice_startup_boost_in_Microsoft_Edge.reg

Download

5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 If Microsoft Edge is currently open, then close and reopen Microsoft Edge to apply.

9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn Brink

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