Startup Boost FAQ

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EDIT: We have an updated version of this FAQ over on the support site now. Head over the Get help with startup boost page to review the latest information about startup boost, including how to submit feedback to offer suggestions and report issues. We are locking this thread, but we encourage you to post a new thread if you have any questions that are not answered on the new FAQ page.

 

Starting with Microsoft Edge Build 88, we are releasing a new feature called startup boost to improve the Microsoft Edge browser startup experience. To learn more about it, read the FAQ below.

 

Note: We are in the process of releasing this feature, so it may be a little while before you see it in your respective channel and build.

 

1. What is startup boost?
To improve Microsoft Edge startup speed, we have developed a feature called startup boost. Startup boost keeps the browser running in the background with minimal processes, so Microsoft Edge will start more quickly when launched.

 

2. What benefits do I get from startup boost?
Microsoft Edge will start more quickly when it is launched from the taskbar, desktop, or from hyperlinks embedded in other applications when you log on after device startup or the browser is closed.

 

3. What is the resource impact of startup boost?
Startup boost keeps the browser running in the background with minimal processes when the browser is closed, which has a limited impact on device resource usage. Startup boost does not add any additional resources when browser windows are already open.

 

4. How does startup boost work?
Startup boost starts core Microsoft Edge processes in the background to keep them ready when the browser is closed, so Microsoft Edge will start more quickly when launched.

 

5. How do I know if startup boost is running?
You can check if the feature is on in the browser Settings under edge://settings/system.

 

6. Is startup boost available on all platforms?
Currently, startup boost is only available on devices with most versions of Windows.

 

7. What are the heuristics for startup boost to be enabled by default?
Startup boost is available on Windows devices (excluding Windows 10X and servers) with more than 4GB of RAM, or more than 1GB of RAM if the device has a modern disk (modern HDD with Trim and SeekPenalty or SSD), when Microsoft Edge is the default web browser with no extensions installed. These criteria were informed by experimentation data.


If startup boost is not enabled on your device, you can choose to manually enable it in the browser Settings under edge://settings/system.

 

8. What startup boost group policies will enterprises get?
We have a group policy that allows administrators and users to enable or disable startup boost.

These can be both mandatory or recommended group policies. If it is a recommended group policy, IT admins will have the ability to set the default behavior that their users can change later, if they wish.

 

9. Why do others see the feature, but I do not?
We are in the process of deploying this feature, so it may be a little while before you see it in your respective channel and build.

 

10. Can I turn off startup boost?
Yes, startup boost can be toggled on and off by going to edge://settings/system.

 

11. I can no longer debug in Edge using Visual Studio. How can I fix this?
We are sorry to see you ran into this issue! This is a startup boost bug that our team has resolved but you may not get the update for some time. In the meantime you can either:

    • Restart your device -> Start debugging in Visual Studio -> Then turn off startup boost by going to edge://settings/system in the browser window opened by Visual Studio Debugger.
    • Temporarily download and run Edge Canary channel while debugging since this channel has the fix.

 

12. How do I send feedback?
We are eager to get your feedback on startup boost. If you experience an issue, please let us know through Microsoft Edge by pressing Shift+Alt+I on a Windows device, click on the feedback icon in the upper right corner of the address bar, or going to Settings and more > Help and feedback > Send feedback.

 

You can also discuss your experience here on the Microsoft Edge Insider forums and Twitter.

 

- The Microsoft Edge Product Team

 

91 Replies

@Julie_Deng I'm not sure whether it's exactly this feature that's causing the problem, but when I'm debugging (including script debugging) from Visual Studio something keeping the msedge.exe process running is stopping debugging from working correctly on subsequent launches.

 

Would it be possible to make sure that any window that has had a debugger attached doesn't "remain alive" after closing, so that subsequent debugging sessions work as expected?

Yes, you are correct here. Thanks for asking for clarification!

@Julie_Deng 

Finally resolved problem with KeeForm no longer bringing up web browser.  It was the Startup Boost setting.  Turned off that setting and 'Continue Running Background Apps' and KeePass worked properly again. Took days for the program developer to help me figure that one out.

Hi there. This function makes me little afraid. How about defense for this startup? If I start my pc, it will start before any antivirus(MS or different that can be start with OS Windows) or it will silent background start after full system starting? Please to check this thing for protecting our pc.
Thanks so much for raising this to us! We are aware of this issue and we are exploring potential solutions. In the meantime, disabling startup boost is the current workaround.
Thank you for reporting this. Is the browser visible when it restarts or are you seeing background processes in Task Manager?

@Mark Penney 

 

Yes, same here for me. It took me a minute to figure out what was going on. Closing the Edge browser results in it immediately opening back up again to my default starting page. Once I turned off Startup Boost, things went back to normal.

@spaceghostinme 

I wonder if you have any of these Chrome extensions installed too?

 

  • uBlock Origin
  • OneTab
  • Stlyebot
  • Loom
  • Redirect Path
  • XtendIn
  • Toggl Track: Productivity & Time Tracker
  • ClickUp
  • Window Resizer
  • 360 Viewer
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • ColorZilla 2.0
  • Google Docs Offline
  • IP Address and Domain Information

I also have LastPass from the Microsoft Store.

Fully visible and working browser just as if I had started it myself.

@Mark Penney 

 

Yes to OneTab and Google Docs Offline. I had Lastpass, but just this week removed it and switched to BitWarden.

If I allow the Start-up Boost to activate , it says that it will continue to operate in the back ground, does this mean that I have to actually turn off the computer in order to clear my data history instead of just  of closing the browser? @Julie_Deng 

@Julie_Deng On my laptop, with this feature enabled, after closing Edge, it will open again, and close, and open again. Only by Option -> Close Microsoft Edge can close it completely. I have tested that with this feature off, everything goes fine. So I think there is something wrong with this feature. I have reported a feedback with diagnosis, hope you can fix it.

Thanks for reporting this issue! Our team is looking into this.
Thanks for your response. I'm sorry you ran into this. We are looking into this issue.
Thanks for the question! Startup boost will still allow Microsoft Edge to clear history on close if you have enabled that setting.
Hi everyone, I wanted to let you know we decided to temporarily disable startup boost since it was causing a frustrating issue for some users (see updated FAQ above). Thank you for all of your feedback about this feature. You can still manually turn on startup boost by going to edge://settings/system. I’ll update you when we believe the issue has been resolved. We appreciate your patience and understanding!

Hello@Andrew_Nolan 

 

Thanks for letting us choose
In my case, for now, it is going very well

 

(Hola
Gracias por dejarnos elegir
En mi caso, por ahora, va muy bien)

 

OmarPlastina_0-1616198597945.png

 

I've just installed Edge on this device, and the option is not available.  I have Edge installed on multiple other devices, and the update came through to make it available recently.  Do you know why it wouldn't even be an option with a fresh install?

 

ccrofts17_0-1616504177563.png

 

It's most likely a staged rollout,
Progressive rollouts for Microsoft Edge Stable channel updates
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-update-progressive-rollout

Hello@ccrofts17 

 

I do not know if it will serve as a reference, I just changed the disk in a pc and after doing the installation of Windows and its updates, in this case the option is still

 

OmarPlastina_0-1616513594779.pngOmarPlastina_1-1616513633430.png

 

Have a good day !!!

 

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Hola
no se si le sirva de referencia, recién acabo de cambiar el disco en un pc y despues de hacer la instalación de Windows y sus actualizaciones, en li caso la opcion sigue estando

 

Que disfrute de un buen día!!!