Microsoft Edge’s Startup Boost feature can significantly improve the browser’s launch speed, especially on older PCs. This feature keeps core Edge processes running in the background, allowing for quicker startup times when you open the browser. While you can easily toggle this option in Edge’s settings, power users and system administrators may prefer using the Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor for more granular control. This guide will walk you through both methods to enable or disable Startup Boost in Microsoft Edge.
Method 1: Using the Registry Editor
The Registry Editor allows you to modify low-level Windows settings, including those for Microsoft Edge. Here’s how to use it to control the Startup Boost feature:
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to allow the app to make changes.
Step 2: Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
Step 3: Right-click on the Microsoft folder, select New, then click Key. Name this new key “Edge” (without quotes).
Step 4: Right-click on the newly created Edge key, select New, then click DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this value “StartupBoostEnabled” (without quotes).
Step 5: Double-click on the StartupBoostEnabled value. To enable Startup Boost, set the Value data to 1. To disable it, set the Value data to 0.
Step 6: Click OK to save the changes, then close the Registry Editor.
After making these changes, restart Microsoft Edge for the new settings to take effect. If you don’t see the changes immediately, you may need to restart your computer.
Method 2: Using the Group Policy Editor
For Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions, the Group Policy Editor offers a more user-friendly interface for adjusting advanced settings. Here’s how to use it to manage Startup Boost:
Step 1: Before proceeding, ensure you have the Microsoft Edge Group Policy templates installed. If you haven’t installed them yet, download them from the official Microsoft Edge Enterprise website.
Step 2: Open the Group Policy Editor by pressing Win + R, typing gpedit.msc, and pressing Enter.
Step 3: In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to the following path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge > Performance
Step 4: Look for the setting named “Enable startup boost” and double-click it to open its properties.
Step 5: To enable Startup Boost, select the “Enabled” option. To disable it, select the “Disabled” option. If you want to revert to the default behavior, select “Not Configured”.
Step 6: Click Apply, then OK to save your changes.
After applying these changes, restart Microsoft Edge. If the changes don’t take effect immediately, you may need to restart your computer or run gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt.
Whichever method you choose, you can verify if Startup Boost is enabled or disabled by visiting edge://settings/system in Microsoft Edge. The Startup Boost toggle should reflect your changes, and may be grayed out if set via Registry or Group Policy. Remember, while Startup Boost can improve launch times, it may slightly increase background resource usage. Monitor your system performance to ensure it’s the right choice for your setup.