Microsoft Office apps will soon preload on Windows boot for faster launch

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WTF?! Microsoft is rolling out a clever tweak to help Office apps launch faster on Windows. Dubbed “Startup Boost,” this new feature quietly runs in the background as soon as you log in the operating system, preloading “performance enhancements” so apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint open more quickly when you need them.

The announcement comes from the Microsoft 365 Message Center. The feature works by preloading parts of Office apps into memory after Windows startup and keeping them in a paused state until you actually launch them. If the system needs those resources back, it will automatically clear them. The goal is to shave off a few seconds of waiting when you open an Office app.

However, there are a few caveats. Startup Boost won’t run on every PC – it requires at least 8GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space to avoid slowing down your system. It also turns itself off when Energy Saver mode is enabled, so battery life won’t take a hit.

If you’re not a fan of background processes, Microsoft allows users to disable the feature under Options > General in Office settings.

Here’s the catch, though: even if you turn it off, the next Office update will turn it back on. Microsoft confirmed that the installer will recreate the scheduled task each time it applies an update, meaning you’ll have to disable it manually again if you prefer to keep it off.

Here’s the catch, though: even if you turn it off, the next Office update will turn it back on.

If the feature sounds familiar, that’s because Microsoft pulled a similar move with its Edge browser back in 2021. Edge’s Startup Boost keeps background processes running at login to reduce launch times – a trick that apparently worked well enough to justify bringing it to Office.

“Please note that Office Installer will automatically recreate all scheduled tasks when it applies an update, so users who disable this task will need to disable it again after an Office update,” the company notes.

The rollout begins in mid-May, with global availability expected by the end of the month. The feature will launch with Word first, with other Office apps to follow.

All in all, if you spend a lot of time in Office, you might notice things feeling a bit snappier – assuming your PC meets the requirements. And if not, at least Microsoft is giving you the option to opt out (even if you’ll have to keep doing it after updates).