Microsoft wants to improve the perception of Office’s startup times, starting with Word. The program code will load after Windows startup.
Microsoft is going to improve the perception of Office application performance by partially loading them when a system has just started up. Redmond wants to accommodate customers who find applications like Word or Excel too slow to start.
Secretly Loading
There are no actual optimizations. Instead, Microsoft is introducing a Startup Boost task. This will be rolled out globally from mid-May 2025. The task ensures that code for applications is preventively loaded when it’s less noticeable to users, in this case after the computer starts up.
The task will wait about ten minutes until the PC has started up and is not in use. Microsoft then uses this quiet moment to load applications in the background, so they’re ready when a user needs them.
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Microsoft states that Startup Boost is only available when the computer in question is sufficiently performant to handle it without performance dips. This implies that a PC must have at least 8 GB of RAM and 5 GB of free disk space. Startup Boost will also not work when a computer is in power-saving mode.
Optional
Microsoft Word will be the first to get the functionality. Startup Boost is enabled by default, but Microsoft emphasizes that the functionality is optional. Users can disable it via Word > Options > General > Startup Boost. Administrators can set policies to stop the task.
The Office installer will recreate the task after each update. Users will therefore have to dive back into the menu. Policy rules will remain preserved.