Microsoft speeds up Office app launches using old-school technique

Launching apps in Microsoft’s Office suite will soon be much faster, thanks to a new feature called Startup Boost, Windows Latest reports.

Basically, the relevant Office apps will immediately open in the background whenever you boot up your computer. After launching, they’ll sit in a paused state until you need them. Startup Boost will only be available on PCs with at least 5GB of free storage and 8GB of memory.

The new feature will be automatically deactivated when the computer needs the resources in question or if power saving mode kicks in. However, if you don’t want to use this feature at all, you can always switch off Startup Boost completely in the settings.

Auto-launching apps at PC startup isn’t exactly a new or innovative technique. In fact, it’s been around in some form or another for decades. However, keeping these apps in a paused state while they remain unused is a nifty step up that could make it that much more useful.

Startup Boost already started rolling out back in June, but rollout should reach everyone and complete by September. It’s currently limited to Microsoft Word, but will also be added to Excel, PowerPoint, and more.