Microsoft’s Startup Boost: Faster Office Apps on the Horizon

Are you tired of waiting for your Office apps to launch? You’re not alone. Microsoft is about to change the game with its new Startup Boost feature, designed to speed up the startup process of its Office applications. In this post, we’ll dive into the details of this innovative solution and explore what it means for users.

The Problem: Slow Office App Launches

We’ve all been there – you boot up your PC, and it takes an eternity for your Office apps to launch. This frustration is about to become a thing of the past, thanks to Microsoft’s new Startup Boost feature. By running a scheduled task silently in the background, Microsoft aims to optimize the performance and load-time of its Office applications.

How Startup Boost Works

When you boot up your PC, the Startup Boost task will run silently in the background, preparing your Office apps for launch. This task will only be available for PCs with at least 8GB of RAM and 5GB of available disk space. Once the task is complete, the app will remain in a paused state until it’s launched or removed from memory to reclaim resources.

The Benefits

So, what does this mean for users? Faster Office app launches, of course! With Startup Boost, you can expect a significant improvement in the startup speed of your Office applications. This feature will be available for Word first, with support for additional applications coming in future updates.

Disabling Startup Boost

If you’re not a fan of Office apps launching quietly in the background, don’t worry – there’s an option to disable this behavior within Word. You can also delete the scheduled task, but be aware that the Office installer will recreate the task when it applies an update. IT admins will need to manage this through the in-app setting instead.

The Future of Startup Tasks

Microsoft is not the first to use scheduled tasks to optimize the operating system. Google uses a scheduled task for its Chrome updater, and many OEMs use tasks to update drivers and other system components. However, most other apps, like Adobe Creative Suite, run startup processes in the regular startup section of Windows, where they can easily be disabled.

Actionable Insights

• If you’re a user, expect faster Office app launches with Startup Boost.
• If you’re an IT admin, be aware of the option to disable Startup Boost within Word and manage it through the in-app setting.
• If you’re an app developer, consider using scheduled tasks to optimize your app’s performance and load-time.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s Startup Boost is a game-changer for Office app users. By running a scheduled task silently in the background, Microsoft aims to improve the startup speed of its Office applications. With faster app launches on the horizon, users can expect a more seamless and efficient experience. Whether you’re a user, IT admin, or app developer, Startup Boost is an innovation worth keeping an eye on.