Microsoft working to boost startup for office apps

Who does not know it – Word, Excel, Outlook, need to start forever. Microsoft now wants to change this and invites important components to the Windows start. The new startup Boost shows what this brings and what price you have to pay for it.

Microsoft optimized office start times

Microsoft reacts to user feedback and will introduce a new function called Startup Boost from May 2025. This is intended to significantly shorten the start time of Microsoft Word and later also from other office programs such as Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. The technology is based on a similar system that is already used in the EDGE browser.

The startup Boost automatically loads central program components into the RAM at the Windows start. These remain there in an energy -saving state of idle. If the corresponding office application is started later, the system must reload less data. Microsoft promises a noticeable shortening of the start time.

System requirements and restrictions

The function places certain minimum requirements for the system:

• Eight GB of available RAM
• Five GB of free hard disk stores
• Deactivated Windows energy saving mode

Users with weaker hardware or systems in energy saving mode cannot use the function. Microsoft deliberately set the requirements “high” to avoid negative effects on system performance.

Control and administration

Two new tasks are created in the task planning: “Office Startup Boost” and “Office Startup Boost Logon”. These control the forward of the program components. Administrators and users can deactivate the function if necessary-either in the Word settings under “Options> General> Startup Boost” or directly in the Windows tasks planner.

Important for administrators: After each office update, the tasks are automatically created. Previous deactivation must therefore be carried out again after updates. According to Microsoft, deactivation has no effect on the functionality of the programs, but leads to the usual longer start times.

Background of the development

The development of the startup Boost goes back to long-term user complaints via long start times of the office programs. Microsoft had already introduced a similar technology in the EDGE browser in 2020/2021, which proved to be successful. The transfer of the concept to the Office Suite was therefore a logical step.