How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Startup Boost Microsoft Edge Startup Boost is a useful performance feature that helps your browser launch faster by preloading key Edge processes in the background when Windows starts. Let’s walk through how it works and how you can enable or disable it in different environments. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Why Startup Boost Matters Startup Boost helps Microsoft Edge open almost instantly, even when launched from other apps or links. By keeping essential components ready in memory, it improves responsiveness and reduces launch delays. However, this may also increase background memory and CPU usage, which can be a concern on low-resource systems, kiosks, or virtual desktop environments. That’s why knowing how to manage it properly is important for both users and IT administrators. How To Manage Startup Boost in Edge You can turn Startup Boost on or off in four main ways. First, through Edge Settings, ideal for individual users. Open Edge, go to Settings > System and Performance, then toggle Startup Boost On or Off. This change applies only to the current user and takes effect immediately. Second, for enterprises, use Group Policy. Install the Edge policy templates, open gpedit.msc, and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates Microsoft Edge > Performance. From there, configure Enable Startup Boost to Enabled, Disabled, or Not Configured. Third, you can use the Registry Editor by navigating to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE \Policies\Microsoft\Edge then creating a DWORD (32-bit) value named StartupBoostEnabled. Set it to 1 to enable or 0 to disable. Finally, PowerShell is best for automation. Use a script that verifies the Edge registry key exists, creates it if needed, and sets the StartupBoostEnabled value accordingly. Important Things To Watch For Disabling Startup Boost may slow Edge’s initial launch, while enabling it can increase background memory use. In managed environments, Group Policy and Registry settings take precedence over user settings, so administrators should confirm policy enforcement. Always back up the registry before making changes, and verify settings through Edge > System and Performance. For more information, check out our official blog post on How to Enable or Disable Microsoft Edge Startup Boost, Linked in the description below.