Microsoft discovers remedy for sluggish Word startup, yet outcome carries mixed blessings
Microsoft Word users who have recently experienced sluggish performance while starting the software may find solace in an upcoming change from Microsoft. The tech giant is planning to enhance Word's speed with a new feature called Startup Boost, which will preload parts of the program during system startup.
This optimization, scheduled for mid-May for users in the Early Adopter program, will be rolled out to all Office 365 users later in the month. However, it comes with a catch—a computer will need at least 8 GB of RAM and 5 GB of disk space to accommodate the preloading.
The Startup Boost feature functions by preloading parts of Word when the computer starts, putting them in a paused state until the user decides to open the application. Once activated, Word will launch faster than before. Notably, this preloading will automatically shut off while the desktop Energy Saver mode is active to conserve power.
Despite the potential benefits, it remains unclear whether the Startup Boost feature will impact a computer's overall performance. To address concerns, Microsoft has made it easier to control which apps can run at startup in Windows 11.
Startup Boost will be transparent, appearing in the Windows Task Scheduler under "Office Startup Boost" and "Office Startup Boost Logon." For those who wish to disable the feature, it can be done by accessing Word's settings, navigating to File > Options, and unchecking the Startup Boost option in the General tab.
It's crucial to note that this setting will be reset every time Microsoft releases an Office update, necessitating the manual disabling of Startup Boost after each update. To permanently disable the feature, users must also disable the related scheduled tasks in the Task Scheduler on their Windows 11 PC.
By combining these steps, Microsoft Word users can effectively stop Startup Boost from running on their systems, ensuring a permanent solution that balances speed and system resources.
- Users who own laptops with at least 8 GB of RAM and 5 GB of disk space can take advantage of Microsoft's Startup Boost feature, a new addition to Word aimed at improving performance.
- This feature works by preloading parts of Word during system startup, which, once activated, will allow the software to launch faster than before—however, it will automatically pause during the desktop Energy Saver mode to conserve power.
- To ensure a balanced system performance, users can monitor the Startup Boost in the Windows Task Scheduler and choose to disable it by accessing Word's settings, if desired.
- It's important to note that Microsoft will reset the Startup Boost setting every time an Office update is released, requiring users to manually disable it after each update and in the Task Scheduler on their Windows 11 PC for a permanent solution.
