Microsoft tests Windows 11 updates including Edge startup optimizations

Microsoft is testing several new features and optimizations within Windows 11 through recent Insider builds. One significant update focuses on accelerating application startup speeds, with Microsoft Edge being the first to benefit. This optimization targets “hot starts” where an application is already running in the background. By allowing applications to register their windows directly with the system, Windows can route launch requests to existing instances without creating unnecessary intermediary processes, thereby reducing system overhead and latency.

Other updates in the Windows 11 26H2 experimental channel include enhancements to the Xbox mode, which introduces a revised gaming task view with a new navigation bar for quicker access to desktop switching and power options. Additionally, Microsoft is expanding web login capabilities to devices in Microsoft Entra-Hybrid environments, enabling passwordless authentication via FIDO2 security keys, smartphone passkeys, or temporary access passes. Windows Hello facial recognition has also been improved to temporarily brighten the screen in low-light conditions to facilitate easier sign-in.