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MC1041470 Stay informedUpdated messageNew featureUser impactAdmin impact

New Startup Boost task from Microsoft Office installer for Office applications

Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive by Merill Fernando · Microsoft may not have sent this notice to your tenant.
Microsoft 365 apps
Microsoft 365 admin center

Rollout

Rollout dates are often only in the text. When Microsoft moves them, the change shows under "What changed".

Schedule dates changed in the text

Date phrases in schedule sentences differ between the versions this installation saw
  • Seen 16 Jul 2025 late July 2025 → late September 2025
  • Seen 3 Jun 2025 late May 2025 → late June 2025
  • Seen 21 May 2025 mid-May 2025 → late July 2025

Read from date phrases in Microsoft's text, not from notice metadata. A changed phrase can be a moved rollout, a new milestone or just rewording; "What changed" below shows which.

What the notice says

Microsoft’s text, with source markup removed
Updated June 16, 2025: We have updated the timeline below. Thank you for your patience. We are introducing a new Startup Boost task from the Microsoft Office installer to optimize performance and load-time of experiences within Office applications.  After the system performs the task, the app remains in a paused state until the app launches and the sequence resumes, or the system removes the app from memory to reclaim resources. The system can perform this task for an app after a device reboot and periodically as system conditions allow. When this will happen: General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): We will begin rolling out late June 2025 (previously late May) and expect to complete by late September 2025 (previously late July). How this will affect your organization: New tasks will be publicly visible in the Windows Task Scheduler.  Task Names: Office Startup Boost and Office Startup Boost Logon. Task Description: This task ensures that Office applications can take advantage of preloading performance enhancements.  Initial roll-out will be on Microsoft Word. We have no announcements to make at this time regarding support for additional applications. Startup Boost is only available when your PC has enough resources to run without impacting system performance. This includes having at least 8 GB of available RAM, and at least 5 GB of available disk space. When Startup Boost is active, the scheduled task will not run immediately at login to avoid slowing down your PC — it will wait 10 minutes to ensure the system is in a steady idle state. Additionally, Startup Boost will be disabled when Energy Saver mode is active. Startup Boost only runs if you have launched Word recently, and if you have not launched Word recently it will automatically disable itself. Startup Boost is an optional performance feature. It is safe to disable. When disabled, Microsoft Office applications will be fully functional but may take longer to load. Customers can disable Startup Boost entirely by preventing the process from starting. To disable the feature, use the in-app setting, e.g., Word > Options > General > Startup Boost (under Start up Options). Scheduled task entry in Task Scheduler: End-user UI to enable/disable Startup Boost in Word: What you need to do to prepare: This rollout will happen automatically with no admin action required.  You can disable this Startup Boost task like any other scheduled task. Please note that Office Installer will automatically recreate all scheduled tasks when it applies an update, so users who disable this task will need to disable it again after an Office update. Admins can disable this feature via Group Policy without needing to do so after each Office update.

What changed

Between archive captures, newest first

  1. Updated June 3,16, 2025: We have updated the timeline below. Thank you for your patience. … late June 2025 (previously late May) and expect to complete by late JulySeptember 2025 (previously late May).July). How this will affect your organization: New tasks will be publicly visible …

  2. Updated May 21,June 3, 2025: Admins can disable this feature via Group Policy without needing to do so after each Office update. We have updated the timeline below. Thank you for your patience. We are introducing a new Startup Boost task from the Microsoft Office … Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): We will begin rolling out late MayJune 2025 (previously mid-May)late May) and expect to complete by late July 2025 (previously late May). How …

  3. Updated April 3,May 21, 2025: Admins can disable this feature via Group Policy without needing to … General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-Maylate May 2025 (previously mid-May) and expect to complete by late May 2025.July 2025 (previously late May). How this will affect your organization: New tasks will be publicly visible …

  4. Updated March 27,April 3, 2025: Admins can disable this feature via Group Policy without needing to … take advantage of preloading performance enhancements.  Initial roll-out will be on Microsoft Word and support for additional applications will come in future updates.Word. We have no announcements to make at this time regarding support for additional applications. Startup Boost is only available when your PC has enough resources to … of available RAM, and at least 5 GB of available disk space. When Startup Boost is active, the scheduled task will not run immediately at login to avoid slowing down your PC — it will wait 10 minutes to ensure the system is in a steady idle state. Additionally, Startup Boost will be disabled when Energy Saver mode is active. Startup Boost only runs if you have launched Word recently, and if you have not launched Word recently it will automatically disable itself. Startup Boost is an optional performance feature. It is safe to disable. When disabled, … who disable this task will need to disable it again after an Office update. Admins can disable this feature via Group Policy without needing to do so after each Office update.

    • Tags New feature, User impact, Admin impact → Updated message, New feature, User impact, Admin impact

    Updated March 27, 2025: Admins can disable this feature via Group Policy without needing to do so after each Office update. We are introducing a new Startup Boost task from the Microsoft Office …

  6. · first version seen

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