Prelaunch Microsoft Edge and preload tabs in the background

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Note

You've reached the documentation for Microsoft Edge version 45 and earlier. To see the documentation for Microsoft Edge version 77 or later, go to the Microsoft Edge documentation landing page.

Microsoft Edge pre-launches as a background process during Windows startup when the system is idle waiting to be launched by the user. Pre-launching helps the performance of Microsoft Edge and minimizes the amount of time required to start up Microsoft Edge. You can also configure Microsoft Edge to prevent Microsoft Edge from pre-launching.

Additionally, Microsoft Edge preloads the Start and New Tab pages during Windows sign in, which minimizes the amount of time required to start Microsoft Edge and load a new tab. You can also configure Microsoft Edge to prevent preloading of tabs.

Relevant group policies

You can find the Microsoft Edge Group Policy settings in the following location of the Group Policy Editor unless otherwise noted in the policy:

      Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Edge\

Configuration options

Only preload the Start and New Tab pages during Windows startup

Prelauch Microsoft Edge and preload Start and New Tab pages

Only prelaunch Microsoft Edge during Windows startup

Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed

Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, version 1809
Default setting: Enabled or not configured (Allowed)

Microsoft Edge pre-launches as a background process during Windows startup when the system is idle waiting to be launched by the user. Pre-launching helps the performance of Microsoft Edge and minimizes the amount of time required to start Microsoft Edge. You can also configure Microsoft Edge to prevent from pre-launching.

Supported values

Group Policy MDM Registry Description Most restricted
Disabled 0 0 Prevented Most restrictive value
Enabled or not configured
(default)		 1 1 Allowed

ADMX info and settings

ADMX info

  • GP English name: Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed
  • GP name: AllowPreLaunch
  • GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
  • GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx

MDM settings

  • MDM name: Browser/AllowPrelaunch
  • Supported devices: Desktop
  • URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/AllowPrelaunch
  • Data type: Integer

Registry settings

  • Path: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main
  • Value name: AllowPrelaunch
  • Value type: REG_DWORD

Allow Microsoft Edge to load the Start and New Tab page at Windows startup and each time Microsoft Edge is closed

Supported versions: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, version 1802
Default setting: Enabled or not configured (Allowed)

Microsoft Edge allows preloading of the Start and New Tab pages during Windows sign in, and each time Microsoft Edge closes by default. Preloading minimizes the amount of time required to start Microsoft Edge and load a new tab. With this policy, you can configure Microsoft Edge to prevent preloading of tabs.

Supported values

Group Policy MDM Registry Description Most restricted
Disabled 0 0 Prevented. Most restricted value
Enabled or not configured
(default)		 1 1 Allowed. Preload Start and New Tab pages.

ADMX info and settings

ADMX info

  • GP English name: Allow Microsoft Edge to load the Start and New Tab pages in the background at Windows startup and each time Microsoft Edge is closed
  • GP name: AllowTabPreloading
  • GP path: Windows Components/Microsoft Edge
  • GP ADMX file name: MicrosoftEdge.admx

MDM settings

  • MDM name: Browser/AllowTabPreloading
  • Supported devices: Desktop
  • URI full path: ./Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Browser/AllowTabPreloading
  • Data type: Integer

Registry settings

  • Path: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\TabPreloader
  • Create Value name: AllowTabPreloading
  • Value type: REG_DWORD
  • DWORD Value: 1