New Windows 11 feature may speed up app launches by maxing out CPU frequency

It seems Microsoft is steadily implementing its Windows 11 improvement plan by gradually adding new features and improving the user experience. With Project K2, Microsoft plans to address the major pain points its core audience has with Windows 11. As part of that initiative, Microsoft is testing a new feature that aims to improve the user experience by speeding up app load times.

According to Windows Central, Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 feature called "Low Latency Profile." This feature will speed up app launches by boosting the CPU to its maximum frequency for a short duration, therefore increasing performance for that particular launch sequence. This is a unique approach that has not been seen in Windows before, but, in theory, it works without major downsides.

Apparently, the feature boosts CPU speed for only 1-3 seconds, so it only hits its boost frequency for a very short time. Such a short duration should have no significant effect on the CPU's temperature; however, the same cannot be said for power spikes without proper testing. Moreover, laptop users may experience increased battery drain due to frequent spikes, and these may even have a long-term impact on the quality of the CPU silicon.

First-party Microsoft applications like Edge and Outlook benefited the most from this change. The report mentions a 40% faster launch for these "in-box" apps, which is a noticeable improvement. Moreover, other native Windows features, such as the Start menu, launched up to 70% faster, a significant benefit to the user experience. Therefore, in preliminary tests, the new low-latency mode definitely improves app launch speeds.

It seems the feature does not have an on-off toggle at the moment, and it is automatically enabled by default in Windows Insider builds as part of Project K2. It is not known whether the feature will be user-controlled in the final release, but the name "Low Latency Mode" does suggest that it should be modifiable. The feature is apparently still in early testing, with no set release date.