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This doesn't affect our editorial independence. Home / News / Windows News News Office is too slow, so Microsoft is making it load at Windows startup Microsoft knows Office is slow to load. The solution is, apparently, to make Windows load slower. Michael Crider By Michael Crider Staff Writer, PCWorld Mar 28, 2025 7:37 am PDT Microsoft Office apps Word Excel and PowerPoint overlapping screenshot Image: Chris Hoffman / IDG You know how every annoying Windows program wants to launch as soon as you boot up your computer? Well, now Office is going to do that, too. A new "Startup Boost" function will set Office to load when Windows starts up, which will make apps like Word and Excel launch faster--while making the rest of your computer slower. Whoopie. I'm being flippant, but it's understandable that Microsoft would want to give Office a performance boost, even if it is somewhat illusory. And in the company's defense, the announcement in the Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive (spotted by The Verge) does say that the new tool will only be enabled on PCs that have at least 8GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space. I think even trying to run Windows 11 on just 8GB of RAM is kind of optimistic these days, but at least there's a floor. A cynic might wonder why Microsoft is making Office start when the computer boots instead of, you know, just making Office more efficient so it can run faster. (There's no second part to that statement. The cynic is me. I want Office to be more efficient.) The update to the Microsoft 365 installer will initially only apply to Microsoft Word when it rolls out in mid-May, then spread to other Office programs later. And yes, you will be able to disable this feature. End users can turn it off in Word's settings or in the Task Scheduler. Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld [author_photo_Mic] Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip. Recent stories by Michael Crider: * Someone made 'Windows' for the Game Boy Color, and you can buy it * Windows Recall is now one step away from a true, public release * Windows Hello logins are borked for some users after latest update PCWorld helps you navigate the PC ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done. * * * * * Policies + Privacy Policy + Cookie Policy + Copyright Notice + European Privacy Settings + Member Preferences + Editorial independence + Licensing & Eprints + California: Do not Sell my Personal Info * About + About Us + Advertise + Ad Choice + Contact Us + Foundry Careers + GamePro + Smart Answers * PCWorld Categories + Business Laptop Mobile PC Hardware Storage Deals TechHive * Subscribe + Recent cover images of Macworld Digital Magazine + Digital Magazine - Subscribe Digital Magazine - Info Gift Subscription Newsletters Copyright (c) 2025 IDG Communications, Inc. 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