---
title: Microsoft Edge - Prelaunch and tab preload group policies
description: 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.
audience: itpro
manager: dansimp
ms.author: dansimp
author: dansimp
ms.prod: edge
ms.reviewer: 
ms.localizationpriority: medium
ms.topic: reference
---

# Prelaunch Microsoft Edge and preload tabs in the background 

> [!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](https://docs.microsoft.com/DeployEdge/).

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

- [Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed](#allow-microsoft-edge-to-pre-launch-at-windows-startup-when-the-system-is-idle-and-each-time-microsoft-edge-is-closed)
- [Allow Microsoft Edge to load the Start and New Tab page at Windows startup and each time Microsoft Edge is closed](#allow-microsoft-edge-to-load-the-start-and-new-tab-page-at-windows-startup-and-each-time-microsoft-edge-is-closed)

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](../images/preload-tabs-only-sm.png)

![Prelauch Microsoft Edge and preload Start and New Tab pages](../images/prelaunch-edge-and-preload-tabs-sm.png)

![Only prelaunch Microsoft Edge during Windows startup](../images/prelaunch-edge-only-sm.png)



## Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed
[!INCLUDE [allow-prelaunch-include](../includes/allow-prelaunch-include.md)]

## Allow Microsoft Edge to load the Start and New Tab page at Windows startup and each time Microsoft Edge is closed
[!INCLUDE [allow-tab-preloading-include](../includes/allow-tab-preloading-include.md)]