Fast boot times and a responsive Windows desktop are key parts of a smooth user experience. While Microsoft has spent years addressing slow startups and post-update performance issues, Google is now testing a new Chrome feature that could have the opposite effect if enabled.
The feature is currently being tested in Google Chrome Canary and adds a new toggle called “Launch Chrome when my computer starts” in the browser’s settings. Internally, this function has been developed under the experimental flag kForegroundLaunchOnLogin, with the goal of allowing users to access the web immediately after logging into Windows 10 or Windows 11, without manually opening the browser.
Why This Feature Could Impact Performance
According to technical analysts, the main concern lies in how this feature operates. Chrome is launched as a foreground process, meaning it prioritizes system resources to become usable as quickly as possible. While this can improve perceived speed for Chrome itself, it may significantly strain system resources during the first moments after startup.
Systems still using traditional hard disk drives or older, low-power CPUs may struggle, as multiple startup tasks compete for CPU and memory at the same time. This could result in slower boot times, temporary freezing, or reduced responsiveness immediately after logging in.
Memory Usage Concerns
Google has wisely set this feature to disabled by default, avoiding any forced behavior on users. However, those who regularly keep many tabs open may feel the impact more strongly. Chrome restoring sessions at startup can easily consume hundreds of megabytes or even several gigabytes of RAM from the very beginning, which may lead to noticeable slowdowns.
Users with 8GB of RAM or less should be especially cautious if this feature reaches the stable version in the future. The time saved by skipping one click may not be worth the reduced system stability during startup.
What You Can Do If Your PC Feels Slow
If your Windows PC already feels sluggish during startup, Microsoft recommends reviewing startup applications via Task Manager and disabling unnecessary programs. This remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to restore faster boot performance.
As Chrome continues testing this feature, users should weigh convenience against system performance before deciding to enable it.
Source: Neowin
