Microsoft is trialling a new Windows 11 feature called “Low Latency Profile” that uses short CPU bursts to make apps, menus, and system navigation feel significantly faster and more responsive.
Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 feature designed to make the operating system feel significantly faster and more responsive.
The feature, reportedly called “Low Latency Profile”, boosts CPU frequency in short bursts to speed up tasks such as opening apps, launching File Explorer, and navigating the Start menu.
Windows 11 testers have been experimenting with the unannounced feature over the past week, with many reporting noticeable performance improvements across the operating system.
Apps including Outlook, Paint, and the Microsoft Store are said to launch much quicker, while menus and flyouts also feel snappier.
According to Windows Central, Microsoft’s own apps could see launch times improve by as much as 40 percent, while the Start menu and context menus throughout Windows 11 may become up to 70 percent faster.
The changes are designed to improve the overall feel of the operating system by prioritising interactive tasks for a brief moment before returning CPU performance to normal levels.
The feature has already sparked debate online, with some critics accusing Microsoft of artificially boosting Windows 11’s speed through temporary CPU bursts.
However, Microsoft executive Scott Hanselman defended the changes on social media, arguing that the company is simply using a widely adopted industry technique.
Hanselman, who serves as vice president of technical staff for CoreAI, GitHub, and Windows, pointed out that smartphones already use similar methods to improve responsiveness.
He also noted that both macOS and Linux dynamically scale CPU performance to prioritise user interactions.
In a post on X, Hanselman wrote: “Apple does this and y’all love it. Let Windows cook.”
The upcoming performance boost forms part of Microsoft’s wider effort to improve Windows 11’s reliability, speed, and overall user experience.
Alongside the new responsiveness feature, Microsoft has also started removing what it describes as “unnecessary” Copilot buttons from the operating system.
The company has additionally introduced changes aimed at making Windows Update less disruptive, as Microsoft continues refining Windows 11 ahead of future feature releases.
Microsoft tests new Windows 11 speed boost feature
