Microsoft's rumored 'Low Latency Profile' CPU trick could make Windows 11's menus and apps load up to 70% faster

Date:
Fri, 08 May 2026 08:34:35 +0000

Description:
Want Windows 11's menus and apps to just work faster? Microsoft could be moving a key piece of the puzzle into place.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Windows 11 is getting a new
'Low Latency Profile' feature It gives the CPU a brief boost to help apps and menus load faster It's just rumored, and still in early testing, but we're told that we shouldn't worry about it having a detrimental impact on laptop battery life Windows 11 is getting a feature designed to speed up performance when the system tackles spikes of demanding activity like the workload created when opening an app by putting the accelerator to the floor with the CPU briefly.

Windows Central reports that this is apparently part of the so-called
Windows K2 project, otherwise known as 'The big drive for this year to fix everything that's wrong with Windows 11'. There's a good deal of focus on shoring up performance with K2, and according to leaker Zac Bowden, the new processor-boosting trick is already in testing with the Windows Insider Program. Indeed, Windows Latest has already enabled it (using a configuration utility) and tried out the functionality. You may like Microsoft is rolling out a turbo mode for Windows 11 installation Microsoft vows to make Windows 11's File Explorer faster Hate Windows 11's Start menu? Rumor suggests Microsoft is fixing it Latest Videos From

Sources inside Microsoft told Bowden the feature is known as the 'Low Latency Profile' and it kicks in, boosting up the frequency of the CPU briefly from between one to three seconds while performing bigger operations. That includes firing up an app, or opening parts of the Windows 11 interface, for example the likes of the Start menu or right-click context menus.

The result is up to 40% quicker launch times for Microsoft's apps such as
Edge and Outlook, and menus are up to 70% faster to load, we're told. Third-party (non-Microsoft) apps running in Windows 11 should get the benefit of this low-latency functionality, too.

Based on Windows Latest's testing, it seems that the feature does indeed provide an impressive boost to loading speeds.

Low Latency Profile will work seamlessly in the background, coming to life automatically when needed. It isn't yet clear if there will be a switch to enable or disable it, but that isn't the case currently. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Analysis: laptop worries and general skepticism (Image credit: Shutterstock / Yuganov Konstantin) Windows 11 seemingly feels a lot more responsive with the new Low Latency Profile in place, and based on those claimed percentages for speed-ups albeit they are best-case scenarios I'd imagine it would do. Menus opening at not far off twice the speed is the kind of performance tweak Windows 11 could really do with, and it should make the overall experience of using the OS a good deal more pleasant.

Presumably File Explorer will get the benefit of this as technically it's an 'app' for Windows 11, or a process that powers your desktop folders but it isn't mentioned (by Bowden, or Windows Latest), so that isn't clear. Mind
you, Microsoft is already doing a whole lot of work to speed up File Explorer anyway.

An obvious worry is the effect of these brief CPU boosts on battery longevity in the case of Windows 11 laptops , but Bowden notes that the sources who leaked the details say that any impact on battery life is 'minimal'. What to read next Microsoft's project K2 could finally make Windows as fast as
SteamOS Apple's MacBook Neo triumph could also be great news for Windows 11 laptops Microsoft has finally started its campaign to 'make Windows 11
better'

This is still in early testing, Bowden reminds us, and so the concept could change considerably before it comes to fruition. In any case, it clearly illustrates that Microsoft is thinking in some depth about how Windows 11 can be made a good deal more performant in ways that will be meaningfully felt in everyday usage.

One thing I would caution is that if folks are concerned about the impact on thermals that this feature may have on an older laptop with, say, an ailing cooling system, it seems like a sensible idea to include that switch to turn off Low Latency Profile.

Skeptics also remain on the subject of how good this feature might actually turn out to be. As one Redditor observed : "'I'll only believe when I see the results, but I really hope it is true, I miss the old Microsoft."

We all hope it's true, let's face it and it's looking promising based on the early testing conducted by Windows Latest. (Although granted, we need to take that with some seasoning, as it was a limited use of the feature in a very early state, inside a virtual machine). The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best laptops 1. Best overall: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 2. Best budget: Apple MacBook Neo 3. Best Windows 11 laptop Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch 4. Best thin and light: Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 5. Best Ultrabook Asus Zenbook S 16 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-rumored-low-latency-pro file-cpu-trick-could-make-windows-11s-menus-and-apps-load-up-to-70-percent-fas ter


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