Ready for a Speed Boost? Microsoft Rolls Out Low Latency Profile on Windows | PCMag
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(Credit: Jon Martindale/PCMag)
Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update includes a number of useful improvements, but the most notable could be the recently unveiled Low Latency Profile.As Windows Latest reports, this feature causes the CPU to ramp up to its maximum boost frequency for 1-3 seconds when the user opens apps or selects key Windows features like the Start menu, search, or Action Center, thereby accelerating their load times.Microsoft launched a crusade in 2026 to strengthen Windows' core capabilities. Off the back of its largely derided attempts to force-feed AI into various aspects of Windows in 2025, this year is all about stability and performance improvements, particularly in native apps and gaming. To that end, Microsoft began trialing a new performance-enhancing Low Latency Profile a few weeks ago. Although some Windows users complained, the feature seems to have gone down well enough that it's been fast-tracked to a wider release. You May Also Like
The update is available now as an optional download. However, it's possible that Microsoft hasn't officially enabled that feature for your region yet.
(Credit: Jon Martindale)
As Windows Latest notes, you can activate the new feature early using ViVeTool, though you'll have to jump through a few hoops and run a few commands in a Command Prompt window.Microsoft also confirmed that even with the Low Latency Profile activated, it will only boost the speed of the Start menu and native Windows tools, not third-party apps just yet. That's coming in a future update to Low Latency Profile. Recommended by Our Editors 32 Hidden Windows 11 Features You're Probably Not Using (But Should Be) Become an Insider: How to Check Out Early Versions of Windows 11 How to Upgrade Your PC to Windows 11 for Free, Even If It's Incompatible
This optional update brings Windows to builds 26200.8524 and 26100.8524. It also includes new support for Shared Audio that allows two pairs of Bluetooth headphones to be connected to a PC and stream the same audio, which is great for couch coop gaming or watching a movie with a pal without having to share earbuds (gross). The Task Manager will also better showcase NPU performance and applicable processes, and Windows Camera support now lets the feed stream to multiple apps at once, which can be useful for troubleshooting a camera problem.Ever been annoyed after Windows setup that your user folder has a weird name? Well, after this update, you can customize it during Windows setup. Microsoft has also improved Windows search to better recognize files and folders from just two characters, and USB4 and USB3 have been made more stable and resilient against errors caused by unexpected hardware faults.
About Our Expert Jon Martindale Contributor Experience Jon Martindale is a tech journalist from the UK, with 20 years of experience covering all manner of PC components and associated gadgets. He's written for a range of publications, including ExtremeTech, Digital Trends, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifewire, among others. When not writing, he's a big board gamer and reader, with a particular habit of speed-reading through long manga sagas. Jon covers the latest PC components, as well as how-to guides on everything from how to take a screenshot to how to set up your cryptocurrency wallet. He particularly enjoys the battles between the top tech giants in CPUs and GPUs, and tries his best not to take sides.Jon's gaming PC is built around the iconic 7950X3D CPU, with a 7900XTX backing it up. That's all the power he needs to play lightweight indie and casual games, as well as more demanding sim titles like Kerbal Space Program. He uses a pair of Jabra Active 8 earbuds and a SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless headset, and types all day on a Logitech G915 mechanical keyboard. Latest By Jon Martindale Google Engineer Charged for Using Insider Info to Win $1.2M on Polymarket Bets YouTuber Breaks Drone Speed World Record AMD's RX 9070 GRE Graphics Cards May Soon Be Available Outside China Someone Found Chinese NAND Flash in a Corsair Vengeance Memory Kit Time to Switch: How to Set Up Passkeys Before Microsoft Ditches SMS 2FA Logins More from Jon Martindale Read Full Bio
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