Launching Windows 11 apps could get up to 50% faster

Recent support document post from Microsoft confirms native Ahead of Time (AOT) support added to Windows App SDK, promising major improvements in Windows 11 app launch times. Microsoft’s own testing shows a 50% reduction in start times and an 8x reduction in package size.

Windows App SDK helps developers utilize classic desktop app frameworks to create apps with modern APIs for all Windows devices. However, apps made with the SDK, including Microsoft’s own and third-party apps, are known for slow launch times, laggy animations, and slow response times. The Windows Photos app, for example, has such a slow launch that Microsoft had to run it in the background as a workaround.

The introduction of native AOT aims to enhance speed by compiling apps to native code ahead of time, eliminating the translation step during app runtime. This results in faster startup times and smaller memory footprints.

Microsoft claims an “incredible performance boost” with AOT, but the real-world impact remains to be seen. Developers need to update their apps to utilize AOT, and the speed improvements may vary across different apps. While Microsoft presents this as an exciting change, it’s crucial to acknowledge that Windows 11 apps currently operate slower than optimal and won’t see immediate speed improvements.