Allow Microsoft Edge to pre-launch at Windows startup, when the system is idle, and each time Microsoft Edge is closed: registry value AllowPrelaunchUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main

Policy ID: AllowPrelaunch
Scope: Computer Configuration, User Configuration
Supported on: Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Version 1809 or later
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Microsoft Edge

Registry

AllowPrelaunch

REG_DWORDUserComputer

…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\MainHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Configure pre-launch

Options
Item	Stored value
Allow pre-launching	1
Prevent pre-launching	0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

UserPer-account setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main]

; Options (use only one)
; Allow pre-launching
"AllowPrelaunch"=dword:00000001
; Prevent pre-launching
"AllowPrelaunch"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Allow pre-launching
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main" /v "AllowPrelaunch" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Prevent pre-launching
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main" /v "AllowPrelaunch" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Allow pre-launching
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main' -Name 'AllowPrelaunch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Prevent pre-launching
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main' -Name 'AllowPrelaunch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

ComputerMachine-wide setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main]

; Options (use only one)
; Allow pre-launching
"AllowPrelaunch"=dword:00000001
; Prevent pre-launching
"AllowPrelaunch"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Allow pre-launching
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main" /v "AllowPrelaunch" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Prevent pre-launching
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main" /v "AllowPrelaunch" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Allow pre-launching
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main' -Name 'AllowPrelaunch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Prevent pre-launching
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MicrosoftEdge\Main' -Name 'AllowPrelaunch' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null