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Chrome Introduces Optional Auto-Start on Windows and Fixes ZIP Drag-and-Drop Freezing Bug

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Google Chrome Introduces Optional Auto-Start and Fixes Drag-and-Drop Bug

Google Chrome is rolling out an optional auto-start feature for Windows users and addressing a critical drag-and-drop freezing bug, enhancing user experience and browser stability.

Chrome Introduces Optional Auto-Start Feature

Chrome Canary, the browser's testing version, has recently incorporated a new toggle. This feature allows Chrome to launch automatically upon Windows 11 sign-in, opening a visible browser window immediately after a user logs in.

Google has confirmed this will be an optional setting and will not be set as the default behavior. However, prompts are currently being tested in Canary builds to encourage users to enable the auto-start feature.

Prompts such as, "Begin browsing instantly. Chrome can now launch when Windows starts. Allow Chrome to open automatically," are being tested to encourage adoption.

Selecting "Allow" will configure Chrome to launch on startup, making the browser window instantly available after Windows sign-in. This means Chrome will begin utilizing system resources upon login. Users retain full control and can disable this feature within Chrome Settings under the "On startup" section at any time.

Critical Fix for Chrome's Drag-and-Drop Freezing Bug

Microsoft is deploying a significant fix to prevent Chrome from freezing when large files are dragged from ZIP archives in Windows 11. Previously, dragging a large file from a ZIP or other virtual sources, such as Outlook attachments, could cause the browser to freeze. This issue stemmed from the browser synchronously reading the file's data on the UI thread.

The new update introduces an asynchronous and chunked process for reading file data. This design is specifically intended to keep the browser responsive during data transfer, eliminating the prior freezing issue. Sambamurthy Bandar, associated with Microsoft Edge, confirmed that this change adds two improvements, guarded by feature flags.

This Chromium-based fix will provide benefits across multiple browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Brave.

Other Noteworthy Updates

In addition to these developments, Google is also testing the integration of Mica material for Chrome's title bar on Windows 11, aligning with the aesthetic design principles of the operating system. The consumer release timeline for this particular feature is currently unspecified.