Startup apps are programs that run automatically after you sign in to Windows. They can be useful for tools you open every day, but too many startup apps can slow boot time and leave unwanted software running in the background. This guide shows how to add, enable, or disable startup programs in Windows 10/11 with the safest built-in methods first.
| Goal | Recommended method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Turn a listed startup app on or off. | Settings or Task Manager | These are Microsoft's recommended interfaces for registered startup apps. |
| Add an app that does not appear in Startup settings. | Startup folder | Copying a shortcut to shell:startup starts it for the current user. |
| Start a program with a delay, elevated conditions, or a special trigger. | Task Scheduler | It gives more control than a simple Startup folder shortcut. |
| Inspect or repair a broken startup entry. | Registry Editor | Use it only when you know the exact startup key and have a backup. |
Microsoft's Windows startup applications guide confirms that Settings and Task Manager manage registered startup apps, while File Explorer startup folders can be used when an app is not listed.
Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to Apps > Startup.
Turn an app On to let it start automatically when you sign in, or turn it Off to stop it from starting automatically.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Open the Startup apps tab. Task Manager can show the startup impact of each app, which helps you decide what to disable first.
Right-click the app and choose Enable or Disable.
Some apps manage startup from inside the app itself. Open the app, go to its settings, and look for options such as Launch at startup, Start with Windows, or Open at login.
If the program is not listed under Startup apps, add a shortcut to the Startup folder. Use this for desktop apps, scripts, folders, or files that you want to open after the current user signs in.
Current user or all users: Use shell:startup for the current
account. Use shell:common startup only if you want the startup shortcut to apply to
all users on the PC and you have permission to change that folder.
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run box, type shell:startup, and then press Enter.
Leave File Explorer open.
Open the Start menu, right-click the program you want to start automatically, and select Open file location. If Windows shows another shortcut location, right-click the shortcut again and choose Open file location until you reach the actual shortcut or app file.
Copy the program shortcut, then paste it into the Startup folder you opened.
The program should start the next time you sign in. To remove it from startup later, delete only the shortcut from the Startup folder. Do not delete the program's main installation folder.
Task Scheduler is useful when a plain startup shortcut is not enough. For example, you can start a program when any user signs in, when the computer starts, or after a delay.
Step 1 Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter to
open Task Scheduler.
Step 2 In Task Scheduler, click "Create Basic Task."
Step 3 Enter the task name and description, then click "Next."
Step 4 Choose the task's trigger condition. Use When I log on for most apps, or When the computer starts for a task that should run before a specific user opens the desktop.
Step 5 Select Start a Program and browse to the app's
.exe file.
Step 6 If you do not know the app path, find the program in the Start menu, right-click it, and select Open file location.
Step 7 Right-click the shortcut or app file and choose Copy as path.
Step 8 Paste the path into the program box, remove extra quotation marks if Task Scheduler does not accept them, and click Next.
Step 9 Click Finish. Restart or sign out and sign back in to test the task.
Registry Editor can configure startup entries manually, but it should be your last option. Prefer Settings, Task Manager, the app's own startup option, or the Startup folder unless you specifically need to inspect a registry-based entry.
Warning: Editing the registry can cause Windows or apps to behave incorrectly. Back up the registry first, and do not change unknown entries. Malware can also use startup registry keys, so delete only entries you can identify.
Step 1 Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open
the Registry Editor.
Step 2 To add a startup entry for the current user, navigate to this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunMicrosoft documents additional all-user startup registry paths under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, including the 32-bit
Wow6432Node path. Use those only when you intentionally want the startup entry to apply
to all users and you have administrator rights.
Step 3 Right-click a blank area, select New > String Value, and name it after the software.
Step 4 Double-click the newly created string value and enter the full path
to the software's .exe file in the Value data field.
Step 5 Close Registry Editor and sign out or restart to test the startup entry.
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| The app is not listed in Startup settings. | Use the app's own settings or add a shortcut to shell:startup. Microsoft
notes that not every app is registered for the Settings startup list. |
| Windows shows "We couldn't find this app" in Startup settings. | The app may have been uninstalled, moved, or stored on a missing drive. Reinstall the app or remove the broken startup entry. |
| The program starts for one account but not another. | Check whether the shortcut is in shell:startup for one user or
shell:common startup for all users.
|
| The app starts too early or needs administrator conditions. | Use Task Scheduler and adjust the trigger, delay, or security options instead of using a simple Startup folder shortcut. |
| Startup feels slow after enabling several apps. | Open Task Manager's Startup apps tab and disable high-impact apps that do not need to open immediately. |
Use Settings > Apps > Startup or Task Manager > Startup apps. These tools disable registered startup behavior without deleting the program itself.
Create or copy a shortcut to the app in the Startup folder. Use shell:startup for your
current account, or shell:common startup for all users when you have permission.
Use Registry Editor only when other methods do not work or when you need to inspect a known startup key. Back up the registry first and avoid changing entries you do not recognize.
No. Disabling a startup app only stops it from opening automatically when you sign in. You can still open the app manually from Start, Search, File Explorer, or its desktop shortcut.
