How to add or stop apps at startup on Windows 10

• To enable or disable apps at startup on Windows 10, open Settings > Apps > Startup and turn on or off the apps you want to control.
• You can also control programs at startup from Task Manager and the Startup folder.

UPDATED 12/19/2023: On Windows 10, you can enable or disable certain apps at startup, and in this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this configuration. When you have many programs running at startup automatically, you’ll notice that your device will take longer to start, the experience may feel sluggish, and battery life won’t last as long. 

If this happens, you can use the Settings app, Task Manager, and Startup folder to control which applications can run at startup.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to control which apps can run at startup on Windows 10.

• Disable apps at startup on Windows 10
• Enable apps at startup on Windows 10

Disable apps at startup on Windows 10

On Windows 10, apps can be configured to launch at startup from the Settings app, Task Manager, or through the Startup folder.

Stop programs from running at startup from Settings

To disable apps at startup, use these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 10.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click on Startup.

4. Turn the toggle switch off for the apps you want to disable at startup.

   

Once you complete the steps, the apps you have disabled will no longer run at startup.

If you’re unsure which ones to turn off, on each app in the list, you’ll notice a label showing how the app impacts the startup process.

Stop programs from running at startup from Startup folder

To prevent apps from reopening automatically from the Startup folder, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Run and click the top result to open the app.

3. Type the following command and click the OK button:

   shell:startup

4. Right-click the shortcut to disable and choose the Delete option.

   

After you complete the steps, the next time the system starts up, it won’t launch the program.

Stop programs from running at startup from Task Manager

To turn off apps from running at startup from Task Manager, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.

   Quick tip: You can also use the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” keyboard shortcut or right-click the Taskbar and choose the “Task Manager” option.

3. Click the Startup tab.

4. Select the app to stop from startup.

5. Click the Disable button.

   

Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat them to remove other apps from the startup on Windows 10.

Enable apps at startup on Windows 10

In the same way, you can also add certain apps to the startup process through the Settings app, Task Manager, or the Startup folder.

Add programs to run at startup from Settings

To allow apps to run at startup, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click on Startup.

4. Turn the toggle switch on for the apps you want to run at startup.

   

Once you complete the steps, the apps will open automatically at startup.

Add programs to run at startup from Startup folder

To allow apps to run automatically from the Startup folder, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Run and click the top result to open the app.

3. Type the following command and click the OK button:

   shell:startup

4. Right-click inside the folder, select New and choose the Shortcut option.

   

5. Click the Browse button.

6. Select the file to create a shortcut.

   

7. Click the OK button.

8. Click the Next button.

9. Confirm a name for the shortcut.

10. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, the system will scan the folder during startup and launch any application.

Add programs to run at startup from Task Manager

To turn on apps from running at startup from Task Manager, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.

3. Click the Startup tab.

4. Select the app to stop from startup.

5. Click the Enable button.

   

Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat them to enable other apps at startup on Windows 10.

Updated December 19, 2023: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect other methods to complete this configuration.