Manage Startup Apps in Windows 10

5 Parts:

Add Programs to Windows 10 Startup Folder

Remove Programs from Windows 10 Startup Folder

Enable Startup Programs in Windows 10 from the Task Manager

Disable Startup Programs in Windows 10 from the Task Manager

Comments

When the Windows operating system starts up, a variety of programs also start up with it. Some run in the background and some run in the foreground, either way, specific applications open every time you power on or reboot your system. Some of these programs are necessary to keep the OS running correctly, and others can be to help save time and keep things more streamlined.

An excellent example of a few programs that would be ideal to start up when Windows boots could be; Anti-virus, VPN, cloud services, or messaging apps. Sometimes when you install a new program, the option to have it run at startup will present itself during the installation phase. Other times, you might have to go into the applications settings and enable it to open when windows boots. And sometimes, the option isn't available during the installation process or via the program's settings, but with the steps outlined in this tutorial, we'll show you how to have any application startup with Windows 10.

For the following VisiHow, we used a Sager laptop running Windows 10 Professional. If you're running Windows 8 or Windows 10 Home, all the instructions still apply.

**Please Note**

To change startup apps in Windows 10, you have to use the Startup folder. You can enable or disable which apps will run at startup from the Task manager, but unless they are there by default (OS related background processes), you must manually copy them to the Startup folder.

To be able to enable or disable apps during startup, their shortcuts first need to be added to your Startup folder.

1. 1
   On your keyboard, press the Windows key + R at the same time.

   

   Advertisement

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   In the Run command window, type; "shell:startup" (without the quotes), then click "OK".

   

   Advertisement

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   The shell:startup run command will open your Startup folder

   .

   keep this folder open or minimize it for access in the proceeding steps.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Now you need to add an application

   .

   Click the start menu, right-click a program, click "More", then select "Open file location".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   When the location of the application you selected is open, right-click its shortcut, then click "Copy".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   Now with the app's shortcut copied to the clipboard, go to or maximize the Startup folder opened earlier, right-click, then click "Paste".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   You can also copy an app's shortcut from your desktop to be added to your Startup folder.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
8. 8
   With the program's shortcut copied, paste it into the Startup folder, the same as step # 6.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

Removing applications from Windows Startup is as simple as deleting the shortcuts copied in the previous section of this guide.

1. 1
   Using your keyboard, press the Windows key + R simultaneously.

   

   Advertisement

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   When the Run command window opens, type; shell:startup (without the quotation marks), then click "OK".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   With your Startup window open, right-click the shortcut for the program you no longer want to run during Windows' startup, then click "Delete".

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

When you have program shortcuts added to your Startup folder, they can be enabled and disabled from the Task Manager.

1. 1
   On your keyboard, press the Windows key + X.

   
   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help