(Credit: René Ramos)
One of the most frustrating aspects of Windows is the ease with which so many applications start up automatically as soon as you start up the operating system. Install an app like Discord, iTunes, or Spotify, and it’ll muscle its way into your startup routine, whether you need it to or not.
There are certain types of programs that should start up automatically, such as antivirus software, backup and synchronization tools, and webcam software. However, many apps unnecessarily take advantage of the Windows startup process, chewing up resources and potentially hampering your PC's performance. Don't worry, though, because you can fight back.
Windows has long offered a way to view and disable your startup programs. Those of you who used older versions of Windows may remember opening the System Configuration tool (msconfig) to view and deselect any programs you wanted to stop loading automatically. That specific option is no longer available in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Instead, you go through the Settings screen or Task Manager. Here’s how to deal with unwanted startup apps.
Disable Startup Apps in Windows Settings
In Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Apps > Startup to view a list of all apps that can start up automatically and determine which ones should be disabled. You can sort the list by name, status, or startup impact. A switch next to each app indicates a status of On or Off to tell you whether or not that app is currently in your startup routine.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)Below the switch is an indicator for impact. An app can be tagged as No impact, Low impact, Medium impact, or High impact. These indicators measure the impact a startup program has on your PC’s CPU and disk drive at startup. The higher the impact indicator, the longer a program takes to load, thereby increasing the time it takes for Windows to completely start. An app with a status of Not measured means that its impact has not yet been determined.
In reviewing which apps to kick out of your startup routine, look at the ones that are rated as High and Medium, since disabling those will have the greatest effect on speeding up your system at startup. Disabling those rated as Low impact or No impact will have little or no effect on your startup time, but removing them might still be worth doing since that can free up precious RAM. To disable an app, just turn off its switch.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)Disable Startup Apps in Task Manager
Another option is to review your startup apps through Task Manager, which allows you to more easily research each one and better gauge whether or not to disable it. In Windows 10 or 11, right-click on any empty area of the Taskbar. From the pop-up menu, click Task Manager to open the Task Manager window.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)In Windows 10, click the Startup tab (you may need to click More details first). In Windows 11, click Startup apps. You’ll see a list of all the apps that start up automatically each time Windows loads. Some of the programs you’ll likely recognize; others may be unfamiliar. The challenge here is to hunt down the ones that don't need to launch at startup while not disturbing the ones that do.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)By default, the list should be sorted by name, but you can select any of the headings to sort the list by software publisher, startup status, and startup impact. Click a specific heading a second time to reverse the order. To kick an app out of the startup sequence, right-click on it and select Disable. Anything disabled will be labeled as such in the Status column.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)Your safest bet is to disable one app at a time, restart your PC, and then make sure you and Windows can live without the program running at startup. If you bump into any problems with a program you’ve disabled, return to the Settings screen or to Task Manager and welcome it back into your startup routine. If you can’t identify a specific app by its name or publisher, right-click on it and select Properties to open the File Properties window, which should show a description and version number.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)If you’re unsure whether or not you should disable a certain app from launching at startup, right-click on it and select Search online to have Windows run a web search in your browser for the program. You can then review the results to track down information and advice on whether or not the program should be barred from startup. The ultimate goal should be to use the Startup Impact status, combined with the information you find via web searches, to choose the right apps to disable.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)Third-Party Startup Managers
If you feel that the startup managers built into Windows aren’t robust or effective enough, you can dig up even more startup items to review with the help of various third-party apps:
AutoRuns: AutoRuns is a free option for power users that shows you startup applications, browser extensions, scheduled tasks, services, drivers, and more. Scouring the vast number of items can be confusing and intimidating at first; you don’t want to disable a necessary and important app or another component. However, if you understand all or most of the entries listed, AutoRuns is a powerful and effective startup manager.
(Credit: PCMag / AutoRuns)Starter: The free Starter utility reveals all startup programs, processes, and services. You can view all items or narrow the list by folder location or Registry entry. Before you try disabling an item, you’re able to edit its parameters to control how and when it starts up. You can also launch the startup item directly from Starter to see exactly what it does. Starter even allows you to tweak the look, layout, and features of the utility.
(Credit: PCMag / Starter)Startup Delayer: The free version of Startup Delayer offers a unique spin on startup management, allowing you to delay a program from opening to avoid several apps loading at once. Startup Delayer displays all startup items, as well as running tasks and services. Right-click on an item to view its properties, launch it, search Google or the Process Library for more information, disable it, or delay it. The paid version allows you to schedule exactly when certain apps should open.
(Credit: PCMag / Startup Delayer)