Stop Windows Apps From Launching at Startup

   

Are you tired of having multiple Windows apps launching automatically every time you start your computer, slowing down its boot-up time and consuming precious system resources? Fear not, as there are simple steps you can take to prevent these apps from launching at startup. 

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.

 

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 this might still be worth doing since disabling them can free up precious RAM. To disable an app, just turn off its switch.

 

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.

The Task Manager window then appears. In Windows 10, click the tab for Startup (you may need to click More details first). In Windows 11, click the category for 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.

By default, the list should be sorted by name, but you can click 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.

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. This opens a File Properties window that might reveal more details about it, including a description and version number.

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. Windows runs a Bing search in your web browser for that program. You can then look through the results to track down information and advice on whether or not the program should be barred from startup.

 

By following these simple steps, you can effectively manage which apps launch at startup on your Windows computer, helping you improve your system's performance and reduce unnecessary clutter in your system tray. Take control of your startup apps today and enjoy a more streamlined computing experience.