How to Disable Startup Programs in Windows 11/10

October 4, 2025

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When you start your computer, Windows automatically loads a number of applications and background services that run right from boot. While some of these startup programs are essential (like antivirus or system utilities), many are unnecessary and only slow down your computer. Over time, as more apps add themselves to startup, your boot time increases, and system performance suffers.

Thankfully, Windows 11 and Windows 10 both allow you to manage and disable startup programs easily using several built-in tools. In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step methods to disable startup programs, understand why it matters, and explore best practices to optimize your PC’s startup performance.

Why You Should Disable Startup Programs

Disabling unnecessary startup programs can significantly improve your system’s speed and efficiency. Here’s why managing startup apps is important:

Faster Boot Time: Each program that loads at startup consumes memory and CPU cycles. Fewer programs mean faster startup.
Reduced Background Processes: Some apps run silently in the background even when you don’t use them, consuming system resources.
Improved System Performance: Disabling unnecessary apps can free RAM and CPU, leading to smoother multitasking.
Better Battery Life (Laptops): Fewer background programs mean less CPU usage and better battery longevity.
Less Clutter: Reducing startup apps keeps your desktop environment cleaner and easier to manage.

In short, reviewing and managing your startup programs regularly helps your system stay fast and stable.

Understanding Startup Programs

Before you disable anything, it’s essential to understand what startup programs are and how they work.

Startup programs are applications configured to launch automatically whenever you log in or boot Windows. Examples include:

OneDrive
Spotify
Skype
Adobe Creative Cloud
Steam
Zoom
Printer utilities

While some applications legitimately need to start automatically, many add themselves unnecessarily during installation.

Startup entries can come from multiple places:

Task Manager’s Startup tab
Startup folders in the user or system directory
Windows Registry (for advanced users)
Task Scheduler

You can manage them from any of these locations depending on your comfort level.

Method 1: Disable Startup Programs via Task Manager

The Task Manager is the simplest and most reliable way to disable startup programs.

Step 1: Open Task Manager

There are several ways to open it:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or
Right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager, or
Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and choose Task Manager.

Step 2: Go to the Startup Tab

Once Task Manager opens, click on the Startup tab.
This tab lists all programs that automatically run when Windows starts.

You’ll see columns such as:

Name: The program’s name.
Publisher: The developer or vendor of the application.
Status: Whether it’s Enabled or Disabled.
Startup Impact: High, Medium, or Low impact on boot speed.

Step 3: Review Startup Impact

Pay attention to the “Startup impact” column.

High impact: Slows down your startup the most.
Medium: Moderate delay.
Low: Minimal delay.

You can prioritize which ones to disable first.

Step 4: Disable Unnecessary Programs

To disable a program:

Select it from the list.
Click Disable in the bottom-right corner.

This prevents the app from launching automatically during startup. You can always enable it again later if needed.

Step 5: Restart Your PC

After disabling unwanted items, restart your computer to check the difference in startup speed.

Method 2: Disable Startup Programs from Settings App

Windows 11 includes an integrated Startup Apps section in the Settings app, making it even easier to control startup items.

Step 1: Open Settings

Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Navigate to Startup Section

Go to Apps → Startup.

You’ll see a list of applications that automatically run during startup.

Step 3: Toggle Off Unnecessary Apps

Each application has a toggle switch.
Simply turn Off the toggle for any app you don’t want to start automatically.

Windows will also show the impact level under each app’s name — high, medium, or low.

Step 4: Reboot Your PC

Restart your system and notice faster boot performance.

This method is ideal for beginners and is visually simple compared to Task Manager.

Method 3: Use the Startup Folder

The Startup Folder is an older but still valid method. It contains shortcuts to programs that Windows runs on login. You can remove or add shortcuts here to control what starts up.

Step 1: Access the User Startup Folder

Press Windows + R, type the following command, and hit Enter:

shell:startup

This opens your personal startup folder, affecting only your user account.

Step 2: Access the System-wide Startup Folder (Optional)

To view the system-wide folder (affects all users), type:

shell:common startup

Step 3: Manage Shortcuts

You’ll see shortcuts to various apps. To stop them from starting automatically:

Delete the shortcut, or
Move it elsewhere for safekeeping.

Step 4: Add Shortcuts (Optional)

If you want an app to start automatically, simply place its shortcut here.

This manual method offers direct control and works well for advanced users.

Method 4: Disable Startup Programs via System Configuration (msconfig)

The System Configuration tool, or msconfig, is another classic method for managing startup behavior.

Step 1: Open Run Command

Press Windows + R and type:

msconfig

Then press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to Startup Tab

In older versions of Windows, startup programs were managed directly from this tab.
However, in Windows 10 and 11, this tab now redirects you to Task Manager.

Click Open Task Manager and follow the same steps as in Method 1 to disable unwanted items.

Step 3: Apply and Restart

After disabling unnecessary entries, click OK or Apply, and restart your system.

Method 5: Disable Startup Programs via Registry Editor (Advanced Users)

For experienced users, the Registry Editor provides deep control over startup entries.
However, make sure you back up your registry first — incorrect changes can cause system instability.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

Press Windows + R, type:

regedit

and press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to Startup Entries

You can find startup program entries in several registry keys:

For current user:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

For all users:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Step 3: Identify Unwanted Programs

In these keys, each value represents a program that starts automatically.
Check the Value Name and Data fields to identify the program.

Step 4: Delete Unnecessary Entries

Right-click any program you don’t want and choose Delete.
Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Step 5: Restart the System

After making changes, restart your PC to see the effect.

Method 6: Disable Startup Programs from Task Scheduler

Some programs use the Task Scheduler to launch at startup rather than the regular startup list.

Step 1: Open Task Scheduler

Press Windows + S, type Task Scheduler, and open it.

Step 2: Navigate to Startup Tasks

In the left panel, expand:

Task Scheduler Library → Microsoft → Windows

Browse through the list to find any program configured to start automatically.

Step 3: Disable or Delete Tasks

Right-click the task → select Disable.
This stops it from running on startup.

Method 7: Use Command Prompt or PowerShell

If you prefer command-line tools, you can view and disable startup apps using PowerShell.

Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator

Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Step 2: List Startup Apps

Type:

Get-CimInstance Win32_StartupCommand | Select-Object Name, Command, Location

This displays all startup programs with their paths.

Step 3: Disable Manually

You can remove specific startup entries using commands like:

Remove-Item -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" -Name "ProgramName"

Replace ProgramName with the actual name of the startup entry.

How to Identify Which Programs to Disable

You might be wondering — which programs are safe to disable?
Here’s a general rule:

Safe to Disable:

Spotify
Skype
Zoom
Steam
Adobe Creative Cloud
OneDrive (if unused)
Microsoft Teams (if not essential)
Game launchers
Cloud backup tools (if manually used)

Avoid Disabling:

Windows Security or antivirus software
Graphics drivers (Intel, AMD, NVIDIA)
System utilities like sound manager or touchpad drivers
Backup or cloud sync tools you actively use

Always review the publisher name before disabling any entry. If unsure, search the program online to understand its purpose.

Benefits of Disabling Unnecessary Startup Programs

After disabling startup apps, you’ll notice:

Faster Boot Time: Your computer starts in seconds instead of minutes.
Smoother Performance: Freed-up CPU and memory resources.
Reduced Clutter: Fewer background processes.
Better Productivity: You get to your desktop faster and can start working immediately.
Energy Efficiency: On laptops, fewer processes mean less power consumption.

Tips for Managing Startup Effectively

Check Startup List Regularly – Review it once a month to ensure no new apps sneak in.
Use Trusted Tools – You can also use tools like CCleaner or Autoruns (from Microsoft Sysinternals) to view hidden startup entries.
Enable Important Apps Only – Keep only antivirus, cloud sync, and necessary drivers enabled.
Monitor Boot Time – Use the Windows Performance Monitor or third-party apps to measure startup performance before and after changes.
Restart After Each Change – Rebooting after every modification helps verify results immediately.

Troubleshooting: When a Program Keeps Re-enabling Itself

Sometimes, certain apps automatically re-enable themselves even after you disable them. Here’s what to do:

Check Scheduled Tasks: Some programs create background tasks that re-add them to startup.
Update or Reinstall: Some outdated software may ignore Windows startup policies.
Check the App’s Internal Settings: Many programs (e.g., OneDrive, Steam, Discord) have their own “Start with Windows” toggle — disable it there.
Remove from Registry: Manually delete its startup key as shown in Method 5.

Performance Boost: Before and After Comparison

Disabling startup programs can drastically improve performance metrics. For example:

Metric	Before Disabling	After Disabling
Boot Time	70 seconds	30 seconds
Memory Usage (Idle)	2.5 GB	1.6 GB
CPU Usage (Idle)	12%	4%
Background Processes	140	90

Your actual results will vary based on the number of programs disabled, but the improvement is often significant.

When You Should Not Disable Startup Programs

While disabling startup apps generally helps, you should avoid disabling:

Security software – Antivirus and firewall protection must load early.
System utilities – Such as graphics drivers or audio controls.
VPN clients – If you rely on them for security or remote work.

If you’re unsure about a program’s purpose, research it online or temporarily disable it to test results before permanently removing it.

Re-Enabling a Disabled Startup Program

If you ever need a program to start automatically again:

Open Task Manager → Startup tab, select the program, and click Enable.
Or go to Settings → Apps → Startup, and toggle it On.

This flexibility allows you to experiment safely without uninstalling software.

Conclusion

Managing startup programs is one of the easiest ways to make your Windows 11 or 10 PC faster and more responsive. Many users overlook this maintenance task, yet it can drastically reduce boot time and free up system resources.

Whether you use Task Manager, Settings, or the Startup folder, disabling unnecessary programs is safe and reversible. Just ensure you keep essential applications — like antivirus, drivers, and system tools — enabled.

Regularly reviewing your startup list will help maintain long-term system health and performance. With a few minutes of management, you can transform your computer’s startup experience from sluggish to lightning-fast.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to disable all startup programs?
No. Avoid disabling essential services such as antivirus software, drivers, and system utilities. Only disable programs you recognize and don’t use daily.

2. Will disabling startup programs delete them?
No, it only prevents them from launching automatically at startup. You can still open the app manually whenever you want.

3. How can I speed up Windows startup even more?
Besides disabling startup apps, keep your system updated, uninstall unused software, upgrade to an SSD, and enable Fast Startup in Power Options.

4. Can I use third-party tools to manage startup programs?
Yes, trusted tools like Autoruns (Microsoft Sysinternals) or CCleaner offer advanced control. But Windows’ built-in tools are usually sufficient.

5. Do startup programs affect gaming performance?
Yes, too many background apps can consume RAM and CPU, impacting game performance. Disabling unnecessary startup programs can lead to smoother gameplay.