On Windows we have several methods to add or remove autostart apps on Windows 11 and 10, using only the tools integrated within the operating system, without downloading external apps (quite useless in this scenario).
So let’s see How to add and remove autostart appsusing the old Startup folder (still present on Windows) and other simple startup tricks built into new versions of Windows.
READ ALSO -> How to speed up Windows 10 and Windows 11
1) Quick access Autorun
To use the Startup folder on Windows 11 and Windows 10 we press the key combination WIN+R and we write inside:
shell:startup
This will immediately open the Startup folder for our specific user; alternatively we can launch the command:
shell:common startup
to instead open the Startup folder used by all users of the PC. Once this folder is opened, it becomes very simple to add program links to it, so as to start them together with the operating system.
To proceed, open the Start menu, right-click on the icon of the program to start automatically, press Open file locationwe right-click on the present link, press Copylet’s go to the Startup folder, press the right mouse button inside and press on Paste.
Add apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store
If we want to add an application downloaded from the Microsoft Store to autostart, we must first find the links. We press the key combination again WIN+R on the keyboard and write the command inside:
shell:AppsFolder
The folder will open Applications, where all the programs taken from the Microsoft Store or created by web browsers are present. To proceed, right-click on the program icon and press on Create link and move the latter to the Startup folder.
2) Advanced Access Autorun
If we want to use the old method to add links to autostart programs, just open the program File Explorer (also using the key combination WIN+E), by pressing at the top of the address bar and entering the following path:
C:\Users\%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
This will open the folder Automatic execution, where we can copy the links of the programs to start together with the PC. Also on Windows there is another folder Automatic execution reachable on the route:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
The difference is that the objects in the folder Startup Of ProgramData they are loaded when Windows starts whichever user uses the computer, while if you use the Startup folder in Users, then the added programs and files are automatically loaded only for the user you log in with. If the PC is used by only one registered user, it makes no difference which Startup folder to use.
3) Remove autostart apps
Deleting all the contents of the folders Automatic execution seen in this guide we will no longer have self-starting programs, but nothing prevents programs from starting on their own using direct integration with the operating system.
On Windows 11 we can proceed by right-clicking on the Start menu, pressing up Settings and then on App. From this menu we press on Start and deactivate the switches next to the entries of the applications that we do not want to start together with Windows.
On Windows 10 the fastest method is to right-click on the taskbar, then press up Activity managementclick on More details (if present), take us to the tab Startright-click on the unwanted program and finally press on Disable.
The same method can be used on Windows 11 but the menu is called Startup app inside Activity management present in the new version of the operating system.
Conclusions
Managing autostart programs has become significantly easier in the latest versions of Windows. Anyone who wants to add programs to startup just needs to open the folder Automatic execution and copy inside the links of the apps or programs to be used at each startup.
With the Settings menu and with Task Manager we can instead remove auto-start programs, making Windows start up faster.
To learn more we can read the guides on best programs to manage automatic startup in Windows and how Speed up Windows if your limited computer is always slow.