Why you should change what apps open on startup for Windows

Running your most-used apps at startup is great, but they can weigh your system down if you’re not careful.

The programs that run when you start your Windows PC have a huge effect on not only how long your system takes to get going, but also how many system resources are available for what you're doing. Some are essential to include with startup, but others can wait until you need them.

Unfortunately, startup apps can get out of hand quickly because it's easy to miss unchecking the "Run at startup" box when installing software. Plus, programs can add themselves to the list without alerting you. This means you might have dozens of programs running every time you log into Windows without realizing it.

You'll have to poke around a few places to find everywhere these apps live, since they scatter across the OS. But once you've done this, you should find that your system works more smoothly, making this an important part of Windows maintenance to go through regularly.

The best place to review what tools are included with system startup is in the Task Manager. You can manage them at Settings > Apps > Startup as well, but that view isn't as easy to browse. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then click the Startup apps icon on the sidebar (it looks like a speedometer).

For each one, you'll see whether it's enabled under Status , along with other information like the creator. Click these headings to sort; right-clicking shows additional fields like Running now and Disabled time that may be helpful but aren't essential. To disable an app, right-click it and choose Disable . You can always reverse this later if needed.

This panel catches most affected apps, but some are hidden in other places. One is your user account's Startup folder, which is accessible by typing "shell:startup" into either File Explorer's address bar or the Run dialog box (accessible with Win + R ). In my case, this folder had an entry for Send to OneNote that didn't appear in the Task Manager and isn't something I want.

Similarly, typing "shell:common startup" into File Explorer or Run will open a folder containing startup apps that apply to all users. In both folders, delete any shortcuts you don't want to run when you sign in. You can also place app shortcuts in this folder to add new ones. I use this for an autocorrect script in AutoHotkey, for example.