How to Disable Startup Programs on Windows 10,11

The startup feature, while making important apps like antivirus software, etc., immediately available, affects the system’s performance adversely. As the number of startup apps grows, the unnecessary applications that you don’t need for daily operations, such as a gaming client, put pressure on the system resources, hog up the memory, and slow down your computer. It then becomes necessary to disable startup programs that you do not need.

Disabling the unnecessary startup programs improves the device’s performance, making it fast and smooth. The coming sections of this guide explain how to disable programs on startup on Windows 10 and 11 in the quickest and easiest ways.

How to Disable Programs on Startup on Windows 10/11

You can disable startup programs using multiple techniques. These include disabling the startup programs via Task Manager, Windows Settings, Task Scheduler, System Configuration, Startup Folder, PowerShell or Command Prompt, Windows Registry, and Group Policy. Let’s explain these methods step-by-step so that you can easily turn off a startup to improve your system performance and minimize system interruptions.

Method 1: Use Task Manager to disable startup programs

You can use the Task Manager to disable all the unnecessary startup apps at once. The Task Manager is a built-in utility that allows you to manage or control all the system resources, services, and applications. Below is how to disable startup programs using the Task Manager.

• Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
• In the Task Manager, click In Windows 11, you find this option as a speedometer icon on the left-hand pane.
• Right-click the app(s) that you want to disable and then click Disable.

• You can repeat the above steps to disable as many startup apps as you want.

Method 2: Disable Windows 11/Windows 10 startup programs with Windows Settings

The Settings app in Windows is another intuitive way to manage startup apps and disable the unnecessary ones. Here is how to disable programs on startup using Windows Settings.

• Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings.
• Click Apps in the Settings panel.
• In the Apps window, click Startup.

• Find the startup app that you wish to disable and toggle off. In this way, you can disable all the unwanted startup apps one by one.

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Method 3: Use Task Scheduler to remove the startup programs

Windows has a built-in Task Scheduler to create, schedule, and manage tasks. Here is how to disable startup programs on Windows 10/11 using the Task Scheduler.

• Click the Start button on the Taskbar.
• Type Task Scheduler in the search bar.
• Click Task Scheduler in the search results.
• Click the Task Scheduler Library in the Task Scheduler window.
• Select the startup app you need to disable, and then click

Method 4: Stop apps from opening on startup using the System Configuration

While quite an advanced method, System Configuration (msconfig) can help stop applications from starting automatically on the computer startup. Here is how.

• Press Windows + R to open the Run utility.
• Type msconfig in the Run box and press
• Click Startup and then click the option to Open Task Manager.
• Next, click Startup in the Task Manager.
• Select the applications you need to disable and then click

Method 5: Manage the startup programs using the Startup Folder

Windows runs the contents of the startup folders automatically at login. These folders include the current user’s startup folder and all users’ startup folders. You can remove shortcuts from these folders to manage the startup apps on your computer. However, while following the steps below to disable startup programs, remember not to delete crucial system processes, and only remove apps you have installed manually.

• Press Windows + R to open the Run tool.
• In the Run box, type shell:startup and press
• You can now remove the shortcuts of unwanted apps.

• To manage the startup applications for all users, you can type shell:common startup in the Run box.

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Method 6: Use PowerShell or Command Prompt to disable the startup programs on Windows 10/11

For advanced users who are comfortable with scripting, Command Prompt or PowerShell is another method to disable startup programs on Windows 10/11. You can follow the steps below to turn off the startup apps in this way.

Using Command Prompt

• Click the Start button.
• Type Command Prompt or cmd in the search bar.
• Right-click the first search result and select Run as administrator.
• In the Administrator Command Prompt, copy and paste the following command.

wmic startup get caption, command

• Press Enter to list all startup apps.
• To disable a particular application, delete the app’s shortcut from the Startup folder (as explained in Method no. 5)

Using PowerShell

• Right-click the Start button.
• Select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
• In the Administrator PowerShell, copy and paste the following command.

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

• Press Enter to get a list of all startup applications.
• To disable a specific startup app, delete its shortcut from the Startup folder.

Method 7: Stop startup apps using the Windows Registry

You can edit the Windows Registry to disable startup apps. However, please remember to back up your Registry before following the steps below, as wrong Registry edits can cause system instability.

• Press Windows + R to open the Run utility.
• Type regedit in the Run box and press
• In the Windows Registry, navigate to the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• Right-click the application entry you wish to remove and click
• Next, navigate to the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• Right-click the app you want to disable and click

Method 8: Disable startup programs with Group Policy

For those in domain environments, Group Policy allows you to control startup programs. System administrators can determine the applications that are disallowed or allowed to run at startup. Here is how to disable Windows 10 startup programs using Group Policy.

• Press Windows + R to access the Run utility.
• In the Run box, type msc and press Enter.
• In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to the path Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon.
• Locate and double-click Run these programs at user logon policy in the right pane.
• Click Disabled on the policy settings window to disable all startup programs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I disable startup programs in Windows 10?

The easiest way to disable Windows 10 startup programs is to press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys, click Startup, select the apps you want to disable, and then click Disable. For alternative methods, you can check the guide above.

Q2. Is it OK to disable all startup programs?

Yes, it is OK to disable the startup applications that you do not use or do not need immediately after the startup. It saves system resources to ensure it functions smoothly.

Q3. How do I stop programs from automatically running at startup in Windows 11?

To stop programs from launching automatically at startup in Windows 11/10, you can press Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys, click Startup, and then select the individual applications to disable their automatic startup.

Q4. How do I disable startup programs and non-admin?

If you want to disable startup apps as a non-admin, you can do this using device Settings. To disable the automatic start of programs on PC startup, press the Windows + I keys, click Apps, click Startup, and then toggle off the unnecessary startup apps.

Q5. Which programs should I disable at startup?

You should disable non-essential but high-impact applications, such as game launchers (Epic, Steam, etc.), cloud apps (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.), and communication tools (Discord, Teams, etc.), to free up space and speed up your computer.

So, that’s how to disable startup programs in Windows 10/11 easily. However, if you face problems turning off the startup feature for any application or program, you can write your issues in detail in the comments section. We will do our best to help you.