How to Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10
Startup items are the apps, shortcuts, folders, drives, etc... that are set to run or open automatically at startup when a user signs in to Windows. Startup items can be added by either the programs or drivers installed, or manually by you.
Starting with Windows 10 build 17025, Microsoft has updated the Advanced options under Settings > Apps & Features so that UWP apps that are configured to run at startup will now have a new option to see all available tasks specified by the app developer and their status.
This tutorial will show you how to manage startup items to add, delete, enable, or disable them for your account or for all users in Windows 10.
Apps that require elevation (aka "Run as administrator") will not be allowed to run at startup by default.
As a workaround, you can create an elevated shortcut to run the app, and use this elevated shortcut in your Startup folder.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Startup Items in Task Manager
- Option Two: Add or Delete Startup Items in "Startup" Folder
- Option Three: Delete Startup Items in Registry Editor
- Option Four: Turn On or Off Startup Apps in Settings
- Option Five: Turn On or Off Startup Apps in App's Advanced Options
- Option Six: Run Microsoft Store Apps at Startup in Windows 10
The Task Manager will enable or disable the startup items in the registry keys below.
(Current User)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run
(All Users)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run
1 Open Task Manager into the More details view, and click/tap on the Startup tab. (see screenshots below)
A) Click/tap on a disabled startup item, and click/tap on the Enable button.
If the Enable button is grayed out, then it means that you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to.
Looking at the startup impact of a startup app can be helpful in determining what to disable.
A) Click/tap on a enabled startup item, and click/tap on the Disable button.
If the Disable button is grayed out, then it means that you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to
.
4 When finished, you can close Task Manager if you like.
1 Open File Explorer, and do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.
A) In File Explorer, navigate to the hidden system folder below, and go to step 4 below.
You could also press Windows+R to open Run, type shell:Startup, click/tap on OK.
Code:C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this step.
A) In File Explorer, navigate to the hidden system folder below, and go to step 4 below.
You could also press Windows+R to open the Run dialog, type shell:Common Startup, and click/tap on OK.
Code:C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
4 You can now either add or delete shortcuts for what items you like in the Startup folder.
5 When finished, close the Startup folder.
1 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.
2 If prompted by UAC, and click/tap on Yes. Do step 3 or step 4 below for what you would like to do.
This will step only be applied to your currently signed in user account
A) In Registry Editor, navigate to the locations below one at a time, and go to step 5 below.
Code:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run32 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\StartupFolder
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this step.
A) In Registry Editor, navigate to the locations below one at a time, and go to step 5 below.
For both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 10
Code:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\StartupFolder AND (If added by Group Policy) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run AND (If added by Group Policy) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run
In Addition for Only 64-bit Windows 10
Code:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run AND HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
5 In the right pane of the Run, Run32, RunOnce, or StartupFolder key right click or press and hold on a listed startup item that you would like to delete, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below)
6 When prompted, click/tap on Yes to confirm.
7 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.
This options is only available starting with Windows 10 build 17017.
Starting with Windows 10 build 17083, you can now choose to sort the apps listed by name, state, or startup impact.
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Apps icon.
2 Click/tap on Startup on the left side, and turn on or off any startup apps you want for your account. (see screenshot below)
3 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.
This option will not be available for all apps.
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Apps icon.
2 Click/tap on Apps & features on the left side, click/tap on the app (ex: "Cortana") you want, and click/tap on the Advanced options link. (see screenshot below)
3 Turn on (default) or off Runs at log-in (if available) for what you want for the app. (see screenshot below)
4 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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