Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10  

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    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10

    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10

    How to Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Performance & Maintenance
    24 Jun 2022
    Designer Media Ltd

    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.

    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-apps_settings_runs_at_log-.png

    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






    OPTION ONE

    Enable or Disable Startup Items in Task Manager


    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)


     2. To Enable a Startup Item

    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.

    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-task_manager_enable.jpg


     3. To Disable a Startup Item

    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

    .Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-task_manager_disable.jpg

    4 When finished, you can close Task Manager if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Add or Delete Startup Items in "Startup" Folder


    1 Open File Explorer, and do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.


     2. To Add or Delete Startup Items for Only a "Specific User"

    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
    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-shell_startup.jpg


     3. To Add or Delete Startup Items used by "All Users"

    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
    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-shell_common_startup.jpg

    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.






    OPTION THREE

    Delete Startup Items in Registry Editor


    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.


     3. To Delete Startup Programs for Only the "Current User"

    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


     4. To Delete Startup Programs for "All Users"

    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)

    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-startup_registry.jpg

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Yes to confirm.

    7 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.





    OPTION FOUR

    Turn On or Off Startup Apps in Settings


    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.

    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-startup_apps_in_settings.jpg






    OPTION FIVE

    Turn On or Off Startup Apps in App's Advanced Options


    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)

    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-cortana_app_settings-1.jpg

    3 Turn on (default) or off Runs at log-in (if available) for what you want for the app. (see screenshot below)

    Add, Delete, Enable, or Disable Startup Items in Windows 10-cortana_app_settings-2.png

    4 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.






    OPTION SIX

    Run Microsoft Store Apps at Startup in Windows 10



    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 421
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit, 22H2 19045.3636
       #1

    Is there a way to get SpeedFan to run at Startup? I put a shortcut in the Startup folder for my account, and I clicked "Change settings for all users" and checked "Run this program as administrator", and I moved the shortcut to the Startup folder for all accounts, and it still won't run at Startup. On the Startup tab in Task Manager, it's enabled, but it's not listed in the Processes tab.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Greg, :)

    Windows will not allow elevated programs to run at startup by default.

    As a workaround, you could create an elevated shortcut of SpeedFan using the method in the tutorial below, then place that elevated shortcut in your Startup folder.

    Elevated Program Shortcut without UAC Prompt - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 421
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit, 22H2 19045.3636
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello Greg, :)

    Windows will not allow elevated programs to run at startup by default.

    As a workaround, you could create an elevated shortcut of SpeedFan using the method in the tutorial below, then place that elevated shortcut in your Startup folder.

    Elevated Program Shortcut without UAC Prompt - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums
    Good news and somewhat interesting, but expected news. I got it working, and I discovered that, as you're probably aware, if you screw up the task, but not the shortcut, there's no need to change the shortcut when you fix the task.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Perfect.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 EDU
       #5

    Changing the setting of a task manager startup program in registry


    Great tutorial!

    I do have one question though

    I want to script enabling a program in the task manager. After we install the program it shows as a Task Manager entry and says enabled. We disable it for our image but we want to be able to enable it with a batch or powershell script.

    Do you know where the "enabled" or "disabled" setting is in the registry?

    The only place I can find a line to the program in the registry for startup is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    but that only point to the location of the program, It doesn't say whether it's enabled or not.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Arsenal, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    As a workaround, you could add (enable) or remove (disable) it from the registry at that location.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 EDU
       #7

    Brink said:
    Hello Arsenal, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    As a workaround, you could add (enable) or remove (disable) it from the registry at that location.
    Thanks for the Add :)

    I would agree with you, but what I am seeing right now is that it is that location (so would be enabled in theory) but when I check task manager it is disabled
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Yep, you'll need to enable it in Task Manager first. Afterwards, the workaround to add/remove should work.

    UPDATE:

    The enable/disable startup items from Task Manager are stored in the registry keys below. You can export this registry key when you enable and disable the startup program, then edit the .reg file to only include the startup programs you want to toggle. :)

    (Current User)
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run

    (All Users)
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 EDU
       #9

    Thanks Brink,

    I guess we just wont be able to do what we need to do with it. We have 400+ machines already imaged. we were just hoping to be able to script the "enabled" setting without having to touch every machine first.
      My Computer


 

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