Before you start
- A Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC
Method 1 Disable startup apps in Task Manager
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Step 1: Open Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or right-click the Start button and choose Task Manager.
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Step 2: Go to Startup apps
In Windows 11, click Startup apps in the left menu (the speedometer icon). In Windows 10, click More details if needed, then the Startup tab.
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Step 3: Check the impact
Sort by Startup impact. Apps marked High slow startup the most.
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Step 4: Disable
Right-click the app and choose Disable (or select it and click Disable at the top).
Method 2 Use Settings instead
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Step 1: Open Startup settings
Go to Settings > Apps > Startup.
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Step 2: Switch apps off
Turn off the switch next to each app you don’t need at startup. Sort by Startup impact to find the heavy ones.
| Usually safe to disable | Keep enabled |
|---|---|
| Spotify, Steam, Epic, Discord, Teams (if not needed) | Windows Security / your antivirus |
| Adobe and other updaters | Audio, touchpad and graphics control panels |
| Cloud apps you rarely use | OneDrive, if you rely on it to sync files |
| Printer and phone helper apps | Password manager, if you want it ready at login |
Method 3 Remove items from the Startup folder
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Step 1: Open the folder
Press Win + R, type shell:startup and press Enter.
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Step 2: Delete shortcuts
Shortcuts in this folder open at login. Delete the ones you don’t want (this doesn’t uninstall the app). For all users, use shell:common startup.
Troubleshooting
An app keeps coming back at startup
Turn off its own “start with Windows” setting, and check Task Scheduler for tasks it created that run at logon.
Something stopped working after disabling
Re-enable the item in Task Manager and restart. Hardware utilities (touchpad gestures, hotkeys, audio effects) often need to run at startup.
Frequently asked questions
Does disabling a startup program uninstall it?
No. It just stops it opening automatically. You can still open it from the Start menu.
How many startup apps is too many?
There’s no fixed number, but a handful of essential apps is ideal. Focus on disabling anything marked High impact.
Summary
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open Startup apps, and disable apps you don’t need right after login, starting with those marked High impact. Keep security software and hardware utilities enabled.
