How to Stop Programs From Opening Automatically When Windows Starts

If your Windows computer feels sluggish right after you turn it on, one of the most common culprits is too many programs launching automatically at startup. Every program that opens when Windows starts uses memory and processing power during boot — the more programs starting at once, the longer your computer takes to be fully ready to use.

Many programs add themselves to the startup list without asking your permission. Spotify, Skype, OneDrive, Dropbox, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, and dozens of other apps do this by default when you install them. Over time, the startup list grows and your computer gets slower to boot.

Windows Task Manager has a "Startup" tab that shows you exactly which programs are set to launch at startup and their estimated impact on your boot time. You can disable any startup item with a right-click — the program is still installed and works normally — it won't open automatically anymore.

Disabling a startup program doesn't delete it or cause any problems. It means the program won't run until you open it yourself. If you later decide you want it to start automatically again, you can re-enable it the same way.

Some startup programs are important to leave running — your antivirus or security program, for example, should start with Windows. Hardware drivers like audio and graphics card software also often need to run at startup to work correctly. When in doubt, look up the program name if you're not sure what it does.

The process described here works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Task Manager looks slightly different between the two, but the Startup tab works the same way.