Startup apps and programs are often convenient if you want to save time when you turn your computer on. However, you might have experienced that when many programs try to start at once, your computer can take a long time to boot up successfully.
Changing your startup programs is a simple way to boost your computer’s load time and get rid of programs you might not necessarily need. There are easy ways to do it regardless of what type of operating system you have. We’ll walk you through the process step by step and help identify and deactivate programs that are bloating your startup, starting with the steps forWindows 11.
Difficulty
What You Need
A PC (Windows or macOS)
How to manage startup apps in Windows 11
Step 1:Select theStart menubutton. Then, from the menu that appears, chooseSettings.
Step 2:In theSettingsmenu, chooseApps.
Step 3:On theAppsscreen, chooseStartup.
Step 4:On theStartupscreen, you’ll be presented with a list of apps. Each app has a toggle next to it. Select the toggle for a given app to turn on or off its ability to begin running as soon as you log into your Windows 11 PC. These instructions work forWindows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home.
The Startup screen also shows you which of these apps are likely to be the ones that are are slowing down your PC at startup by labeling them asHigh,Medium,Low, orNo impact. If you’re looking to speed up your PC at startup, you may want to turn off the apps labeled asHigh impactfirst.
How to manage startup apps in Windows 10
Other versions of Windowshave their own methods of changing the startup programs.
Step 1:Launch the Task Manager. You can find it by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting it from the pop-up list, using theCtrl + Alt + Deletekeyboard shortcut, or by searching for it in theWindows search box.
Step 2:If the Task Manager only shows the current programs you have open, get it to reveal more information by selectingMore detailsat the bottom of the window. Doing so opens a larger window with a much longer list of apps and various tabs. Don’t get overwhelmed! Look at the tab options and go to the one that saysStartup.
Step 3:TheStartuptab shows you all the apps that can automatically start up with Windows. You’ll notice that all active apps sayEnabledin the Status Section, while inactive ones areDisabled. Look through the list and find the apps that you don’t need or want to launch automatically. The apps displayed will vary depending on your PC, but consider your tasks and what’s essential before making a decision.
Step 4:You probably want OneDrive to open at work, your Nvidiagraphics cardto launch on a gaming rig, andany anti-malware solutionyou might have to always start with Windows. When you find an app you don’t need, right-click (or press and hold if on a tablet). SelectDisablefrom the pop-up menu. Alternatively, you can use theDisablebutton at the bottom of the window.
Step 5:When it comes to picking the apps you want to disable, it’s worth considering the last column in Task Manager, titledStartup impact. This column lets you know how much system resources the app requires on startup. If it saysNone, then you probably don’t need to worry about disabling it. If it saysNot measured, then it’s likely a new app (or you have a fresh Windows 10 install), because Windows hasn’t been able to measure its impact yet.
Step 6:Over time,Startup impactcan provide useful information on what apps are best to disable. Look for apps that have aHigh impact, and odd-named apps that don’t have anything listed underPublisher. These are prime targets. However, if you aren’t sure what an app does, it’s generally a smart idea to leave it. If you find that you’ve disabled an app that you did need to startup with Windows, simply repeat the above steps and set the app toEnabled.
Step 7:It’s worth noting that Windows 10 users can also change which apps run when their PC boots by selectingWindows key>Settings>Apps>Startup, then making sure that only apps they want are running during startup.
How to manage startup apps in macOS
Step 1:Go toSystem preferences, which you can find in your dock as the gear icon. Once there, look for the silhouette icon calledUsers & groupsand select it. You’ll also want to select theLockto make changes and enter your password.
Step 2:If you have multiple users on your computer, they will appear on the left side of the window. Pick the appropriate user if necessary. It should be noted that some options here are restricted due to administrative privileges, but you should still be able to alter your startup apps without a problem. After you select the correct user, choose the tab near the top of the window that saysLogin items.
Step 3:InLogin items, you will see a list of all apps that open on startup. Check the apps that you don’t want to start right away. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to see which apps have the most impact on startup time like in Windows, but the list does tell you what kind of software it is, which may help you decide.
Step 4:Below the list of apps, you will find plus and minus signs. Choosing theMinus signwill remove the app that you have selected from the list. You can also add new apps with thePlus sign.
Users can also choose to remove all selected apps at once if you want a clean slate. It should be noted that this method works only on the following versions of macOS: all versions from High Sierra to Monterey.
How to manage startup apps in Windows 8
If ourWindows 11 reviewhasn’t tempted you to upgrade, here’s how to manage the Windows 8 startup programs.
Step 1:Run Task Manager by pressing theWindows key + Rand typingmsconfigin theRunbox, then selectRun. Users can also pressCtrl + Alt + Delete, then selectTask managerfrom the menu that appears.
Step 2:Choose the tab labeledStartup.
Step 3:Select the startup program or programs you’d like to disable, then selectDisable.
On the other hand, if there are programs you’d like to boot with Windows, you may add them here as well. Right-click the item you want to have run at startup, selectCopy. Next, simultaneously press theWindows + Rkeys to open the Run dialogue box, then enter%appdata%.
From the menu that appears, chooseMicrosoft>Windows>Start menu>Programs>Startup. You’ll then want to right-click anywhere in the menu and selectPaste. you’re able to then restart the computer to save your startup configuration.
How to manage startup apps in Windows 7
Step 1:Select the WindowsStartbutton, and in theSearch programstext box, typeMSConfig. Your System Configuration console will open after this.
Step 2:Select the tab labeledStartup. A new window will open up where you can see all your computer programs installed as startup options.
Step 3:Go through this list and check the boxes of all of the apps you want to keep. You will also need to uncheck the boxes for all of the applications you do not wish to keep.
Step 4:Lastly, selectApplyand then close the window. SelectRestartwhen the reboot pop-up window appears. You won’t be able to see the changes until you restart your device and they take effect.
Step 5:You use the same steps to put new options on the Windows 7 startup menu as you do with the Windows 8 operating system.
To do this, right-click on the item you wish to add to the Startup menu. A menu pops up and gives you the option toCreate shortcut. Once you select that, you’ll find the shortcut in the same folder with the original item, so you won’t have to search for it.
Step 6:Next, you’ll have to select theStartbutton >All programs>Startup. Drag the new shortcut you created into theStartupfolder. Now, every time you restart your computer, you’ll know that the shortcut is available on startup and you won’t have to manually navigate to it. After you’ve completed these steps, your Startup menu will automatically save and be ready to use when you turn your computer back on.
