Windows Startup – How to Add and Remove Programs?

Autostart refers to programs that launch when the system starts up. Choosing which ones to include is quite important, as it affects how quickly Windows boots up. The rule here is very simple—the more programs in Windows 10’s startup, the more processing the computer has to do, which increases the time it takes for the OS to load from the moment you press the “power” button on the computer until it’s fully operational.

This also has a purely practical benefit—if a user runs a particular program nearly every time they use their computer, perhaps the application should launch at startup to save the user the trouble of having to launch it manually. Some programs will immediately check for updates and perform the update on their own (such as Steam or the Epic Store app), without requiring user intervention.

How do you disable programs from running at Windows startup? You'll find the answer to this question in this article.

Remember that a genuine copy of Windows, with full manufacturer support and access to future updates, is essential for stable computer performance. You can purchase Windows 10, as well as other versions of Microsoft Windows, from the trusted store Key-Soft.pl.

How to disable apps at Windows 10 startup – managing the startup list

In Windows 10, you can find startup programs by typing "autostart" in the search bar on the Start menu—the full name of the program is "Startup Apps." 

You can also open the "Settings" app, go to the "Apps" tab, and then to "Startup" at the very bottom.

Another option is to access it through Task Manager. Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete key combination on your keyboard, click “Task Manager” at the bottom, and then go to the “Startup” tab. NOTE – in this case, the list will look slightly different than the startup apps in the first two versions. However, it will still function properly, and you can disable startup by right-clicking on the program name.

The system will display a list of programs that you can sort by name, status (enabled/disabled), or impact on system startup, although this last feature isn't very accurate.

How to disable automatic app launch

To disable automatic startup for an app, simply click the toggle switch so that it changes from blue to gray. This will prevent the program from launching when the system starts up.

If you use your computer frequently or installed the operating system some time ago, you might be surprised by just how extensive the list of startup programs is. In addition to essential applications, it usually includes “forgotten” programs that haven’t been launched in a long time but still contribute to slowing down Windows startup. 

There may also be components of larger software packages that continue to run in the background even after uninstallation. Finally, the startup list includes system utilities (such as applications pre-installed by the laptop manufacturer that handle communication with specific hardware components and ensure their optimal performance—this is how Realtek HD Audio Universal Service works, for example).

Windows 10 startup – what can you safely remove without worrying about your system’s health?

Below are a few programs that aren’t strictly necessary to run at startup, so removing them from the list may help speed up the Windows 10 boot process. 

NOTE: Removing an application from the startup list does not mean uninstalling the program from your computer—it simply means that the program will no longer launch automatically when you turn on your laptop or PC.

• CCCXProcess is one of the applications included in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite that remains on your system even after uninstallation. It should be removed from startup.
• Intel Graphics Command Center Setup – manages your graphics card if your laptop has an integrated Intel GPU. You can disable auto-restart.
• Microsoft Cortana —Microsoft’s voice assistant—does not support Polish, which is why only a tiny fraction of Polish users use it. Remove Cortana from startup.
• Adobe Reader – a program that is extremely useful for working with PDF files, but it doesn’t have to start up with the system.

How do I add a program to the Windows startup folder?

Not all programs that can be optionally launched at system startup are included in this list. To add a program manually, locate the program in the Start menu, right-click it, and then click "Open file location."

Once you've done that, press the Windows key and R. In the dialog box that appears, type shell:startup and click "OK."

Once the Startup folder opens, copy the shortcut to your application (you’ll find it where the system directed you after clicking “Open file location”) and paste it into the Startup folder. This will add the program to the list of Windows startup programs, and it will launch the next time you turn on your computer.