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To stop a program from opening automatically when you sign in to Windows, turn it off under Settings > Apps > Startup, or disable it in Task Manager > Startup apps. This keeps the program installed; it only changes whether it starts automatically.
Turn off a startup app in Settings
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Find the program and switch its toggle to Off.
- Sign out and back in, or restart your PC, if you want to check that it no longer opens automatically.
These steps are documented for Windows 10 and Windows 11 in Microsoft’s Configure Startup applications in Windows guidance.
Use Task Manager to disable it instead
- Right-click Start and open Task Manager.
- Select Startup apps.
- Select the program, then choose Disable.
Settings and Task Manager show the same list of registered startup apps. Task Manager also displays a startup-impact category, which describes Windows’ recorded impact for the app—not how much time you will save by disabling it.
If the program does not appear in either list
Some programs launch from a shortcut in a Startup folder rather than from the registered startup-app list. Check both locations:
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- Press Win + R, type
shell:startup, and press Enter to open the current user’s Startup folder. - Press Win + R, type
shell:common startup, and press Enter to open the folder used for all users.
If you find a shortcut for the program, delete the shortcut to prevent that automatic launch. This does not uninstall the program. Microsoft’s startup-app guidance also documents registry Run locations, but warns that editing the registry can have unintended consequences. If the built-in controls and Startup folders do not solve your specific case, ask the app publisher or qualified support rather than changing registry entries casually.
When Settings says it cannot find the app
Microsoft says this message can appear if the app is on a removable or network drive, its path is missing, or the app has already been uninstalled. Use the details link beside the toggle to inspect the file path or registry location Windows identifies.
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Disabling startup is not uninstalling
Use Off or Disable when you want to keep the program and open it yourself when needed. To remove the software, use Start > All apps, Settings > Apps > Installed apps, or Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, as applicable. Some built-in Windows apps cannot currently be uninstalled through Settings. See Microsoft’s instructions for uninstalling apps and programs.
What to expect after disabling startup apps
Microsoft notes that startup apps can slow startup and add background activity, so turning off apps you do not need to launch automatically may help. It cannot guarantee a particular boot-time improvement: a slow PC can have several causes, and startup apps are only one possible contributor. Microsoft’s PC performance guidance recommends considering multiple troubleshooting measures.
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Avoid disabling random Windows services or treating System Configuration as a shortcut. Microsoft’s clean-boot instructions frame that process as troubleshooting, warn that functionality may be temporarily affected, and advise tracking changes and restoring normal startup. Microsoft says System Configuration should be used for advanced boot options only with support guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Windows version note
The startup-app instructions above cover Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; see its Windows startup settings page.
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