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To quickly list programs configured to run when a user logs on to Windows, open PowerShell and run:
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_StartupCommand |
Select-Object Name, Command, Location, UserThis built-in query shows each entry’s name, launch command, startup location, and associated user. For a broader inventory of auto-start locations, use Microsoft Sysinternals Autorunsc.
List startup programs with PowerShell
Win32_StartupCommand is a Windows management class for commands that run automatically when a user logs on. The Get-CimInstance command is the concise, modern PowerShell way to query it:
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_StartupCommand |
Select-Object Name, Command, Location, UserThe selected fields make the output easier to interpret:
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- Name identifies the startup entry.
- Command shows the executable or command configured to run.
- Location indicates where the startup information is stored.
- User identifies the user associated with the entry.
Microsoft documents the class and these properties in its Win32_StartupCommand reference. If a user identity is unresolved or ambiguous, include UserSID to help distinguish accounts:
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_StartupCommand |
Select-Object Name, Command, Location, User, UserSIDUse the older WMI command-line style
Microsoft’s WMI task guide shows the legacy Get-WmiObject cmdlet. It is an alternative example, not a requirement for listing startup commands:
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Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_StartupCommand |
Select-Object Name, Command, Location, UserThe guide also demonstrates enumerating the class and printing its properties. For new PowerShell commands, use Get-CimInstance. See Microsoft’s WMI tasks: Computer software for the legacy example and related context.
Get a broader startup inventory with Autorunsc
The CIM query is useful for a quick list, but it is not a guarantee that every possible Windows auto-start mechanism will appear. Microsoft Sysinternals Autoruns covers additional locations, including Explorer add-ons, services, scheduled tasks, and WMI entries. Its command-line counterpart, Autorunsc, can output CSV and select all documented categories:
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autorunsc.exe -a * -cDownload Autoruns from Microsoft’s Autoruns page. The page lists version 14.3, published June 17, 2026. Autoruns also supports viewing other user accounts.
| Method | Coverage | Availability and output |
|---|---|---|
PowerShell: Win32_StartupCommand |
Recognized startup commands, including documented Run/RunOnce registry and Startup-folder locations; not every possible auto-start mechanism. | Built into Windows management tooling; returns PowerShell objects that can be selected for display. |
| Sysinternals Autorunsc | Broader set of startup-related locations, including services, scheduled tasks, Explorer add-ons, and WMI entries. | Separate Microsoft Sysinternals download; -c requests CSV output and -a * selects all documented categories. |
To save Autorunsc output to a file, use shell redirection with the CSV option, for example:
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autorunsc.exe -a * -c > startup.csvThe documented switch produces CSV output; the command above redirects that output to a file. Microsoft’s WMI guide similarly demonstrates redirecting command-line script output to a file.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Understand what the list does—and does not—show
Microsoft describes Win32_StartupCommand as a way to enumerate autostart programs regardless of where the information is stored. Its documented locations include Run and RunOnce keys under HKLM and HKCU, user-related Run entries, and common and per-user Startup folders. That purpose should not be mistaken for an exhaustive listing of every boot, service, scheduled-task, extension, or logon trigger. Use Autorunsc when you need wider location coverage.
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The class reference states that the calling process needs the SE_RESTORE_NAME privilege on the computer whose registry is queried. This is a specific documented privilege requirement; it does not establish that every local query always requires opening PowerShell as Administrator. If a query returns access denied—particularly when querying another computer or account—check whether the calling process has the required privilege and permissions.
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