Autoruns review
A free, highly detailed Windows tool for analyzing and controlling startup behavior.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Autoruns is a free Windows utility from Microsoft Sysinternals for inspecting and managing programs, drivers, services, and other components that start during boot, login, or application launch. It is aimed at advanced users who need visibility into startup behavior across registry keys, startup folders, scheduled tasks, Explorer add-ons, Winlogon entries, codecs, and other auto-start locations. Users can filter entries, inspect properties, navigate to configuration locations, and disable or delete selected entries.
The published Free plan has no charge for Sysinternals tools and no limit on installations for supported devices. Autoruns also connects with VirusTotal for optional checks and integrates with Process Explorer. Its filtering separates Microsoft-signed and non-Windows entries, while digital-signature verification helps users examine the identity of auto-start components. The included Autorunsc command-line utility adds CSV and XML output options for structured reporting and administrative workflows.
Its main strength is specialized startup analysis rather than general PC maintenance. Autoruns can show auto-start images for different user accounts, disable entries by clearing checkboxes, delete auto-start configuration entries, and open their Registry or file-system locations. It does not provide junk cleanup, driver updates, scheduled maintenance, or restore points, so users seeking an all-purpose optimization suite should consider a different tool. Choose Autoruns when detailed Windows startup visibility and control are the priority; avoid it when automated cleanup or broader maintenance features matter more.
Autoruns pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Inspects registry, services, drivers, scheduled tasks, and startup folders
- Verifies signatures and supports optional VirusTotal checks
- Includes Autorunsc with CSV and XML output options
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on auto-start management rather than junk cleanup
- Does not provide driver updates or scheduled maintenance
- Supports Windows only
Autoruns fact sheet, pricing and score →
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