Windows 10 Startup Folder Explained

This Itechguide explains Windows 10 Startup folder.

What is Windows 10 Startup Folder?

Windows 10 Startup Folder is a folder that contains a list of programs or scripts that start automatically after a user signs in to Windows 10.

There are 2 start-up folders in Windows 10. The start-up folder for the current user, located in %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Any program or script added to this path will only start when the current user signs in to Windows 10.

However, there is another start-up folder for programs that start automatically for all users on the computer. This folder is located in %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp. If you want a program or script to start automatically when any user on the PC signs in, save it in this start-up folder.

How Windows 10 Startup Folder Works

To further explain this Windows 10 technology, here is a summary of how it works:

1. Add any script or program you want to start automatically in the Start-up folder. If you are an administrator on the PC, you can add a program to the All User Startup folder – see the last section.
2. When you add a program or script to the start-up folder, it becomes available on the Task Manager Start-up tab and is automatically enabled to start on Windows 10 startup
3. You can use Task Manager to Disable and Enable a program to either start on startup or not.

4. To stop a program starting at start-up, you can disable it from Task Manager or completely delete the shortcut from the start-up folder

How to Open Windows 10 Startup folder with Shell Command

In the first section of this Itechgudide, I listed the path to the current signed in user’s start-up fodder. I also gave the path to the start-up folder for all users. However, there is a quick command to open these folders.

Method 1: Open Startup Folder for the Current User

To open the the start-up folder for the current signed in users:

1. Right-click Windows 10 start menu and click Run.

1. Then, enter the command below into run and click OK.

shell:startup

The command will open your Start-up folder. Any program you save in this folder will start automatically when you sign in to Windows 10.

Method 2: Open Start-up Folder for All Users

To open the start-up folder for all users:

1. Open Run. Then, enter the command below and press enter

shell:common startup

The command will open the start-up folder with program shortcuts that start when any user on the PC signs in to the computer.

Conclusion

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