The fastest way to add a program to startup

The quickest method is to open the Startup folder directly and drag your program's shortcut into it. Windows 11 stores this folder at C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. When you restart your computer, anything in this folder launches automatically.

To find your program's shortcut, search for the program name in the Windows search box, right-click it, and select "Open file location". This takes you to where Windows stores it. Create a shortcut if one doesn't exist — right-click the program file, choose "Create shortcut", and move that shortcut to the Startup folder.

This method works for most programs. It's faster than using Settings and doesn't require administrator permissions on most systems. The downside is that programs added this way run silently in the background with no way to pause or delay them from the Startup folder itself.

Key Takeaways

  • The Startup folder at C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup automatically runs anything inside it when Windows starts.
  • You can also add programs through Settings > System > Startup Apps, which gives you control to turn individual programs on or off without deleting them.
  • Programs added through Settings show a startup impact rating (Low, Medium, High) so you can see which ones slow down your boot time the most.
  • Some programs add themselves to startup automatically during installation — check the Settings startup list to remove ones you don't want running in the background.

Using Settings to manage startup programs

Windows 11 also lets you control startup programs through the Settings app, which is useful if you want to turn programs on and off without deleting anything. Open Settings, go to System > Startup Apps, and you'll see a list of every program set to run at startup.

Toggle any program off to stop it from launching when Windows starts. The list shows a Startup impact rating for each program — Low, Medium, or High — which tells you how much that program slows down your boot time. Programs rated High are worth turning off if you don't need them running constantly.

This method is safer than the Startup folder because you can always turn a program back on later. You don't have to find and delete anything. It's also the only way to see which programs are set to start automatically — the Startup folder only shows programs you've manually added.

Adding programs that don't appear in Settings

Some programs don't show up in the Settings startup list because they were installed before Windows 11 or because they don't register with the system's startup manager. For these, the Startup folder method is your only option.

Locate the program's .exe file (the main program file), right-click it, and select "Create shortcut". Windows will ask where you want to save it — choose the Startup folder. If you can't find the .exe file, search for the program name in File Explorer, right-click the result, and select "Open file location".

Once the shortcut is in the Startup folder, the program will launch every time you start Windows. If you later want to remove it, just delete the shortcut from the Startup folder — this doesn't uninstall the program, only stops it from starting automatically.

Removing programs from startup

If a program is in your Settings startup list, the easiest way to stop it is to toggle it off in Settings > System > Startup Apps. This takes effect immediately and doesn't require a restart. You can turn it back on anytime by toggling it on again.

For programs in the Startup folder, open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Right-click the shortcut and select Delete. The program stops launching at startup the next time you restart.

Be careful not to delete the program itself — only delete the shortcut. Deleting a shortcut from the Startup folder doesn't uninstall anything, it just stops that program from running automatically when Windows starts.

Why programs add themselves to startup

Many programs add themselves to startup during installation without asking. This includes antivirus software, cloud storage services, messaging apps, and system utilities. These programs run in the background so they can check for updates, sync files, or monitor your system without you having to open them manually.

The problem is that each program running at startup uses memory and processing power, which slows down your boot time and overall system performance. If you have ten programs set to start automatically, your computer takes longer to reach a usable state after you turn it on.

Check your Settings startup list regularly and turn off programs you don't need running constantly. Most programs work fine if you open them only when you need them. Cloud storage services and antivirus software are exceptions — these usually need to run in the background to work properly.

Finding the Startup folder if it's hidden

The Startup folder is hidden by default in Windows 11 because it contains system files. To see it, open File Explorer and click the View tab at the top. Select Show > Hidden items. Now you can navigate to the Startup folder path.

Alternatively, press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type shell:startup, and press Enter. This takes you directly to your user's Startup folder without having to navigate through hidden folders manually.

If you want to see the system-wide Startup folder (which affects all users on the computer), use the Run dialog and type shell:common startup instead. Most of the time you'll work with your user folder, not the system-wide one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing a program from startup uninstall it?

No. Removing a program from startup — whether through Settings or by deleting its shortcut from the Startup folder — only stops it from launching automatically. The program remains installed on your computer and you can still open it manually anytime.

Can I delay when a program starts after Windows boots?

The Startup folder and Settings startup list don't have built-in delay options. Some programs have their own settings to delay startup — check the program's preferences or settings menu. Otherwise, you can use Task Scheduler to create a task that launches the program a few minutes after Windows starts, but this requires more technical setup.

Why does my computer take so long to start up?

Check your Settings startup list and look at the Startup impact column. Programs rated High slow down your boot time the most. Turn off any you don't need running in the background. Antivirus software, cloud storage, and system utilities often have High impact — consider whether you need them starting automatically or if you can open them manually.

What's the difference between the Startup folder and Settings startup list?

The Startup folder contains shortcuts you manually add, while Settings shows all programs registered to start automatically — including those that added themselves during installation. Settings is easier to manage because you can toggle programs on and off without deleting anything. Use Settings first, then the Startup folder for programs that don't appear in Settings.

Can I add a website or online service to startup?

Not directly. You can add a shortcut to your web browser set to open a specific website, but the website itself won't launch. Create a shortcut to your browser, right-click it, select Properties, and add the website URL to the end of the target field — for example, C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe https://example.com. Then move that shortcut to the Startup folder.