Use Settings › Apps › Startup or Task Manager › Startup apps and disable only the item you recognize. This prevents automatic launch; it does not uninstall the application or stop all background services. First, sort by startup impact and identify the publisher and function of each item.
What this covers
- Windows 11 startup applications listed by Windows
What it does not cover
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedEstablish the exact starting state
ReversibleSort by startup impact and identify the publisher and function of each item.
Separate the fault or decision boundary
ReversibleDisable one nonessential app at a time so security, audio, touchpad, backup and accessibility utilities remain available.
Apply the narrowest correction
ReversibleToggle the selected startup entry off, then restart normally.
Open the startup list and sort by impact
ReversibleGo to Settings, Apps, Startup, or open Task Manager and choose the Startup apps tab. Sort by startup impact to see which programs slow the start the most, and look at the publisher name for each.
Disable one nonessential app at a time
ReversibleLeave security software, touchpad and audio drivers, and backup or accessibility tools alone. Switch off one item that you recognize and know you do not need at start-up, since turning off many at once makes any problem hard to trace.
Restart and check that the app still opens when you need it
ReversibleAfter a normal restart, confirm that Windows starts more cleanly and that the app you disabled still opens by hand. If something stops working, turn the item back on in the same list.
Sort the Task Manager list by startup impact
ReversibleOpen the Startup apps tab in Task Manager and start with the High impact entries, which Microsoft defines as more than 1 second of CPU or more than 3 MB of disk at startup.
Switch off only what you do not need at sign-in
ReversibleUse the switch in Settings, Apps, Startup. The app still works when you open it by hand; it just no longer opens itself.
Verify before escalating
ReversibleConfirm Windows starts cleanly and the app still opens manually when needed.
Microsoft
Where startup apps are managed and how Windows rates their impact
Both the Settings app and Task Manager list the same startup apps; Task Manager adds the impact rating.
- Settings
- Start, Settings, Apps, Startup, then turn the switch off for the app.
- Task Manager
- Right-click Start and choose Task Manager, then open the Startup apps tab to see the impact of each app.
- Low impact
- Total CPU usage under 300 milliseconds and total disk usage under 292 kilobytes.
- Medium impact
- CPU usage under 1 second but over 300 milliseconds, or disk usage under 3 megabytes but over 292 kilobytes.
- High impact
- CPU usage over 1 second or disk usage over 3 megabytes.
- Apps that are not listed
- Applications not registered as startup tasks can be configured through File Explorer by placing a shortcut in shell:startup for the current user or shell:common startup for all users.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Do not disable items whose purpose you cannot identify, such as ones from your computer's maker that handle drivers or security.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions about “Stop apps from opening when Windows starts”
Does disabling a startup app uninstall it?+
No. It only stops the app opening automatically at sign-in. You can still start it yourself.
Which startup items are safe to turn off?+
Chat clients, game launchers, updaters and media apps are common choices. Leave antivirus, drivers and cloud backup unless you know what they do.
Will this make Windows start faster?+
Often, since fewer programs compete for the disk and processor at sign-in. The effect is greatest on slower drives.
Why does the app turn itself back on?+
Some apps re-add themselves at start-up after an update. Turn off the setting inside the app as well.
How does Windows decide an app is High impact?+
Microsoft's definition: more than 1 second of total CPU usage or more than 3 megabytes of total disk usage at startup.
An app still starts and is not in the list. Why?+
Microsoft says apps that are not registered with a startup task can be launched from a shortcut in shell:startup or shell:common startup, so check those folders in File Explorer.
How do I find what is slowing startup?+
Task Manager's Startup tab shows a startup impact rating. Disable high-impact items you do not need at sign-in and restart to compare.
Can I turn a startup item back on?+
Yes. Return to the same list and switch it on, or launch the app once and enable its own start-at-login option.