How to Enable or Disable Startup Apps in Windows 11

This article describes steps one can take to enable or disable startup apps in Windows 11.

There are two types of AutoStart applications in Windows: Those that are built and integrated into Windows that run automatically during system startup, and those that are not.

Microsoft Defender Antivirus and other security applications are typically designed to run at system startup. Applications that users installed are optional startup apps and it’s up to the user to allow or deny these apps to run at startup time.

There are also multiple ways to control which apps run at startup in Windows 11. Apps that you disable at startup will not run when your system is starting up.

Those that are enabled, will start up with the system.

How to turn on or off startup apps in Windows 11

As described above, there are also multiple ways to control which apps run at startup in Windows 11. Apps that you disable at startup will not run when your system is starting up.

Here’s how to control startup apps in Windows 11

Enable or disable startup apps using Task Manager

One way to control startup apps in Windows is to use the Task Manager app.

First, open the Task Manager. You can also use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). When the app opens, expand the More details link to view additional services.

On the Startup tab, select the app or service and click Enable or Disable to control whether the app can start up with the system.

windows 11 enable or disable apps via task manager
Windows 11 enables or disables apps via task manager

Enable or disable startup apps with Windows Settings

Another way one can control startup apps is via the Windows Settings app.

First, open the Settings app by clicking on the Start menu button and selecting Settings. You can also use the keyboard shortcut (Window key + I).

windows 11 new settings button
windows 11 new settings button

When the Settings app opens, click the Apps button on the left.

windows 11 settings apps on menu
Windows 11 settings apps on the menu

On the right, click the Startup tile to expand.

windows 11 apps startup tile
windows 11 apps startup tile

On the Apps -> Startup settings pane, select the app and toggle the button to the On position to enable it.

To disable it, simply toggle the button back to the Off position.

windows 11 startup apps control from settings app
Windows 11 startup apps control from the settings app

Enable or disable startup apps in the app’s advanced settings

Alternatively, users can control startup apps from the app’s advanced settings properties pane.

From the Settings app, go to Apps -> Apps & features or Installed apps tile to expand.

windows 11 apps and features tile
windows 11 apps and features tile

On the Apps -> Apps & features (Installed apps) settings pane, select the app you want to control its startup settings.

Click the settings menu (3 dots) on the app’s tile to show its advanced settings options. Select the Advanced options.

apps and features app advanced options
apps and features app advanced options

On the Apps – >Apps & features (Installed apps) -> App’s advanced options settings pane, under Run at log-in, toggle the button to the Off position to disable the app from starting up at log-in.

To enable, simply toggle the button back to the On position.&

windows 11 apps run at log in button
windows 11 apps run at log in button

Close the Settings app and you are done.

There may be other ways to control startup apps in Windows that are not listed here.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-which-apps-run-automatically-at-startup-in-windows-9115d841-735e-488d-e749-9ba301d441e6#ID0EBD=Windows_11

Conclusion:

This post showed you how to enable or disable startup apps in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.