Disable startup programs and apps to give your computer an immediate speed boost. Many programs installed on your PC set themselves to automatically start with Windows when there really isn’t any benefit in doing so.
You can stop most programs from automatically loading, with the obvious exception of your security software. The fewer apps that you have starting up the faster Windows will be ready to use.
How To Disable Startup Programs Using Task Manager.
In both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the first place to look for startup programs that can be disabled is the Task Manager.
To open Task Manager press the CTRL and Shift and Esc keys at the same time.
The Startup Tab In Task Manager.
Task Manager looks different in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
For Windows 10 users, click the Startup Tab and Windows 11 users click the Startup Apps icon.
Windows 10 Startup tab.Windows 11 Startup apps.
Disabling A Startup Item.
To disable a startup program in both Windows 10 & 11, simply select the program/app and then click the Disable button. You’ll see the Status column change to Disabled. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
If you’re wandering what you should turn off, personally I’d begin by disabling everything except your anti virus software. You can always return here and re-enable a program/app if you find that something doesn’t seem to be working correctly.
To disable a startup program in Windows 10 Task Manager, select it and then click the Disable button.To disable a startup program in Windows 11 Task Manager, select it and then click the Disable button.
How To Disable Startup Programs In Settings App.
After disabling everything in the Task Manager, you’ll need to check the Startup Apps in the Windows settings.
Click the Start button and type “startup” and then click Startup Apps (System Settings).
Scroll through the list and toggle off anything that you don’t want starting up with Windows. For example, do you use Onedrive? If you do, leave it enabled, but if not, then disable it. The same goes for Microsoft Teams and just about anything else you’ll find here.
Again, if you ask me, I’d turn off everything except Windows Security and your anti virus.
Concluding
By disabling everything except your AV software, you’re making your computer as lean and as it can be on start up. That means it’ll boot up quicker and be ready to use sooner.
One thing I’d like to clarify here is that by disabling a program or app, you’re NOT uninstalling it. Every single program and app will still work just fine when you launch it. Just as it did before.
If you’re still not seeing any improvement in boot up times, then it may be worth checking inside The Windows Startup Folder
