How to View a List of Startup Programs in Windows

If you experience lag when you switch on your Windows PC, it might be worth accessing a list of your startup programs. This will help you identify which apps and programs are slowing down your machine. Fortunately, this is a relatively straightforward process.

In this article, we’ll show you some simple methods to view a list of programs in Windows 10.

How to View a List of Startup Programs in Windows 10 using Settings

The Settings menu is where you can find most of your PC’s configurations and features. Follow these steps to view a list of startup programs via the Settings menu:

1. Open Settings from the Start menu or by pressing the Win key + I.
   
2. Select the Apps option.
   
3. Click on Startup.
   
4. You will be presented with a page showing you every program/application used when Windows 10 launches.
   
5. If an app has loaded with your Windows startup, the toggle button will be under On.
   
6. From here, you can stop programs from launching during the startup by clicking on the toggle buttons.
   

The page also lists the apps that have a significant influence on Windows 10. High-impact apps typically slow down the boot time of Windows. For this reason, you should stop certain apps from loading at startup in Windows 10.

How to View a List of Startup Programs in Windows 10 Using Task Manager

This is the most popular method for viewing programs that launch with Windows 10.

1. Right-click on an empty spot anywhere on your Task Bar. A long list of options will appear, select Task Manager.
   
   • You can also click on your keyboard’s Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys and the Task Manager will open.
     
2. Click on More details in the bottom-left corner of the window.
   
3. Click on to Startup tab at the top.
   
4. Now, you will be able to view every program that starts up when you launch Windows 10.
   

Stop a Program from Starting with Windows 10

To stop a program from starting with Windows 10, do the following:

1. From the Startup tab of the Task Manager, pick out a program that, for example, has a high startup impact.
   
2. Right-click on the program and select Disable.
   

We recommend that you go through all of the programs and disable any apps that you believe are unnecessary. You can always add apps to your whitelist again at a later date. Furthermore, the launch column displays the impact of apps on Windows 10 startups. We propose that you disable any apps that have a high effect after reviewing them.

When in doubt, go to the program’s entry and right-click on them, then select the “Search online” option to learn more about them.

FAQs

How can you launch programs with Windows startup?

Let’s begin by talking about apps that will automatically launch with Windows. The methods listed below can be used to launch applications or files when Windows boots up.

• Insert items into the startup folder

The startup folder in Windows may be used to run any form of executable application or file.

Anything placed in the startup folder is programmed to run when Windows boots. If you want to immediately launch the document you’re working on or your preferred browser when Windows starts, simply drag the shortcut to the startup folder.

1. The quickest way to access this folder is to press Windows + R on your keyboard and put “shell: startup” into the Run window. After clicking on OK, the startup folder will appear.

You may relocate the original executable file (application launching file) to the startup folder. Doing so will disable rapid access to the program. Alternatively, you may copy the file or application executable file and put it into the startup folder. However, this will make a clone of the file that is the same size as the source.

• Create a shortcut

Making a shortcut is preferable to either of the two alternatives from above. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Find the executable file and right-click on it and click on Create Shortcut from the options menu.

2. Right-click on the shortcut, select Cut and then paste your shortcut into the startup folder and you are good to go.

This is only applicable to the current user. If you have numerous users and wish to apply the same settings to all of them, you should change the shortcut to a new starting location.

• Use the Windows registry

Aside from our other methods, you can also use the Windows registry to change your Startup Programs list. However, this isn’t a straightforward option. Making changes to the registry may harm your machine.

Proceed cautiously and make a backup of the register just in case.

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Tap Windows + R on your keyboard, type “regedit” in the Run window and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.

3. Right-click in the window and choose String Value from the New menu selection.

4. In the right panel, a new string will be produced. Type in a name so you can quickly recognize it. Note there are no rules on what name you may use.

5. As the string value, you must now specify the precise location of the application or file that you wish to run upon Windows starting.

6. Navigate to the program or file’s precise location in File Explorer and copy the destination directory from the box above.

7. Double-click the newly generated string in the registry and paste this directory as the string value.

8. After that, add a backslash (/) and provide the full title of the executable file of the program or file, including the extension name if available.

How to disable Startup programs on Windows 10?

Windows has a Startup manager that displays a list of all the applications that are configured to start with Windows.

1. Access the Task Manager by clicking these keys simultaneously: Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

2. Click on the Startup tab and view all the programs.

3. Right-click on the programs you want to disable and choose Disable, which is first option on the menu.

Start-Up Your Windows Right

Viewing your startup programs can be an essential way to find out what is slowing down your PC. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a tech-wiz to access the lists. After viewing, you may launch or disable any of the programs that you don’t want to run on your Windows 10 startup.

Do you check your programs regularly? If so, do you use any of the methods outlined above. Let us know in the comments section below!