How to disable startup programs in windows 10 launched automatically?

The built-in tool does not provide a good way for disable auto start programs in Windows 10 as I failed to do multiple times in the past.

Autoruns is one of the most comprehensive and powerful free tools for managing startup programs and auto-starting locations on Windows 10. Developed by Sysinternals (Microsoft), it provides detailed insight into all the programs, services, drivers, and system components that run at startup, logon, or during system boot.

Advantages of using Autoruns to Disable Startup Programs Windows 10:

• Shows all auto-start locations, including:
• Startup folders
• Registry keys
• Scheduled tasks
• Services
• Drivers
• Browser helper objects
• Allows you to disable or delete entries easily.
• Provides detailed information to identify malicious or unwanted items.
• Safe to use with an easy-to-understand interface.

How to Disable Startup Programs Windows 10?

1. Download Autoruns:

• Extract the ZIP file and run Autoruns64.exe (for 64-bit Windows).

2. Run as Administrator:

• Right-click the executable and select Run as administrator for full access.

3. View Startup Entries:

• The default view shows various tabs:
• Logon: programs that run at user login
• Services: system and third-party services
• Scheduled Tasks: tasks that run at specific times
• Others like drivers, image hijacks, etc.

4. Disable Unwanted Entries:

• Find the item you want to disable.
• Uncheck the box next to it.
• You can also right-click an entry and choose Delete (use with caution).

5. Reboot to Apply Changes:

• Changes take effect after restarting Windows.

6. Restore if Needed:

• To re-enable, check the box again or restore from backup if you exported the configuration.

Process Explorer is a powerful free tool from Microsoft’s Sysinternals suite that provides detailed information about running processes. While it’s primarily used for monitoring and troubleshooting processes, it can also help identify startup programs and processes that auto-start.

However, Process Explorer does not directly disable startup programs Windows 10 like a traditional startup manager. Instead, it allows you to find processes related to startup items and then you can manually delete or disable startup program Windows 10 from their source.

1. Download and run Process Explorer:

2. Identify startup-related processes:

   Use the search feature (Ctrl + F) to look for known startup programs or services.

   Look for processes that launch automatically or are associated with startup entries.

3. Trace processes to their source:

   Right-click on a process and choose Properties.

   Check the Image Path to see where the process is located (e.g., in the Startup folder, Registry, etc.).

4. Disable startup processes manually:

   Once identified, you can disable or delete the associated startup entries via:

   Task Manager (for startup items)

   Registry Editor (for registry-based startup entries)

   Startup folder (for shortcut-based startup items)

   Task Scheduler (for scheduled tasks)

Using System Configuration (msconfig) on Windows 10 can be a way to manage startup items, but it's important to note that in Windows 10, the Startup tab in msconfig redirects you to the Task Manager's Startup section. So, while you can open msconfig, it doesn't give you a separate interface for managing startup programs anymore—it's essentially a shortcut to the same settings.

How to disable startup programs Windows 10 via System Configuration:

1. Open Run Dialog:

• Press Windows + R on your keyboard.

2. Type msconfig and press Enter.

3. Go to the 'Startup' tab:

• In older Windows versions, this tab allowed you to enable/disable startup items directly.
• In Windows 10, clicking on the Startup tab opens the Task Manager's Startup section.

4. Click on the link:

• You will see a message like:
• "To change startup items, open the Task Manager."

5. This will open the Task Manager's Startup tab, where you can disable unnecessary programs.

System Configuration is still useful for troubleshooting other startup services or boot options, but for disabling startup programs Windows 10, Task Manager is the more user-friendly and effective tool in Windows 10.

How to disable startup programs Windows 10? Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings:

   Click on the Start menu and select the gear icon, or press Windows + I on your keyboard.

2. Navigate to Apps:

   In the Settings window, click on Apps.

3. Go to Startup:

   In the left sidebar, click on Startup.

4. Manage Startup Programs:

   You'll see a list of apps with toggle switches next to each.

   Find the programs you want to disable at startup.

   Turn off the toggle switch for each program you wish to disable.

This method is user-friendly and allows you to control which programs run automatically when Windows starts, helping improve boot times and overall performance. 

Disabling startup programs Windows 10 can significantly improve boot times, especially on older devices with limited RAM.

For users seeking a more direct, file-based approach to turn off or disable auto startup programs, Windows 10 provides dedicated Startup folders that act as launch directories for applications. This method functions similarly to placing a shortcut on your desktop; any program shortcut placed in these specific system folders will automatically execute when a user logs into Windows.

Short Steps: Using the Startup Folder

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type shell:startup and press Enter to open your personal Startup folder.
3. To manage startup programs for all users on the PC, open the Run dialog again and type shell:common startup.
4. To disable a program: Simply delete or move its shortcut file from the opened Startup folder. This will disable auto startup apps on Windows 10.
5. To add a program: Create a new shortcut for an application executable (.exe file) and place it inside the folder.

Problems with this approach

Incomplete Control: It only affects programs that use this legacy startup method. Most modern applications register via the Registry or other methods and will not appear in these folders, making Task Manager a far more complete solution.

No Impact Assessment: Unlike Task Manager, the folders provide no information on a program's "Startup impact" (High, Medium, Low), making it difficult to prioritize which items to remove for performance gains.

Less User-Friendly: Requires manual file management (deleting/moving shortcuts) and offers no simple toggle to easily re-enable a program later without recreating its shortcut.

To streamline your computer's boot process and improve startup times, Windows 10 allows you to manage which applications launch automatically when you power on your system.

The most straightforward and commonly recommended tool for this task is the built-in Task Manager, which provides a clear interface to view the impact of each startup item and disable those that are unnecessary. 

How to disable startup programs in windows 10

1. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager

2. If you see a simplified view, click "More details"

3. Go to the Startup tab

4. You'll see a list of programs that start with Windows

5. Right-click on any program you want to disable and select Disable

6. The "Status" column will show "Disabled"

Taking control of these startup programs can significantly enhance your system's performance from the moment you log in. Using Task Manager's Startup tab is the most efficient method to disable startup programs in windows 10 in Windows 10. This simple maintenance task requires a system restart to finalize and can lead to noticeably faster boot times and freed-up system resources.