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Safety & privacy

How do I stop apps from opening automatically when my computer turns on?

You'll be able to: Disable slow startup applications

Risk
Safe to try
Windows
Windows 11 · Windows 10

Filed under Safety & privacy

The steps

  1. 1

    Right-click on the Start button in the corner of your screen and click Task Manager. The Task Manager window opens.

    Why do apps launch on startup?

    Many applications (like chat apps and music players) set themselves to launch automatically on power-on, which slows down how fast your computer boots up.

  2. 2

    Click the Startup apps tab on the left menu (an icon resembling a speedometer or tachometer). A list appears showing every application that attempts to run when your PC boots up, alongside its startup impact.

    Task Manager Startup apps page listing enabled apps and their startup impact.
  3. 3

    Click on any app you do not need right away (like Spotify, Discord, or game launchers), and click Disable in the top bar. The Status column for that application changes from Enabled to Disabled.

  4. It looks different on my screen

    You can also manage startup apps in Windows Settings by going to Settings > Apps > Startup.

Did this work?

Updated 2026-08-24اقرأ بالعربية