Certain apps launch automatically upon logging into Windows. Nonetheless, an excessive number of these startup apps can impair your computer's performance. Below are instructions on how to disable startup apps on Windows 11/10/8/7.

Startup apps are those that initiate automatically on your PC without any user interaction. Typically, they do not appear visibly during startup but operate in the background. Their icons can usually be seen in the system tray.

Essential security software always launches without user intervention, ensuring continuous protection for your PC. Frequently used programs are preloaded, and system tray icons are available for quick access to programs—saving you time and effort.

However, having too many startup programs is detrimental to your computer. There are two primary reasons for this. First, the boot time for Windows increases due to the startup apps. Second, numerous background applications starting with Windows consume RAM and other system resources.

Thus, the following section provides guidance on disabling startup apps.

How to Disable Startup Apps

Method 1: Using MiniTool System Booster

Initially, you can attempt the free Startup Optimizer—MiniTool System Booster—to disable startup apps. This software supports multiple operating systems, including Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7. It can also assist in uninstalling apps you no longer wish to use and optimizing the performance of your PC.

Now, let’s explore how to disable apps on Windows 11/10/8/7 using MiniTool System Booster.

1. After installing MiniTool System Booster, double-click it to run it.

2. On the main interface, click the dropdown menu to select Toolbox.

3. Within the System Management section, choose the Startup Optimizer option to proceed.

4. Subsequently, you can view the potentially unwanted items and click the Expert view (all items) tab to examine additional startup services. You can enable, disable, or delay startup items.

Method 2: Through Task Manager

Another way to disable your startup apps is via Task Manager. This approach is suitable for Windows 11/10/8.

**For Windows 11:

1. Press the Ctrl Shift Esc keys simultaneously to open Task Manager.

2. Then, switch to the Startup apps tab. You'll see a list of all the apps that automatically start each time Windows loads.

By default, the list should be sorted by name, software publisher, and startup status. Right-click the startup app you wish to disable and select the Disable option.

Also see: How to Disable Efficiency Mode in Task Manager on Windows 11?

**For Windows 10:

1. Press the Ctrl Shift Esc keys together to open Task Manager.

2. Then, switch to the Startup tab. You'll see a list of all the apps that automatically start each time Windows loads. By default, the list should be sorted by name, software publisher, startup status, and startup impact.

You can select the high-impact app and click the Disable option.

**For Windows 8:

1. Press the Windows Shift Esc keys to launch Task Manager.

2. Go to the Startup tab and select the program you want to disable. Then, click Disable in the lower right-hand corner.

Method 3: Using Settings

You can also use the Settings app to remove programs from the startup list. This method is suitable for Windows 11/10.

1. Press the Windows I keys together to open the Settings application.

2. Navigate to Apps > Startup. You can then see the listed startup apps. A switch next to each app indicates whether it is currently enabled or disabled in your startup routine.

Below the switch is an impact indicator. There are four statuses: No impact, Low impact, Medium impact, or High impact. These indicators assess the effect a startup program has on your PC’s CPU and disk drive at startup.

You can toggle the button to disable the app you wish to close.

Method 4: Using System Configuration Tool

How to disable startup apps on Windows 7? You can use the System Configuration Tool to review and deselect any programs you want to stop automatically loading. MSConfig in Windows 11/10 does not support disabling apps in the startup section.

1. Open the Run box by pressing Windows R together and type msconfig.exe to open the System Configuration Tool.

2. Go to the Startup tab on the System Configuration window. All the startup programs are displayed with a checkbox next to each one.

3. Then, you need to uncheck the box next to the desired program. Click OK to save the changes.

Method 5: Using Registry Editor

You can also disable startup programs by deleting registry entries for them. However, we recommend that you back up the registry before deleting any string values.

1. Open the Run box by pressing Windows R together and type regedit in it.

2. After opening Registry Editor, go to the following path:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

3. In the right panel, right-click a REG_SZ string value for a startup item and select Delete.

4. Other registry keys include startup items. Go to the following path to find more:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run

5. Then, delete the items one by one.

Final Thoughts

In summary, this article has outlined how to disable startup apps. If you encounter any issues with the MiniTool System Booster, feel free to email us at and we will respond promptly.

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