You turn on the computer, and an eternity passes before it is usable? The most common reason is the number of programs that launch automatically at Windows startup and run in the background. The good news is that disabling them is quick and noticeably speeds the computer up.

Why it slows the computer down

Many programs add themselves to automatic startup during installation. So at each power-on they start and run in the background, even though you do not need them right then. They slow the system’s boot, take up memory and reduce performance during all your work.

How to disable autostart (Windows 10 and 11)

The procedure is almost the same in both Windows 10 and 11:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Go to the Startup tab.
  3. You will see a list of programs and a Startup impact column showing which slow things down the most.
  4. Right-click a program and choose Disable.

A second route is through Settings, Apps, Startup, where you turn items off with a toggle. The Startup impact column rates programs as low, medium and high. Start with the high-impact ones, as those add the most to the boot time.

What you can safely disable

  • Communication apps like chats you do not need right after turning on.
  • Updaters of various programs that can run later too.
  • Clients like Spotify, Steam and similar, which you open only when you really want them.
  • Manufacturer helper tools that run needlessly.

What to rather leave on

  • Antivirus and security software.
  • Sound and graphics drivers.
  • The cloud (for example OneDrive), if you rely on it for syncing.

Hidden launch sources (for advanced users)

The Startup tab does not show everything. Some programs launch through other paths:

  • Task Scheduler - open it through search. In the scheduler library you will find tasks set to run at sign-in. Updaters (from browsers, for example) often hide right here.
  • Services (services.msc) - they run in the background even before sign-in. Do not change anything here blindly, disabling the wrong service can stop the system or the network from working.
  • The Startup folder - press Win + R, type shell:startup and you will see shortcuts that launch at sign-in. Just delete the ones you do not need.

What to watch out for

Do not disable items you do not understand. Disabling autostart is not uninstalling, the program stays on the computer and you can launch it manually any time. It just will not start by itself at boot. If something is missing after a restart, you can re-enable the item just as easily.

Further speedup

Cleaning up startup is just one of the steps. More tips on getting more out of the computer are in the article how to speed up a slow computer, and for regular upkeep maintenance helps.

Is your computer still dragging even after cleaning up startup? Get in touch, we will speed it up and optimize it so it works as it should.

This article is part of our Repair and maintenance overview.