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Windows 10⏱ 3 min

How to Disable Startup Programs on Windows 10

Stop unnecessary apps from launching at startup to speed up boot times.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

Startup program management on Windows lives in Task Manager's Startup Apps tab, which was deliberately moved here from the older System Configuration (msconfig) tool in Windows 8 and has remained the primary interface since. The Startup Impact column assigns each entry a Low, Medium, or High CPU cost rating measured during actual boot, making it easy to prioritise which items to investigate first without needing to research every process name. Disabling a startup entry here doesn't uninstall or break the app — it simply prevents it from launching automatically, and you can re-enable it at any time.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Right-click the Taskbar and open Task Manager. Click the Startup Apps tab. Sort by Startup Impact and disable High-impact items you do not need immediately at login.
  2. 2Only disable applications you recognise — do not disable antivirus, cloud sync, or manufacturer system services.
  3. 3Restart the device and time how long it takes to reach a usable desktop or home screen.

Still Not Working?

Try these if the steps above didn't help.

Verify the Fix

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Windows 10 so slow to start up?
Too many programs launching at startup is the most common cause. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the Startup Apps tab and look at the Startup Impact column. Disable anything marked High that you don't need immediately.
Is it safe to disable startup programs on Windows 10?
Yes, for user-installed apps. Never disable antivirus software, cloud sync clients (OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox) if you rely on them, or items you don't recognise from the OS manufacturer. If in doubt, disable one item at a time, restart, and check that nothing breaks.
How much faster will my Windows 10 boot after disabling startup programs?
Results vary depending on how many High-impact items you disable. Disabling 2–4 heavy startup apps (Spotify, Teams, Steam, Discord) on Windows can reduce startup time by 15–40 seconds. Boot time won't change dramatically if the items you disabled were already marked as Low impact.
Will disabled startup programs still work normally on Windows 10?
Yes. Disabling an app from startup only prevents it from launching automatically — you can still open it manually whenever you need it. The app is not uninstalled or disabled in any other way.

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