Slow startup: manage startup programs and speed up boot

Your PC takes a long time to start, or it stays sluggish for minutes after you sign in. Many programs ask Windows to start them automatically. You will see them and turn off the ones you do not need.

Before you start

A startup app is a program that launches by itself when you sign in to Windows. Each one uses processor time, disk activity and memory while the PC is still getting ready. Chat tools, game launchers, cloud storage programs and printer utilities are common examples.

Turning off a startup app does not uninstall it. You can still open it yourself, and you can turn it back on at any time. This takes about 10 minutes, and no downloads are needed.

See and turn off startup apps

Method 1: Settings (Windows 11 and Windows 10)

1. Open Settings then Apps then Startup. On Windows 10, this page exists in version 1803 and later (current Windows 10 versions have it).
2. Read the list. Each app has a name and a toggle.
3. Switch the toggle to Off for an app you do not need at sign-in.
4. Repeat for other apps you do not need. Change a few at a time so you can undo them easily.

Afterwards, the toggle shows Off and the app will not launch the next time you sign in.

Method 2: Task Manager

Task Manager shows the same list with more detail about how much each app slows startup.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. If you see a small window, select More details.
2. Open the Startup apps tab. On Windows 10 the tab is called Startup.
3. Look at the Startup impact column. Microsoft describes High impact as an app that uses more than 1 second of processor time or more than 3 MB of disk activity at startup.
4. Select an app you do not need, then select Disable.

What to turn off and what to leave

Microsoft does not publish a list of apps to keep or remove, so use judgment.

• Usually fine to turn off: programs you open only now and then, such as chat apps, game launchers, music players and update helpers for software you rarely use.
• Leave on: your security software (for example Windows Security), and anything made by your PC maker for the touchpad, keyboard keys, display or sound, unless you know what it does. Turning these off can disable features you rely on.
• Cloud storage: if you want files to sync automatically, leave your cloud service on.
• Not sure? Search the app's name on its maker's website before you decide. Leave it on if you cannot tell.

Other causes of a slow start

If the PC is still slow after you turn off startup apps, work through these in order.

• Updates: Windows installs updates in the background, which can slow the first minutes after a restart. Open Settings then Windows Update on Windows 11, or Settings then Update & Security then Windows Update on Windows 10, and select Check for updates. If an update is stuck, see Windows Update stuck or failing.
• A full drive: Microsoft lists freeing disk space as a way to improve performance. See how to free up disk space on Windows.
• Unwanted software: run a quick scan in Windows Security. See how to run a malware scan.
• General slowness, not only at startup: see why your PC is running slow.

If it still does not improve

If the PC was fast and became slow after a recent change, such as a new program or update, a restore point may help. See how to back up your files and make a restore point. A very old PC or an aging drive may be slow because of its age, and the PC maker's support page for your model can tell you what upgrades it allows.

Frequently asked questions