Windows 10: Remove and add startup programs

If you want to speed up the start of Windows 10, you can remove and deactivate programs in Autostart. It is also possible to add new programs to the autostart. We show you how both processes work.

Remove startup programs on Windows 10

Note: Only deactivate processes of programs that you have installed yourself and that you know are not required.

1. Simultaneously press the [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc] keys to start the Task Manager.
2. Switch to the "Autostart" tab above and you will find all programs that start with Windows.
3. Select a desired process with the mouse and click on the "Deactivate" button at the bottom right.

Windows 10: Remove startup programs

As an alternative to deactivation, you can also completely remove the entries in the autostart. In general, however, this is only helpful if the process cannot be deactivated as described above.

1. First follow the instructions above and leave the Task Manager open.
2. Switch to the "Processes" tab and end the associated process.
3. With the free cleaning tool CCleaner you can now remove the entry.
4. Start the CCleaner and switch to "Autostart" under "Extras" on the left.
5. Select the desired autostart entry here and click the "Delete" button on the right.

Add autostart programs in Windows 10

If you use a program very often, you can often specify in the software settings that it starts automatically with Windows. If the program does not offer such a function, you can set up the autostart manually.

1. Press the [Windows] and [R] keys simultaneously so that the "Run" window opens.
2. Enter the command "shell: startup" and click "OK". The autostart folder then opens.
3. Insert any files or programs here that you want to open when Windows starts.
4. Tip: You should create a shortcut for programs and only insert this shortcut into the Startup folder.

Recommendation: With this hardware your PC starts in seconds

The more startup programs you remove, the faster your computer starts. The boot process can be shortened significantly better with the right hardware. A fast hard drive and a strong processor are particularly important here.

• For this reason, it is worth investing in a current SSD. It works much faster than conventional hard drives and thus accelerates your PC in almost all processes.
• Alternatively, there are also numerous laptops that have already integrated an SSD and a strong CPU. In our current leaderboard you can already find recommended models for less than 500 euros.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to start Windows 10 without a login.