To disable apps on startup in Windows, open Settings > Apps > Startup and set the unwanted app to Off. If it still opens when you sign in, check the Startup folder, Windows app restoration, and the app's own startup preferences.
The short version
- Start with Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off apps you recognize.
- Task Manager adds startup impact information to the same app list.
- Check Startup folders or app preferences for entries missing from that list.
- Turn off restartable apps if Windows keeps reopening your previous session.
- Background permissions control activity while an app is unused, rather than its startup switch.
| Method | What it does | Time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup settings | Turns off registered startup apps | Under a minute | The app is listed |
| Task Manager | Disables apps and shows impact | Under a minute | You want impact details |
| Startup folders | Removes launch shortcuts | A few minutes | The app is missing |
| Restartable apps | Stops Windows restoring apps | Under a minute | Previous windows reopen |
| App preferences | Changes the app's startup setting | A few minutes | The app has its own switch |
| Background permissions | Stops supported background activity | Under a minute | Activity continues without a window |
| Uninstall | Removes an unwanted app | A few minutes to start removal | You no longer need it |
| Autoruns | Disables other auto-start entries | A few minutes to find an entry | Other controls miss it |
Turn off apps in Startup settings
Open Start > Settings > Apps > Startup, find the app, and turn its switch Off. This path works on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Use this route first for an app shown in the list. To restore automatic startup later, return to the same page and turn the switch On.
Use Task Manager to check startup impact
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, or right-click Start and select it. On Windows 11, select Startup apps; on Windows 10, select More details if needed, then the Startup tab.
Select the unwanted app and choose Disable. This is the same startup list as Settings, with extra information about each app's startup impact, so choose this view when deciding which unnecessary apps to disable first.
Remove shortcuts from the Startup folders
Press Windows logo key + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter. The folder controls startup shortcuts for your current user; delete the shortcut for the app you want to stop.
Open Run again, enter shell:common startup, and press Enter to check shortcuts for all users of the PC. Delete only the unwanted launch shortcut, and leave entries you do not recognize alone. If Windows requests administrator permission, approve the deletion with an administrator account or ask the PC administrator to complete it.
Stop Windows from restoring restartable apps
Open Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Turn off the switch whose label begins Automatically save my restartable apps to stop Windows restoring those apps when you sign back in.
Check this control when an app from your previous session keeps reopening. If you need help finding the settings page, follow the steps to open Windows sign-in options, then look for the restartable-apps switch.
Change startup in the app's own settings
Check the app's preferences when its startup behavior needs a separate control. Use the instructions for the app you have installed, then return to Windows Startup settings if you also want to review its registered entry.
Teams and OneDrive
In Teams, open Settings and more next to your profile picture, then Settings > General. Under System, clear Auto-start Teams.
For OneDrive, select its cloud icon in the taskbar or notification area and open Help and Settings > Settings. In Sync and back up, look under Preferences for startup behavior and turn automatic startup off.
Dropbox
Click the Dropbox taskbar icon, select your avatar, and open Preferences > General. Turn off Open Dropbox upon startup. If your app shows Start Dropbox on system startup, turn that off instead.
Dropbox needs to be running to sync changes between your computer and account. Keep that in mind before disabling startup if you depend on automatic syncing.
Installed web apps in Edge and Chrome
In Edge, enter edge://apps in the address bar and select Details on the installed app's card. Turn off Auto-start on device login.
In Chrome, enter chrome://apps in the address bar and right-click the installed app. Clear Launch at startup to stop that web app opening when you sign in.
Limit background activity for supported apps
Use background permissions when your concern is activity while you are not using an app. These controls can stop background updates and notifications, so decide whether you still need those features before changing them.
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Find the app, select More options > Advanced options, then choose Never under Background app permissions > Let this app run in background.
On Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Privacy > Background apps. Under Choose which apps can run in the background, turn the app Off.
These controls are available for supported apps rather than every desktop program. For a desktop app without background permissions, use its own settings to control background behavior.
Uninstall apps you no longer need
If you want the app removed, remove programs on Windows instead of changing their startup settings. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the app, and select More > Uninstall.
On Windows 10, use Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select the app, and choose Uninstall. You can also right-click an app in the Start menu's app list and select Uninstall.
For a classic program, search the taskbar for Control Panel and open Programs > Programs and Features. Right-click the program, choose Uninstall or Uninstall/Change, and follow the prompts.
Use Autoruns for startup entries you cannot find
Download and run Microsoft Sysinternals Autoruns when the earlier controls do not show the entry. Switch tabs to inspect different auto-start categories, including logon entries, services, scheduled tasks, and drivers.
Select an entry and use Properties to inspect its executable before changing it. Clear its check box to disable it; Delete removes the auto-start configuration entry, so use the check box when your aim is to turn startup off.
Do you need System Configuration for startup apps?
Older instructions may send you to System Configuration, also called msconfig. In newer Windows versions, its Startup tab redirects you to Task Manager, so you can open Task Manager directly.
Use the Startup apps controls described above for this task. Leave advanced boot and service settings alone when all you want is to stop a familiar app opening at sign-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do apps reopen after I turn them off in Startup?
Windows has a separate setting for restoring restartable apps after sign-in. Turn that option off in Accounts > Sign-in options, then check the app's own startup preferences.
Is Task Manager different from Settings for startup apps?
Both show the same registered startup-app list. Task Manager also shows startup impact information, which helps you review the entries before disabling them.
Can I stop Teams, OneDrive, or Dropbox without uninstalling them?
Yes, each has startup preferences described above. For Dropbox, remember that syncing requires the app to be running, so disabling automatic startup changes when that can happen.
What should I use for a startup entry that is not listed in Settings?
Check the Startup folders and the app's own preferences. If neither reveals the entry, Autoruns can show additional auto-start locations.
How do I turn automatic startup back on?
Return to Settings > Apps > Startup and switch the app On. Alternatively, select its startup entry in Task Manager and choose Enable. If you used another method, re-enable the app's startup preference, recreate its shortcut in the same Startup folder, or check its entry again in Autoruns.
Does stopping background activity stop an app opening at sign-in?
Background permissions control supported apps while you are not actively using them. Use the startup switch or the app's startup preferences to control automatic launching.