You can disable startup apps in Windows 11 from Settings in about a minute. If the app isn't listed, or the list shows a broken entry called "We couldn't find this app", the fix is in the Startup folders or the registry. Work through the methods below in order and stop when the app stays off. Microsoft's support page, Configure Startup applications in Windows, says these steps apply to both Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Which method controls which app
Microsoft splits startup apps into two groups, per its support page:
- Apps registered with a startup task. You switch these on or off in Settings or Task Manager. Both tools show the same list.
- Everything else. These are controlled through shortcuts in the Startup folders, which you manage in File Explorer.
Because Settings and Task Manager show the same list, an app missing from one won't appear in the other. Skip ahead to the Startup folders if that happens.
Turn off a startup app in Settings
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Find the app and set its toggle to Off.
- To change an app's advanced settings, select the chevron next to it.
ms-settings:startupapps
Setting the toggle back to On makes the app start automatically when you sign in again. Microsoft's page describes this as controlling whether an app starts when you sign in. It doesn't say turning it off uninstalls the app or stops any background services it installed, so don't expect either.
Use Task Manager to see which apps slow startup
Task Manager shows the same list with one useful extra: an impact rating for each app. Microsoft says this helps when troubleshooting slow startup.
- Right-click Start and select Task Manager.
- Select the Startup apps tab.
- Select the app, then choose Disable (or Enable to turn it back on).
Microsoft defines the Startup impact ratings like this:
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| None | The startup app is disabled |
| Not Measured | No data available; the app is enabled |
| Low Impact | Total CPU under 300 milliseconds and total disk under 292 KB |
| Medium Impact | CPU between 300 ms and 1 second, or disk between 292 KB and 3 MB |
| High Impact | CPU over 1 second, or disk over 3 MB |
Start with the High Impact entries you don't need at sign-in. Microsoft only says startup apps "can impact" startup speed and performance, so how much faster your PC gets will vary.
If the Startup apps tab is missing
Some users report not seeing the tab at all. Microsoft's page doesn't cover this, but a Microsoft Learn Q&A answer (community material with an AI-generated reply) suggests using Settings > Apps > Startup instead. Since it's the same list, you lose only the impact column.
Remove an app from the Startup folders
Apps without a registered startup task launch from a shortcut in one of two folders, according to Microsoft. These won't show a toggle in Settings, so you delete the shortcut instead.
- Press Win+R.
- Type one of the following and press Enter. Opening the folder this way is community guidance on Microsoft Learn; Microsoft's page lists the folders but not how to open them.
For your account only:
shell:startup
This is %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
For all users of the PC:
shell:common startup
This is %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
- Delete the shortcut for the app you want to stop. Check both folders.
Add an app to startup instead
The same folders work in reverse. Copy or create a shortcut to the app's executable in shell:startup to run it when you sign in, or in shell:common startup to run it for everyone on the device.
Win+R is handy for these shell commands. If you like keyboard shortcuts, Win+V opens clipboard history.
Fix "We couldn't find this app" in Startup settings
This text can appear as an app's name in Settings > Apps > Startup. Microsoft gives these causes, which Neowin also reported:
- The app is on a removable drive or network drive that isn't connected.
- The app's path no longer exists.
- The app was uninstalled. Microsoft suggests reinstalling it to try to fix the entry.
To find out what the entry points to, select the icon next to its On/Off toggle. That can show the file path or registry location.
Delete the leftover registry entry
If the path is in the registry, Microsoft lists these keys where startup entries can be stored:
All users:
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Current user:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft warns that changing the registry can have unintended consequences, so back it up first. A simple way is to export just the key:
- Press Win+R, type
regeditand press Enter. - Go to the Run key shown by the icon in Settings.
- Right-click the Run key, choose Export, and save the .reg file.
- In the right pane, delete only the value that matches the broken app.
In one Microsoft Learn community thread, the culprit was a TeamsMachineInstaller entry in the Run key, and the advice was exactly this: export the key, then delete the entry.
If the registry shows nothing
Community answers on Microsoft Learn offer two more places to look. One thread suggests checking shell:startup and then shell:common startup for a dead shortcut. It also notes the registry sometimes shows nothing and the leftover entry turns up in Autoruns.
Sysinternals Autoruns, Microsoft's free startup inspector, lists every place Windows launches things from. Download it from learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns, run it as administrator, find the entry pointing to the missing file, and uncheck or delete it. It's a safer option than hand-editing the registry if you're unsure which value to remove.
