Windows

How to stop apps from opening at startup on Windows 11

Photo of Abu Bakar Saadat

By

Author · View profile

Updated 10 October 2026 · Checked October 2026

Device: Microsoft Cloud PC · Software: Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457)

Publisher: Saadat Rafiq

2 min read5 steps▶ Video demo

Screenshot from the guide: How to stop apps from opening at startup on Windows 11

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-stop-apps-from-opening-at-startup-on-windows-11/ · Checked October 2026 · Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

In this guide
  1. Open Settings and choose Apps
  2. Click Startup
  3. Sort by startup impact
  4. Switch off what you do not need
  5. Restart to feel the difference
  6. Good to know
  7. Video demo
  8. Sources
Quick answer

Open Settings, choose Apps, then Startup, and switch off every app you do not need the moment you sign in. The apps stay installed; they just stop launching by themselves.

4 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device
Windows
Shown on
Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC
App
Settings
Path
Settings › Apps › Startup
Real screenshots
4 of 5 steps
Checked
October 2026
Sources
1 official, linked below

Step by step

Take this guide with you

Print it, or pick "Save as PDF" in the print window.

Steps
Also include
  1. Windows screenshot: Open Settings and choose Apps
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Open Settings and choose Apps

    Press Windows + I. Apps is in the list on the left.

    Watch these steps
  2. Windows screenshot: Click Startup
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Click Startup

    It is near the bottom of the Apps page.

  3. Windows screenshot: Sort by startup impact
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Sort by startup impact

    Use the Sort by menu at the top right and choose Startup impact. On our Cloud PC the menu offers Name, Status and Startup impact. Each app's impact is shown under its name; on our new PC they read No impact or Not measured.

  4. Windows screenshot: Switch off what you do not need
    Zoomed in on the setting. Tap to see the whole screenTap the picture to see it full size

    Switch off what you do not need

    Turn off chat apps, game launchers, music players and updaters you do not need immediately. Leave your antivirus, touchpad and audio drivers, and cloud backup on. On our Cloud PC, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Teams and Terminal are already Off, while Microsoft Edge and both Microsoft OneDrive entries are On.

  5. Restart to feel the difference

    The change applies at the next sign-in.

Watch these steps

The video loads from YouTube when you press play.
Subscribe to Fix It Simply on YouTube

What we saw on our device

  • Sort by startup impact: On our Cloud PC the menu offers Name, Status and Startup impact.
  • Switch off what you do not need: On our Cloud PC, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Teams and Terminal are already Off, while Microsoft Edge and both Microsoft OneDrive entries are On.

About this guide

Many programs add themselves to the list of things that start with Windows. Each one makes the PC slower to become usable and keeps using memory in the background. Turning them off is safe and easy to undo.

Good to know

Task Manager has a startup list too. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and open the Startup apps tab. The two lists can differ, so check both.

If you are not sure what an entry is, right-click it in Task Manager and choose Search online before turning it off.

More ideas for a sluggish PC: seven free fixes for a slow laptop.

In short: Settings, Apps, Startup. Switch off the High impact apps you do not need at sign-in.

Sources

Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.

Did this guide work for you?