This toplist lists the best startup managers for Windows in the categories experts and best allrounder to ensure that users of all experience levels and expectations find the best suitable application. Additional applications are listed at the end.

Expert startup manager

When it comes to a professional startup manager for Windows Autoruns is usually the application used and recommended. The application has been developed by Sysinternals which are now part of Microsoft.

The application is a complete startup manager for Windows that offers in depth information not only about the usual startup locations in the Windows Registry and various startup folders but also about other files, programs and services that get started during Windows launch. This includes for instance the scheduled tasks, Internet Explorer Browser Helper Objects and toolbars, Services or network providers.

The program offers to hide Microsoft items from the lists and can analyze offline systems as well.

Autoruns is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems. Downloads are provided at the program homepage.

Runner up

Starter is not as complete as Autoruns when it comes to startup items, and the developers do not want it to be. The biggest strength of Starter is that it displays all relevant startup items directly on launch.

The sidebar displays the locations that are scanned during startup. It is usually not necessary to switch around as all items are displayed in the main interface directly. It can however be helpful to remove specific items only.

Start displays processes and services as well with possibilities to end processes or change startup types of services. Starter is available as a portable application and installer at the developer homepage.

Runner Up

OSAM Startup Manager offers interesting features and comprehensive information about the system’s startup items. It is for instance possible to scan files with an online malware scanner with an option to submit it to the developers of the application if it is not in the database yet.

Autorun Manager is available as a portable version and installer at the developer website.

Runner Up

ESET SysInspector comes with an autostart manager and a lot more. One of the great aspects of it is that it assigns a risk level to known startup items, processes and other programs that are running.

ESET SysInspector is available as a 32-bit and 64-bit edition for the Windows operating system.

User Friendly startup manager

MSConfig is a first party Windows tool that ships with every version of the operating system. It can be launched directly by pressing Windows-R to bring up the run box, typing msconfig in the box and hitting enter. While it is not the most feature complete startup manager it can be used directly without having to download a software first.

Runner Up:

Startup Control is a tiny portable software that displays pretty much the same information as MSConfig, albeit in a slightly more complicated manner. Instead of displaying all startup items in one list, it divides them into locations which means that the user has to click on all entries to assess and manage all startup items.

The program is easy to use leaving little room for error. Downloads are provided at the developer website.

Helpful programs

What in Startup by Nirsoft
MSConfig Cleanup, remove old entries from MSConfig.
Disable Startup, block new startup items from being added to the operating system.

Which startup manager are you using?

Today Autoruns for Windows 10 has been released to the public. The new version of the popular autostart manager is offered as a free download from Technet.

It is furthermore still possible to run Autoruns directly from Live.Sysinternals.com.

The official blog post mentions the following changes in Autoruns 10.

This major update to Autoruns introduces the ability to scan offline Windows installations, adds .exe and .cmd extension handlers, defaults to hiding Windows entries to reduce noise in the common use case, and includes bug fixes.

Probably the biggest improvement for many is the ability to scan offline Windows installations. This feature can be used by clicking on File > Analyze Offline System. The system root directory and user profile of the offline system need to be selected.

This opens up new possibilities for dual boot systems as it is now possible to analyze the startup items of one of the systems from the other.

autoruns for windows 10

One of the best tips for new users of Autoruns is to hide Microsoft and Windows entries from the software. This ensures that only third party startup items are displayed in the interface. This can be set in the Options menu of the autostart manager.

Autoruns For Windows 10 can be downloaded directly from Technet. The portable software is compatible with all client versions of Windows from Windows XP on and all server versions from Windows Server 2003 on.

Removing entries from the list of programs that get started during system start will prevent them to be loaded after the next reboot. Inexperienced users should be very cautious on the other hand as the program displays important files that are needed to run the operating system properly.

The update to Autoruns 9.5 added a new tab to the startup manager. Autoruns now displays multimedia codecs “which are gaining popularity as an extension mechanism used by malware gains automatic execution.”

A click on the Codecs tab in Autoruns displays now system codecs as well. It is probably a good idea to hide Microsoft and Windows codecs from the list to make it more accessible.

Autoruns can be downloaded from the Windows Sysinternals homepage. It is compatible with client and server operating systems starting with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.