Autoruns 14.0 released: dark theme support for the Windows autostart manager

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 19, 2021
Updated • Aug 19, 2021
Windows software
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24

Microsoft's Sysinternals division has released the Windows autostart manager Autoruns 14.0. The new version of the portable application comes with dark theme support and an user interface overhaul.

Autoruns is probably the most sophisticated and powerful autostart manager for Windows. The last major version, Autoruns 13, was released in 2015. Its big new feature was support for Google's Virustotal virus checking service.

Tip: you shouldn't rely solely on Autoruns for security.

Microsoft Windows operating systems come with built-in options to manage autorun entries, but these are not found in a single location. Some are displayed in the Task Manager, others in the Task Scheduler or in other locations such as the Registry.

Autoruns displays all of them in its interface. All you need to do is download the latest version of the program, extract its archive, and run the program from the location. Installation is not necessary.

Note that you may want to run Autoruns with elevated rights, as you may not be able to manage some autostart entries otherwise.

You may switch themes, lite and dark supported, by selecting Options > Theme in the program interface. The program is restarted automatically when you change the theme.

Note that you can't change colors, e.g. the color of the font or the background color of lines.

Line colors are identical to the Lite theme colors. Options to change these colors and the font color could improve accessibility, as the gray on dark color scheme for text is not the most eye pleasing.

Nothing has been changed functionality-wise in the new version. You may still go through the "everything" listing or manage common autostart locations such as logon, Explorer or Codecs.

Some entries have different background colors; these require special attention, as they may point to invalid entries, e.g. when an autostart entry exists but the linked file does not. It may happen when programs get deleted manually, or if the uninstallation routine of the program does not remove the entry, for whatever reason.

Closing Words

Autoruns remains the go-to program for many Windows system administrators and home users when it comes to managing autostart entries. Windows users who prefer dark themes find it supported in Autoruns 14, albeit without any options to customize the color scheme.

You may download Autoruns 14 from the official Microsoft Sysinternals website.

Now You: how often do you check autostart entries, and which program do you use for that?

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Autoruns 14.0 released: dark theme support for the Windows autostart manager
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Autoruns 14.0 released: dark theme support for the Windows autostart manager
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Microsoft's Sysinternals division has released the Windows autostart manager Autoruns 14.0, with dark theme support and an user interface overhaul.
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Comments

  1. Anonymous said on September 1, 2021 at 11:31 pm
    Reply

    VirusTotal check fixed in 14.01 but check online option is not working.
    https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/sysinternals-blog/autoruns-v14-01/ba-p/2708458

    Is Mark Russinovich now suffering from Microsoft’s ‘rush it out’ problems?

  2. Martin P. said on August 20, 2021 at 4:58 pm
    Reply

    @Tom Hawack

    « Appreciated info. »

    You’re welcome. Let’s hope it was an oversight indeed.

  3. bawldiggle said on August 20, 2021 at 2:40 pm
    Reply

    Where can I get a 64-bit installer of v13.100 …. for Win-7 ?
    v13.99 is corrupt (last compatible with Win-7) and has been corrected in v13.100
    PAF edition of v13.100 is available but my concern is all PAF apps are 32-bit and I dont know if
    PAF will support x64 Win-7.
    I have 4 Win-7-PRO x64 machines to keep alive.

    according to comments here v14.00 does not support Win-7.

    1. owl said on August 21, 2021 at 2:01 am
      Reply

      > 64-bit installer of v13.100

      The following are administratively reasonable download sites.
      portablefreeware.com
      https://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=87
      majorgeeks.com
      https://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_autoruns.html

      1. owl said on August 21, 2021 at 2:06 am
        Reply

        Older versions were no longer available for download on “majorgeeks.com”. I apologize for the inadequate confirmation.

      2. owl said on August 21, 2021 at 2:14 am
        Reply

        The same is not possible with also “portablefreeware.com”. It seems impossible to obtain the old specifications from a reliable download site. It seems that it was judged that it is meaningless (unsupportable) to follow “Windows 7” etc. whose support has ended.

    2. Anonymous said on August 20, 2021 at 11:59 pm
      Reply

      You could try a web search before asking questions.

  4. owl said on August 20, 2021 at 10:21 am
    Reply

    “Autoruns” is a must-have utility for me because it lists and be controlled the programs that run when the system starts up, as well as the programs that are set to start in the registry and the codecs that are loaded.
    I updated to v14.0, and it starts up and displays faster, and the UI is easier to read and more efficient. I am pleased to see that the “Dark” theme has been added as an option, and I am very happy with it.
    And then, I’ve avoided Google’s VirusTotal, so I have no problem with not being able to use it.

    1. owl said on August 20, 2021 at 12:24 pm
      Reply

      I was checking the system resources (RAM, CPU) when using Autoruns (Autostart program viewer) in Task Manager, and the CPU: 0% and RAM is very small. It is noteworthy that it does not require excessive system resources, which seems to be common with Microsoft utilities (e.g. Task Manager).

  5. Martin P. said on August 19, 2021 at 11:58 pm
    Reply

    Cabinet.dll -> ordinal 45 message

    The problem with Autoruns version 14.00 and the Cabinet.dll library on Windows 7 is because the DLL on Windows 7 doesn’t contain functions that are present in that library on Windows 10.

    So, perhaps either Mark Russinovich or today’s System Internals developers decided to flush Windows 7 or it might be an oversight that could be corrected in the next Autoruns version.

    Time will tell…

    1. Tom Hawack said on August 20, 2021 at 12:29 pm
      Reply

      Appreciated info. This nuances above comment stating Autoruns 14 didn’t support Win7 and explains why all software portals I’ve visited include Win7 in the list of supported OSs. That’s more like it.

      Time will tell indeed.

  6. VioletMoon said on August 19, 2021 at 7:04 pm
    Reply

    Really important to watch for programs, services, whatever that start at boot. I use ChemTables AutoRun Organizer:

    https://www.chemtable.com/autorun-organizer.htm

    ProLasso if we are talking a real problem.

    Autoruns . . . and people are already having problems with a new release? Wow! Not the Sysinternals I know.

  7. Diego said on August 19, 2021 at 6:09 pm
    Reply

    In the meantime, I’m still hoping that Process Explorer also supports the dark theme. :/

    1. 123 said on August 19, 2021 at 8:27 pm
      Reply

      Use Process Hacker if you want a dark mode, it’s better in every way on top of that anyway.

      Make sure you grab the latest dev version though.

  8. ULBoom said on August 19, 2021 at 3:35 pm
    Reply

    Nice utility, a bit surprised MS lets this out to everyone since it can stop some of the data scraping they love. Provides insight into the many processes Windows automatically starts for whatever reason that have nothing to do with your device.

    1. owl said on August 20, 2021 at 9:21 am
      Reply

      “Windows Sysinternals” was originally run by Winternals Software LP, a company founded by software developers Bryce Cogswell and Mark Russinovich. Microsoft acquired Winternals and its assets on July 18, 2006.
      However, Sysinternals is still a unique entity that maintains its “independent position” from Microsoft, as its founders Bryce Cogswell and Mark Russinovich are still in control of product development.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sysinternals
      Incidentally, the same is true of GitHub, which was acquired by Microsoft.

  9. Tom Hawack said on August 19, 2021 at 11:49 am
    Reply

    Autoruns is one of the very few Microsoft applications I run, perhaps because I started it when developed by SysInternals, which is still the dedicated folder name.

    Issue here on Windows 7. Running ‘Autoruns’ (14.0) opens a notification window :

    “L’ordinal 45 est introuvable dans la bibliothèque des liens dynamiques Cabinet.dll”
    whch translates to
    “The ordinal 45 cannot be found in the dynamic link library Cabinet.dll”

    Any idea? Maybe Autoruns 14.0 doesn’t support Win7?
    Sticking on previous Autoruns 13.99 therefor.

    1. Tom Hawack said on August 19, 2021 at 1:01 pm
      Reply

      EDIT :

      ‘Ordinal 45’ appears to be a component of Microsoft Visual C++
      Latest installed here was Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package 14.20.27508.1 (x64 & x86)

      I checked for latest versions of Microsoft VisualC++ at
      [https://www.itechtics.com/microsoft-visual-c-redistributable-versions-direct-download-links/#Microsoft_Visual_C_2019_Redistributable]

      Found the latest, installed Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable Package 14.29.30133.0 (x64 & x86) : same issue

      Mystery

      1. Microsoft said on August 19, 2021 at 6:51 pm
        Reply

        Autoruns 14 doesn’t support Windows 7. Because we hate you.

      2. Tom Hawack said on August 20, 2021 at 11:15 am
        Reply

        Hatred is bad for your health, but the info is appreciated nevertheless :)

        Autoruns 14 not being supported by Windows 7 was the first thing that came in mind but BetaNews FileForum, MajorGeeks and others include Win7 among the supported OSs …

        So Autoruns 13.99 it is and will remain.

      3. Hardpedia said on August 20, 2021 at 1:40 pm
        Reply

        Softpedia doesn’t include 7 as supported, only 10.

  10. LaurentG said on August 19, 2021 at 9:31 am
    Reply

    Automatic check of all entries with VirusTotal does not work with this version.
    It remains feasible to check (manually) each entry individually.
    This is surely a bug (and not a disappearing feature) since the choice to check them or not is still present in options… but unfortunately no effective.
    Maybe a 14.01 soon….

    1. Arno A Goof said on August 20, 2021 at 12:29 am
      Reply

      Ditto. 32 and 64 bit versions both tested. Unusually, Malwarebytes Firewall Control did not pop up asking whether or not to allow the changed program so I checked traffic. While the status bar indicated Autoruns was doing something, MFC log did not record an entry when a full scan was run, only when a single file was checked.
      Seems like an oops to me.

    2. Travis said on August 19, 2021 at 1:37 pm
      Reply

      Me too, check of all entries with VirusTotal does not work with this version.

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