How to Access the Windows 10 Startup Folder?

Shaun
Jan 3, 2023
Tutorials, Windows 10
|
8

After the launch of Windows 10, the startup folder from the start menu was moved so that it is out of the spotlight. However, you can still find it if you know how to look for it. The startup folder is important as it lists all the apps that run when your computer starts.

Startup vs Settings

If you're looking to stop certain apps from running when you start your computer, you should go to the startup apps screen in settings. You can toggle all apps that you want to switch on or off at startup.

Opening the Startup Folder

The startup folder can be found in two locations. One is for your personal account and the other is for all users that use the system. To begin, open the run menu by pressing Windows+R. You should type 'shell:startup' (without the quotes) in the search box. This is for personal users. For all users, type 'shell:common startup' (again without quotes) in the search box and press enter.

This will open the startup folder and you will see various program shortcuts and folders. You can either add program shortcuts to this folder to start a program at startup or remove a shortcut to stop a program starting when your computer starts. While the settings menu works, this method is more effective.

Startup Folder Windows 10 Quick Access

Control Your Startup Apps Better

Now that you know where to look for the startup folder, you can control which programs run or don't run when you start your computer.

Advertisement

Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Bill K said on January 4, 2023 at 2:18 pm
    Reply

    Wow – while I agree that this was not quiet to the level I would expect, I would also say that the vitriol in the other comments is pretty harsh. This was not my need and was written well below what I would consider to be a value to me, but I am not going to sink to the level of social media posts these days and just destroy the author because I think it may be below the level of what I would find interesting.

    Remember if you get offended or dont like someone’s post you are indeed free to move on.

    That being said, this does indeed fall short of giving the reader a comprehensive answer to how to find what’s being started and where. This does address the question of how to use the shell command to see the contents of two rarely used folders.

    BUT I don’t know if this was the assignment or the authors choice to go this deep. (just my opinion :-))

    1. pHROZEN gHOST said on January 4, 2023 at 6:24 pm
      Reply

      Well stated.

  2. Emarell said on January 3, 2023 at 10:47 pm
    Reply

    I join the chorus – the Shaun-sourced articles I’ve read aren’t fit to line a birdcage.

    Regarding my Startup folder: key ‘startup’ in the taskbar search field. The response offers you a chance to open a folder called Startup Apps. That includes simple/obvious checkbox controls for managing the apps list, including 3 ways to reorganize how the list is displayed. BTW I too found just 2 or 3 entries using Shaun’s method, but several dozen using mine.

  3. Anonymous said on January 3, 2023 at 8:47 pm
    Reply

    Learn to read. The heading says ‘the … startup folder’, not startup locations.

    1. LaurentG said on January 4, 2023 at 9:40 am
      Reply

      I know to read.
      I know very well that the paper says about the “startup folder” and not the the “startup locations”, and it is the main problem, since it says “the startup folder is important as it lists all the apps that run when your computer starts.”

      Before making a lesson to others, learn to read yourself ;-)

  4. LaurentG said on January 3, 2023 at 5:15 pm
    Reply

    Actually, this paper is bullshit from its first words….

    “After the launch of Windows 10, the startup folder from the start menu was moved so that it is out of the spotlight.”…

    Once again, how can you write such bullshit ?!!! : It was already exactly at the SAME place in Win 7

    It was even in similar place in XP, and (if my memory is good) in Win95 / Win98

  5. LaurentG said on January 3, 2023 at 5:02 pm
    Reply

    Ghacks.net used to be a useful, and interesting blog….

    But since some time, Shaun is publishing papers that are more or less (and very often are ONLY) advertising for Microsoft.
    Today, he give us a new kind of paper that don’t hesitate to be outrageously erroneous !

    How can you write “The startup folder is important as it lists all the apps that run when your computer starts.” : This is completely false !

    These folders may, sometimes (but less and less) list some apps that run at startup, but MOST OF THEM (the apps that run at startup) are not set there, but rather in various registry keys, like HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKLMSOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and several other ones

    If really you want to write something about this kind of subject, you’d better to talk about a soft like Sysinternals Autorun. Since it is a soft owned by Msoft, it would follow your recent policy of “MSoft advertising”, but, at least, it wouldn’t lead your users in error…

    I think I’ll soon stop to review this web blog, that we can now call a “shit blog” !

    1. ilev said on January 3, 2023 at 6:58 pm
      Reply

      You are correct.
      Both Startup folders are mainly empty.

      You can see list of startup apps in Task Manager.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.