Windows 11 · Windows
Reduce Windows Startup Apps Without Disabling Services
Source-checked About 5 minutes
Answer
Do not disable Windows services to speed up a PC. Microsoft documents safer controls for apps that start automatically, which can affect startup speed without changing essential system services.
Open Startup settings
Select Start, open Settings, choose Apps, then select Startup.
Review each startup app
Read the name and publisher of each listed app before changing it. Keep security, backup, accessibility, and work-critical tools enabled unless you know their role.
Turn off an optional startup app
Set the toggle to Off only for an app you do not need as soon as you sign in.
Check startup impact
For more detail, right-click Start, open Task Manager, and select Startup apps to see the impact reported for each app.
Change one app at a time
Disable one optional app, then restart and check that Windows and the app still work as expected before changing another.
Limit supported background activity
For an app that exposes the setting, go to Settings, System, Power & battery, Battery usage, then choose Manage background activity and select a suitable option.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If an app is not listed in Startup, do not edit the registry or disable a Windows service. Use the app’s own settings or leave it unchanged.
- If a problem begins after you disable an app, return to the same Startup list and turn it back on. This is safer than changing system services.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.