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When you build a new PC and start using it and installing new programs to work with. Some of the programs you installed automatically begin launching themselves in the background.
These are known as “Startup Programs” and eat from your system ressources and thus can slow down your computer’s boot time and its overall performance and responsiveness.
Disabling unneeded startup programs is an easy yet effective solution to improve your computer’s performance and ensure that it will become as fast as the first time you build it.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to disable startup programs in Windows 10 in step-by-step methods to optimize your system.
Why Manage Startup Programs?
We do manage startup programs for:
A Faster OS Boot: Booting with Windows 10 only is fast but when we install additional apps, each program will set to start on boot which adds to the time it takes for your system to boot. By making sure to disable unnecessary programs your PC will take less time to start up.
An Improved Performance: Most programs set to startup when the PC boots will run in the background and will use valuable system resources such as RAM and CPU usage. Removing these programs frees up resources for tasks that matter most and require a big amount of RAM or CPU usage. If you want to know if 16 GB of RAM is enough in 2025 read our recent blog about the topic.
A Better Control Over Our PC: Managing startup programs gives you control over what runs on your PC, helping you prevent unwanted or unnecessary software from slowing down your system and eating from your valuable system resources.
Identifying Programs to Disable
Programs That Are Safe to Disable
Most softwares that is installed in your system is safe to disable like your installed chat applications (Skype, Zoom, or Discord) or game launchers (Steam, Epic Games Launcher) or cloud storage apps like (OneDrive, Google Drive) or Emulators (Bluestacks) etc.
You can always see the publishers of those programs and whether or not they are trusted or you can google them to see what they are.
Programs That You Must Keep Enabled
Softwares that are essential for your system’s stability and security usually are things like antivirus software to keep you safe everyday when using your PC online, hardware drivers or utilities related to your graphics card or audio (Intel, Nvidia or AMD software) etc.
You can always see the publishers of those programs and whether or not they are trusted or you can google them to see what they are.
How to Disable Startup Programs in Windows 10
Disable Startup Programs Using Task Manager
Step 1: Open Task Manager
First, locate the Windows 10 taskbar in the bottom of the screen, right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager”. Alternatively, press a combination of “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” on your keyboard to open a special menu and select “Task Manager” to launch it.
Step 2: Navigate to the Startup Tab in Task Manager
Once you’re in the Task Manager app window, click the Startup tab above to view a list of programs configured to start with your PC that slow it down without your notice.
Step 3: Disable Unwanted Programs
Now, Look at the Status column to see which programs are enabled and which are disabled. Select the program you want to disable then click the Disable button in the lower-right corner or simply by right clicking on each program and select “Disable”. Generally, if you want your PC to boot faster and free some resources you need to disable all programs that have high start-up impact.
Step 4: Close Task Manager & Restart Your PC
Finally, you can close the window and restart your PC. I guarantee you that it will boot slightly better than before.
Disable Startup Programs Using Settings
Step 1: Open Startup Settings
Search for the “Settings” app in the search bar and open it, once you are in the app navigate to “Apps > Startup”.
Step 2: Disable Unwanted Programs
You may now review the list of startup apps. Use the toggle switch next to each program to turn it off or on if you would like to. As I said earlier, if you want your PC to boot faster and free some resources you need to disable all programs that have high start-up impact.
Step 3: Close Settings & Restart Your PC
Finally, you can close the window and restart your PC. I guarantee you that it will boot slightly better than before.
Disable Startup Programs Using System Configuration (Advanced)
Step 1: Launch System Configuration (msconfig)
This is an advanced, direct method to disable startup programs using the System Configuration tool commonly known as “msconfig”.
To disable some troublesome startup software. First, you have to open the Run dialog box. You can do that by pressing “Windows + R” on your keyboard the type “msconfig” and press “Enter” on your keyboard again.
Step 2: Access the Startup Tab
Now, you will see the System Configuration window.
Next, you will have to navigate to the Startup tab where you’ll find an option labeled as “Open Task Manager” in order to manage, view and edit startup programs.
Step 3: Disable Unwanted Programs
Use Task Manager to disable unnecessary programs by selecting the program you want to disable then click the Disable button in the lower-right corner or simply by right clicking on each program and select “Disable”.
Step 4: Close Task Manager & Restart Your PC
Finally, you can close the window and restart your PC. I guarantee you that it will boot slightly better than before.
Disable Startup Programs Using Third-Party Tools.
This method is optional and may be less beneficial as those tools themselves eat from your PC resources, but if you have tools like CCleaner installed in your system you can use them for managing startup programs.
Use these tools if you need more detailed control or to disable programs that aren’t visible in Task Manager.
Conclusion
Owning a PC means that you have full control of your system and that also means that you have to clean and care for your PC in order to increase its lifetime and to keep a constant performance in the long run.
Managing startup programs is an easy and free way to boost your PC’s performance and free some valuable resources. Regularly reviewing your startup programs ensures that new or unnecessary apps don’t slow down your PC over time.
