5 Places to Check for Windows 10 Autostart Settings

Startup (system registration)

What is registered in the startup system is generally registered by installing application software or drivers. This startup is set to auto start in the system configuration. 

Startup system contents

Startup (system registration) is the following item “Startup (folder registration)”, where you can manually put the shortcuts of the applications you want to start automatically into the folder, but you can register them in the system in advance and start them automatically. Let 

Startup System auto start settings

The setting of automatic start of startup is easy, and it is operated by switching “disable / enable”. Settings can be managed from Task Manager or “App Settings” in Settings. If you are setting from the task manager, right-click on a place where there is nothing such as an icon in the task bar, and click “Task Manager” in the menu. You can set it in “Startup” in Task Manager. Once the startup settings are complete, they will take effect the next time you start your computer.

Startup (folder registration)

The startup folder is a normal folder, so you can register apps, folders, shortcut icons, etc. to be automatically started as you like. 

Contents of the startup folder

Auto-start by Startup folder is managed for all users or specific users separately. It is possible to select only specific users or all users to automatically start applications etc. 

Setting the Startup Folder to Auto start

To stop automatic startup, you can stop automatic startup simply by deleting the shortcut icon registered in Startup. Conversely, if you want to automatically start an application, etc., register it in the startup folder and it will be automatically started. You can’t freely register apps in the system configuration startup, but you can freely register apps and have them start automatically by using the startup folder. The image below shows how to open the Startup folder for all users.

Auto start with registry

If the application starts automatically even though it is not registered in Startup, you can check the items set for automatic startup in the registry and delete any unnecessary items to stop automatic startup. 

Registry contents on auto start

The auto-start settings in the registry are divided into places to be edited, such as auto-start for all users and auto-start only for specific users. For spyware, there are many ways to do bad things by registering it in the registry and automatically starting it without showing the registration information to startup. 

Setting Registry on Auto start

The registry auto-start settings are managed separately for all users or specific users, similar to the Startup folder. 

• Auto-start can be disabled or started by using the registry editor, deleting it in the \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run key for all users/specific users to disable it, and registering it to start it.
• If there is a possibility of undoing, back up (export) the “registry key” before proceeding.

Auto start in service

Service auto-start starts before sign-in. Those registered in other startups will start after you sign in. 

Contents of automatic start in service

Device drivers, antivirus software, and other items that need to be started before Windows has completely started are registered. Other important system configurations are also registered when using Windows. Applications that are started by the auto-start service basically do not open the window at startup. It runs in the background and runs all the time. Because it doesn’t open, you usually don’t know what is running (running). It is the “service management tool” that manages them. 

Configuring automatic startup in services

• Auto : Start automatically.
• Automatic (delayed start) : Start later than normal automatic start.
• Manually : Start automatically when an application is needed.
• Disabled : Stops autostart completely. (It can be started arbitrarily later)

You can turn it off manually or disable it. However, even if they are registered with the service, there are some that cannot be set due to security concerns.

Automatic start in task scheduler

Task scheduler is mainly used for automatic execution at intervals of date and time. App updates, backup functions, etc. are registered. 

Contents of automatic start in task scheduler

The task scheduler can register schedules for “startup” and ” after login “, so you can register applications and automatically start them. In addition, you can easily set the automatic startup in the task scheduler by selecting the desired automatic startup and performing the “disable/enable” operation. 

Setting automatic start in task scheduler

• Open Task Scheduler by clicking Task Scheduler under Windows Administrative Tools in the Start menu. 
• Click “>” in the task scheduler menu to expand it.
  > Task Scheduler Library
  > Microsoft
  Windows Click to expand to display the list registered in Task Scheduler. 
• Check the type of execution
  Click the name of the desired app, etc. from the list. (Here, I’m using Chrome.)
  Click the Triggers tab to see the type of execution. The setting in the figure below is the setting to be executed after login. 
• Confirm the operation to perform
  Click the Operation tab. Since “Start a program” is displayed, it is a setting to run (automatically start) the Chrmoe browser after signing in. 
• Stopping and running automatic start
  Check the “status” and set it to start automatically if it is “running”. Click “Disable” to stop autostart.
  If it is “disabled”, click “enable” to perform auto start.