HOW DO I ADD A PROGRAM IN THE STARTUP SECTION

Question

HOW DO I ADD A PROGRAM IN THE STARTUP SECTION ?

I know how to deactivate what's already there but when I do not see it, how can I add it ?

Answer 1

The Ai below seems to be complicating the process.

If you want to add a program to the Start-Up tab in Task Manager, these are the steps.

Create a new Desktop icon for the program

Open File Explorer.

Paste this into the address bar in File Explorer and press Enter.

shell:startup

Then drag the new Desktop icon you created into the resulting folder.

That's it, that program should instantly appear on the Start-Up tab in Task Manager

Answer 2

To add a program to the Startup section in Windows 11 when it does not appear in Settings > Apps > Startup, use File Explorer to place a shortcut in the Startup folder.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Run dialog:
   • Press Windows key + R.
2. Open the Startup folder for the current user:
   • Type shell:startup and press Enter.
   • This opens %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
   • Anything (shortcuts) placed here starts automatically when that user signs in.
3. Open the list of installed apps:
   • Open Run again (Windows key + R).
   • Type shell:appsfolder and press Enter.
   • A File Explorer window opens with all installed apps.
4. Add the program to startup:
   • In the shell:appsfolder window, find the app you want.
   • Drag and drop that app’s icon into the Startup folder window opened in step 2.
   • This creates a shortcut; the app will now start automatically when signing in.

If you want the program to start for all users on the device instead of just one user:

1. Open Run (Windows key + R).
2. Type shell:common startup and press Enter.
   • This opens %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
3. Drag the app from shell:appsfolder into this folder instead.

To remove a program from startup, delete its shortcut from the Startup folder.

Alternatively, if the app is already registered with a startup task (and just disabled):

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Startup.
3. Find the app in the list and turn its toggle On.

If the app is not listed there, use the File Explorer method above.

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References:

• Configure Startup Applications in Windows
• Windows Gaming: Full screen experience
• Automatically start an Office program when you turn on your computer
• Shift Technologies Auto Start - Microsoft Q&A