Whether it is Windows 11 or Windows 10, users are allowed to add programs to startup. Next, this article will tell you 8 different ways to add startup programs on Windows 11. We will introduce the detailed steps one by one.
Method 1: Add a startup program through settings
The traditional method of adding is from the Settings app.
Step 1 Press Win+I to open the “Settings” app, tap Apps.
Step 2 Scroll down and select Startup.
Step 3 Turn on the switches next to those apps that need to start.
If you did not find the installed app in the third step of method 1, please continue to method 2.
Method 2: Create a shortcut in the startup folder
Add programs to Startup programs by creating shortcuts for applications in folders. Please read the detailed steps below.
Step 1 Open File Explorer by pressing Win+E and navigating to the folder. Copy and paste the path: C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, open the Startup folder.
Step 2 Click New.
Step 3 Select the shortcut.
Step 4 In the Create Shortcut window, click Browse.
Step 5 Select the executable file of the application to run at startup and click OK.
NOTE: The default drive to install the application is the “C” system drive. 32-bit programs will be installed in the “Program Files (x86)” folder, while most 64-bit programs are in the “Program Files” folder.
Step 6 Locate the application using File Explorer, right-click on the executable, and select Copy As Path.
Step 7 Paste the copied path into the location field and click Next.
Step 8 Click Finish.
That’s all for adding an application to the Startup folder.
Method 3: Create a Program Shortcut and Move to Startup Folder
The second method describes how to create shortcuts in the Startup folder. Alternatively, you can create a shortcut to the application elsewhere, such as on the desktop and then move it to the Startup folder.
Step 1 Right-click on the desktop, select New, then Shortcut.
Step 2 Right click on the application and select Show more options.
Step 3 Then select Send To and click Desktop (Create Shortcut).
Step 4 Copy (Ctrl+C) this shortcut and paste (Ctrl+V) it into the Startup folder.
Method 4: Copy the Windows application to the Startup folder
If you want to add applications such as calendar, camera, and calculator to the startup, you cannot use the above methods to create shortcuts. But they’re in the Applications folder, so you can easily move apps from there to the Startup folder.
Step 1 Press Win+R to open the Run box, type shell:appsfolder and press Enter.
Step 2 This will open the Applications folder.
Step 3 Now open the Startup folder as before (type shell:startup in the RUN command box of the current user’s Startup folder).
Step 4 Drag and drop your application from the application window into the Startup folder.
Method 5: Add startup programs via application’s settings and preferences
Some third-party applications also provide the option to enable “run at startup” or a similar setting in the application’s preferences section. Just turn on this setting.
Method 6: Add startup programs using Task Scheduler
Use Task Scheduler to automate various actions according to a predefined schedule, including running an application at startup.
Step 1 Click Start, type task scheduler, and press Enter.
Step 2 Right click on Task Scheduler Library in the left pane and select Create Basic Task…
Step 3 Name it and click Next.
Step 4 Select When I log in.
Step 5 Then click “Next”.
Step 6 Select “Start the program” and click “Next”.
Step 7 Click Browse.
Step 8 Locate the application’s executable file, select it, and click Open.
Step 9 Then click “Next”.
Step 10 Click Finish.
After completing the above steps, the application will be up and running on the next boot.
Method 7: Use Registry Editor to add startup programs on Windows 11
Another way to add startup programs is through Registry Editor.
Step 1 Click the “Start” button on the taskbar or press the Windows key on the keyboard.
Step 4 Click Enter. Select Run in the left pane, right-click an empty space on the right, select New, and then select String Value.
Step 5 Give the string a name, and then double-click to modify it.
Step 6 In the Value Data field, we will add the path to the application file. For convenience, navigate to the application file in File Explorer, right-click it and select Copy as path.
Step 7 Then paste it into the value field.
Step 8 Click OK.
Method 8: Enable startup programs in Task Manager on Windows 11
Task Manager allows users to add certain startup applications on Windows 11.
Step 1 Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
Step 2 Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc and open Task Manager. Click on the top left icon.
Step 3 Select startup apps.
Step 4 Enable some applications in the list.
These applications will start at system startup.
Why can’t find all installed programs in the startup list?
The Startup list in the Settings app doesn’t show all the apps installed on your computer. Therefore, users cannot add all installed programs to the startup of Windows 11 through settings.
How to find the Windows 11 startup folder?
Windows has two startup folders, and their paths are as follows:
User startup folder: C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
All user startup folders: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
How to access the startup folder?
The fastest way to access the startup folder is to use the RUN command. Win+R uses a shortcut to open the Run box. Then type shell:startup your startup folder, or type shell:common startup common startup folder, and press Enter.
Conclusion
This article introduces you 8 different ways to add programs to startup in Windows 11, which allow you start some programs while launching the system. Hope these ways can help you quickly add startup programs on Windows 11 or 10.
