How to prevent an app from running on Windows 11 startup

In this post we are going to explain how to prevent an application from running when starting Windows 11. This allows you to have a clean boot of computer, speeding up its startup speed. It also prevents less-used applications from consuming resources unnecessarily.

Many applications are automatically configured to run in the background as soon as Windows 11 starts. In fact, some even They run and open a window on their ownThis can be very annoying, not to mention lengthening boot time and congesting the operation of the computer.

How to prevent an app from running on Windows 11 startup

There are several ways to prevent an app from running when Windows 11 starts. On the one hand, you can do it from Task Manager or by going to System ConfigurationOn the other hand, there are the antivirus and optimization applications, as Microsoft PC Manager, which also allow you to manage startup programs.

No matter which method you use, you will be faced with a list of applications that run at startup. What you need to do is Disable those you don't use frequently. Keep in mind that others, however, are essential for the system to function correctly, so it is not advisable to disable them. We will give you more details about this at the end.

Desde el Administrador de tareas

If you want to prevent an application from running when Windows 11 starts, go to Task ManagerTo do this, you can click on Start and type 'Task Manager', or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Suprimir and select the task manager option. A third way to go to this section is with the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc, and you open it directly.

Once inside the Task Manager, choose the option Startup applicationsYou can see it in the left vertical menu, represented by an icon that looks like a speedometer. In this section you will find the list of programs that run when Windows 11 starts up.

Next to the name of each application you will see two columns: Status and Impact of StartupThe first shows whether the program is enabled or disabled, and the second indicates the level of impact it has on Windows 11 startup. If it is high, then you may want to disable the app to optimize boot time.

To prevent an application from running when Windows 11 starts, simply Right click on the application and choose DisableIn case you disable an important program, you can easily reverse the process. Choose the program by clicking on it and press the Enable button you will see in the menu above.

From System Configuration

Another method to prevent an application from running when Windows 11 starts is to disable it from Windows settings. To go to this section, just click on the Start button and choose the option Configuration. You can also open Windows settings with the keyboard shortcut Windows + I.

Once inside the settings, select the option Applications, which is the one that allows you to manage the operation of the installed apps. In the next window, choose the option Start (Startup) in the left vertical menu. You will see the list of programs and apps that run in the background when Windows starts.

Next to each application you will see a switch that can be turned on or off to prevent an app from running when you start Windows 11. The list also shows how much the app slows down the system, indicating the level of impact. Again, remember that there are apps that need to run as soon as you turn on your computer.

Using an antivirus or optimization program

Finally, some antivirus and optimization programs include options to prevent an application from running when Windows 11 starts. Basically, what they do is calculate the boot time of the computer and identify the apps that slow it downThey also show the list of applications that run when you turn on your computer and allow you to disable them.

Por ejemplo, puedes Optimize Windows 11 with Microsoft PC Manager. This free, native Microsoft program has several options to get your Windows computer up to speed. Among other functions, allows you to disable startup applications to speed up your computer's performance. Alternatively, you can open your antivirus and explore whether disabling startup applications is among its options.

Which startup applications can I safely disable?

Now then, Which startup apps can be disabled without compromising the performance of Windows 11? As we said, some apps are optional, while others need to be running for everything to work properly. On the other hand, there are those apps that we use more frequently, so we appreciate them running automatically. Others, however, do nothing but consume resources unnecessarily.

Among the applications that you can safely disable are: Spotify and WhatsApp. During installation, both of them ask if you want them to run when you start Windows. The normal thing to do is to uncheck that box, but if you didn't, you'll have to disable them manually using any of the methods described.

Other optional startup applications are Adobe Acrobat and OneDriveIf you don't need to open PDF documents automatically or use the Microsoft cloud to save your files, you can disable both. Likewise, a resource-intensive program is NVIDIA GeForce ExperienceIf you don't use it to optimize your games, you know what you have to do.

Applications that are not recommended to be disabled

Preventing an app from running when Windows 11 starts is only convenient if you don't use it often or if it's not a system program. On the other hand, These are some of the applications that are not recommended to be disabled:

• Windows Defender: It's your antivirus and malware protection, so don't disable it.
• Windows Update: It is responsible for downloading and installing system updates, something that is very important for everything to work correctly.
• Intel Graphics Command Center: This software runs instantly to keep your Intel graphics card running smoothly.
• Antivirus: If you have another antivirus installed in addition to Windows Defender, it is not recommended to disable it.
• Bluetooth software, printers or assistants from brands such as Dell and HP.

If you disable a program and You notice a malfunction in the system, you can always go to the startup applications list and enable it again. The important thing is that you save resources while using your Windows 11 computer without any waste.