Windows 10 Startup Programs: Adding One to Auto-Start

Adding a Program to Start Up Automatically on Windows 10

In earlier versions of Windows, adding a program to run at startup was as simple as dragging a shortcut into the Start Menu’s Startup folder. Windows 10 hides that folder a little more than it used to, but the process is still nearly as simple once you know where to look.

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, and type:

shell:startup

This opens the Startup folder for your current user account directly in File Explorer. Drag a shortcut to the program you want to launch automatically into this folder, and it’ll run every time you sign in.

If you want a program to start for every user on the machine rather than just your own account, use shell:common startup instead, which opens the all-users Startup folder — you’ll need administrator rights to add shortcuts there.

Alternatively, for finer control (delaying a startup item, or disabling one without deleting its shortcut), Task Manager’s Startup tab lets you enable or disable existing startup items with a right-click, without needing to touch the Startup folder directly.

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