Microsoft said Windows 11 users can improve boot times and reduce resource use by disabling unnecessary startup apps while the company works on broader performance fixes.
The company recently acknowledged Windows 11 is memory-heavy and said it is developing new tools to address excessive resource usage.
In a post on its Microsoft Support account on X, Microsoft said, “too many startup apps can slow you down,” and advised users to turn off apps they do not need at sign-in.
Too many startup apps can slow you down. Here’s how to turn off the ones you don’t need
pic.twitter.com/ikf9PainTY
— Microsoft Support (@MicrosoftHelps) July 9, 2026
Users can disable startup apps in Settings by going to Apps, then Startup, and toggling off programs they do not want to launch at boot.
Microsoft said Task Manager offers more detail for users deciding what to disable. It can be opened by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Task Manager, or by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
In the Startup apps section, Windows shows which applications launch automatically and whether each one is enabled. It also displays a “Startup impact” rating for measured apps.
Microsoft classifies startup impact as Low when an app uses less than 300 milliseconds of CPU time and less than 292 KB of disk activity during startup. Medium applies when CPU time is between 300 milliseconds and one second, or disk usage is between 292 KB and 3 MB.
High impact applies when CPU usage exceeds one second or disk activity exceeds 3 MB during startup. Microsoft said disabled apps show “None,” while enabled apps can show “Not measured” if Windows does not yet have enough data.
Microsoft said users should not disable every high-impact app automatically because some programs, including monitoring, security, or driver-related software, may be needed immediately after sign-in. Disabling a startup app does not uninstall it, and users can enable it again later.
Microsoft also said users can add apps to startup manually through File Explorer. Entering shell:appsfolder in the Run dialog opens installed applications, and entering shell:startup opens the current user’s Startup folder for drag-and-drop shortcuts.
The company said shell:common startup can be used to add a startup program for all users on the PC.
Featured image credit
