How to Add App to Run Automatically at Startup in Windows 11

What Can You Add?

Various items run automatically when Windows 11 starts up. Standard applications, program shortcuts, entire directories, drive links, specific documents, and automation scripts all work.

Reference:

Configure Startup Applications in Windows – Microsoft Support

Managing startup applications optimizes overall system performance.

Important Note About Admin Apps

Windows 11 security blocks applications requiring administrator permissions from launching automatically. Running these programs demands manual shortcut creation. Granting administrator privileges to that shortcut allows placement inside the target directory.

Option 1Add Startup App for Your Account Only

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win+E.
2. Copy this text: shell:startup and paste it into the address bar at the top of File Explorer. Press Enter. This opens your Startup folder. (see screenshot below)
3. Add or create a shortcut of any app, folder, drive, file, or script you want to run at startup. Put it in this Startup folder.

Configuring a startup app within your personal profile ensures the program launches exclusively when you sign in. Windows manages a dedicated directory for individual user startup routines.

Option 2Add Startup App for a Specific User

Administrators configure applications to launch automatically for specific secondary profiles. This approach serves multi-user environments where background tasks belong to particular accounts. Locating the specific profile directory remains necessary.

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win+E.
2. Navigate to this folder in File Explorer (see screenshot below):
   

   📝Good to Know

   C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

   
   

   Replace <username> with the actual username. For example: C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

   
   

   Windows may prompt you to click "Continue" to open a specific folder. Clicking this button allows the application to run automatically when Windows 11 starts. This step is necessary for certain program installations.

3. Add or create a shortcut of any app, folder, drive, file, or script you want to run at startup for this user. Put it in this Startup folder.

For Microsoft Store apps: Open the Start menu and select 'All apps.' Drag the target application into the startup folder to generate a shortcut.

Option 3Add Startup App for All Users

Administrator rights are required to configure applications for every profile on a Windows 11 machine. Placing shortcuts into the system-wide directory triggers automatic execution for all subsequent logins.

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win+E.
2. Navigate to this folder in File Explorer:
   

   📝Good to Know

   C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
3. Copy or move a shortcut of any app, folder, drive, file, or script you want to run at startup for everyone. Put it in this Startup folder. (see screenshot below)

For Microsoft Store apps: Open the Start menu and choose 'All apps.' Drag the target program to the desktop to create a shortcut, then move that file into the startup directory.

4. Click Continue to approve copying or moving the shortcut into this Startup folder.

Configuration finishes here.

Summary

Windows 11 manages automatic program execution during sign-in to prepare the desktop environment immediately.