How to Automatically Start Programs When You Turn On Windows 11

Why Make Programs Start Automatically?

Making programs automatically start when you turn on Windows 11 saves you time and ensures your important apps are ready to use right away. This is useful for security apps like antivirus or backup software that need to run in the background to protect your computer without you needing to open them manually each time.

Antivirus and backup programs start automatically in the background to keep your computer safe. Automatically starting these programs means users do not need to open them by hand every time.

Step 1Find the Program You Want to Start

To make a program automatically start when you turn on Windows 11, you must find that program’s shortcut and know the location of its actual program file. For example, to make Microsoft Edge open automatically, locate its executable file to create a startup shortcut for Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge, the web browser, starts automatically when your computer turns on. To set up automatic program startup for Microsoft Edge, locate the program’s executable file. This ensures Microsoft Edge opens every time your Windows 11 computer boots up.

1. Look for the program icon (like Edge) on your desktop or in the ⊞ Start menu.
2. 🖱️ Right-click on the icon, then choose Properties.
3. In the window that opens, click the Shortcut tab.
4. Look at the Target box. This shows the path where the program is located.
5. You can also click Open File Location to see the program’s folder.

Here is an example of the Properties window for Microsoft Edge:

The Target field might look something like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Applicationmsedge.exe"

Step 2Open the Startup Folder

The Startup folder in Windows 11 is a special place for apps you want to open automatically every time you log in. To open it, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard together to bring up the Run box, then type shell:startup and press Enter.

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard at the same time. This opens a small box called Run.
2. Type shell:startup in the box and press Enter.

The Startup folder in Windows 11 is a special location where the operating system looks for programs to start automatically each time the computer turns on. Adding a program’s shortcut to this folder makes that program launch without your manual intervention.

Step 3Add Your Program to Startup

1. Inside the Startup folder, 🖱️ right-click on any empty space.
2. Choose New > Shortcut.
3. In the box that appears, paste the program path you copied from the Target box earlier.
4. Click Next.
5. Give the shortcut a name you will recognize, like “Microsoft Edge”.
6. Click Finish.

Inside the Startup folder, right-click an empty space. Then choose New > Shortcut. In the box that appears, paste the program path you copied earlier, click Next, give the shortcut a name you will recognize, and then click Finish.

Step 4Test It Out

After adding a program to the Startup folder, the best way to test if it will automatically start in Windows 11 is to 🔄 restart your computer. You can also check by opening 📊 Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and going to the Startup tab to see which programs are set to launch automatically.

Alternative: Use 📊 Task Manager to Add Startup Programs

📊 Task Manager offers another way to manage programs that automatically start when you turn on Windows 11. To use it, right-click the ⊞ Start button, select Task Manager, then click File > Run new task, type shell:startup, and click OK to access the Startup folder.

1. Right-click the ⊞ Start button and select 📊 Task Manager.
2. Click the File menu, then choose Run new task.
3. Type shell:startup and check Create this task with administrative privileges if you want.
4. Click OK to open the Startup folder and add shortcuts as shown above.

Summary

• Starting programs automatically saves you time and makes your computer ready when you log in.
• You can add shortcuts to your favorite programs in the Startup folder.
• Use the Run box (Windows + R) and type shell:startup to open this folder quickly.
• 📊 Task Manager is another way to manage startup programs.
• This is helpful for programs you use often or need running in the background.

Starting programs automatically saves you time and makes your computer ready when you log in. You can add shortcuts to your favorite programs in the Startup folder by using the Run box (⊞ Win+R) and typing shell:startup. 📊 Task Manager is another useful tool for managing startup programs.