How to Turn On or Off Automatically Restart Apps When You Sign Back In on Windows 11
Automatically restarting apps in Windows 11 launches your open programs and File Explorer tabs right after you sign into your account so you can pick up where you left off. Starting with Windows 11 version 25H2, turning on this feature also saves your open folder tabs in File Explorer automatically.
You can turn the feature on or off in your sign-in settings depending on whether you want a clean desktop every time you log in.
Open Settings by pressing Win+I. Navigate to Accounts, then Sign-in options. Toggle the switch for “Automatically save my restartable apps” to On to enable or Off to disable it.
Option 1Turn On or Off Automatically Restart Apps Using Settings
- Press Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings.
- Click Accounts on the left side.
Then click Sign-in options on the right side. - Under Additional settings, find the option called Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.
- Switch it On to enable this feature or Off to disable it.
- Close the Settings window when you’re done.
You can automatically restart apps Windows 11 by using the main Settings app . This built-in feature lets your computer remember which programs were open when you shut down and reopen them as soon as you sign back in. To change this, open Settings, go to accounts and sign-in options, and switch the restartable apps setting on or off based on your personal preference.
Option 2Turn On or Off Automatically Restart Apps Using the Registry (for advanced users)
You can also change this setting using the Registry Editor (a database for system settings). Be careful when making changes here.
To Turn On Automatically Restart Apps:
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon" /v RestartApps /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
To Turn Off Automatically Restart Apps (default setting):
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon" /v RestartApps /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Summary
Automatically restart apps Windows 11 is a helpful feature that gets your workspace back the way you left it after a reboot. You can turn this setting on or off quickly through the main Windows Settings app depending on how you like your computer to start up. It also remembers open File Explorer tabs so you do not lose your place when signing back in.- Easy to change: Use Windows Settings or the Registry Editor to turn this feature on or off.
- Keeps your apps ready: Automatically saves and reopens apps so you can continue working faster.
- File Explorer tabs: Windows 11 now also remembers your open File Explorer tabs when you sign back in.
- Flexible: You can choose to use this feature or not depending on your preference.
- User-friendly: Windows Settings gives you a simple way to find and change this option.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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