How to Disable Automatic Program Restart on Windows 10 Startup

Automatic program restarts on system login can be convenient, but if unnecessary applications are opening, it may slow down your computer and extend startup time. Fortunately, Windows 10 allows you to disable this feature and manage which programs launch at startup.

Why Do Programs Start Automatically?

Windows 10 remembers open programs when shutting down the system, restarting them on the next login. This feature is designed for convenience but isn’t always helpful, especially if too many applications start up. Luckily, you can turn off this automatic restart feature within system settings.

How to Disable Automatic Program Restart

1. Use Windows Settings

  1. Open Settings (press Win + I).
  2. Go to Accounts.
  3. Select Sign-in options.
  4. Scroll down to the Privacy section and find the option labeled Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart.
  5. Toggle this setting off to prevent Windows from reopening apps that were open before shutdown or restart.

2. Disable Startup Programs through Task Manager

In addition, you may want to disable specific programs from launching on startup:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Go to the Startup tab.
  3. Select the programs you don’t want to launch automatically, right-click, and choose Disable.

3. Disable Startup Programs via Registry Editor (Advanced Users)

For complete control, advanced users can also use the Registry Editor:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
  3. Right-click and delete entries for any programs you don’t want to start automatically.

Note: Be cautious when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can affect system stability. It's best to create a registry backup first by selecting File > Export in the Registry Editor menu.