Everyday Computer Skills · Installing & Removing Apps · Lesson 4 of 5

Apps That Start by Themselves

Stop extra apps from opening at startup so the computer is ready sooner.

Turning off startup apps

Some apps open by themselves every time you turn on the computer. These are called startup apps.

A few are useful. But each one can make the computer take longer to be ready after you sign in. Many apps quietly add themselves to this list when you install them.

You can check them in Task Manager. Task Manager is a tool that shows what is running on your computer. To open it, right-click the Start button and click Task Manager. Or press Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

Then click Startup apps on the left. You see a list with two useful columns:

• Status shows if the app is Enabled (it starts by itself) or Disabled (it does not).
• Startup impact shows how much the app slows down startup: High, Medium or Low.

To stop an app from starting by itself, click it, then click Disable. This does not remove the app. You can still open it from Start whenever you want.

You can also do this in Settings. Go to Apps, then Startup, and turn the switch off next to an app.

On the practice computer, open Task Manager's Startup apps list. Find the app with High impact that you don't need at startup, and disable it.

What to keep, and Mac Login Items

Turning off startup apps is safe. It never deletes anything. But some apps should stay on.

Keep these enabled:

• Security software. This is a program that protects you from harmful software, like an antivirus. It must start right away to guard you. Windows Security, which comes with Windows, already runs on its own.
• Cloud storage apps, like OneDrive, if you use them to back up your files. Cloud storage keeps copies of your files on the internet.
• Helpers for things you use every day, like a mouse or printer tool from its maker.

Good choices to turn off are apps you open only now and then. Game launchers, chat apps you rarely use, and music apps are common examples.

Not sure about one? Leave it on, or search its name on the web first. If you turn off something you needed, just turn it back on. Nothing is lost.

On a Mac, these are called Login Items. To see them:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
2. Click System Settings, then General.
3. Click Login Items. On newer Macs, it is called Login Items & Extensions.

Select an app in the list and click the minus button to stop it from opening at login.