Depending on how much you use an application in your day to day you will want or not that it will automatically start with the system and thus not have to run it manually every time. If on the contrary, you prefer Windows to start as fast as possible, it is best to delete all the programs from the start.

If the startup speed of the system is not something that worries you very much, or your computer simply has enough resources to do things fast enough, there are several simple methods to make an application open automatically when you start Windows.

Add the program to the Start folder

This is one of the simplest methods. All you have to do is to open Windows Explorer and navigate to This computer > Local Disk > ProgramData > Microsoft > Windows > Start Menu > Programs > Start. Or, more simply, paste the following path in the address bar of the file browser:

C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartUp

The next thing is to look for the direct access to the program that you want to start with Windows and paste it in that folder. If you have it on the desktop, you can simply drag the icon to the Home folder .

If you do not want to lose the desktop shortcut, right click first, choose Copy, and then Paste into the home folder. Windows will ask you to confirm before adding access.

Schedule the start of the program as a task

If you want to have even more control over how you start an application, you can use the Windows Task Scheduler, only this method is a bit more complex. First press the start button, type “schedule tasks” and press Enter.

Now click on Action and then on Create basic tasks. In the new “Unchain” menu, choose When you log in so that this is the moment when the task starts. Click on Next

In Action, choose Start a program and press Next. Now you must specify the path of the executable file of the program that you want to start with Windows.

To do this you must know where the application was installed, most are in Program Files , but if that is not the case you can find the route by right clicking on the direct access to the application and then Properties . In the menu that appears, look at the route where it says Destination and copy.

Then it’s just a matter of pressing Next and Finish so your task is scheduled.

Review within the app settings

Many applications include the option within your preferences to choose whether you want them to start with the system or not.

For example, Spotify includes this option in its advanced configuration page. It’s a matter of reviewing the settings of your favorite app and see if it offers the option.

Use the Task Manager

From the Windows Task Manager you can enable and disable apps that start automatically with Windows. You can open the Administrator by right clicking on the start button and choosing the option.

You can also press the classic key combination CTRL + ALT + DELETE and choose Task Manager. Or, you can press the Windows start button, type “Task Manager” and press Enter.

Once opened, click on the More details icon to show the complete interface. Then click on the Home tab and adjust what you need.

You just have to take into account that in this list only applications that have already started automatically with Windows will appear, to add new apps you have to use any of the other three methods that we already explained.