Undeterred, Leo remembered an old trick. He used the secret "Run" command, shell:startup , which felt a bit like opening a hidden trapdoor in his computer's floor. He dragged a shortcut of his color-picker into that folder. The next morning, as he opened his laptop, he didn't reach for the mouse. He just watched. One by one, his tools bloomed across the screen like flowers in the sun. By the time he took his first sip of coffee, he was already ready to create. If you'd like to dive deeper, let me know: Are you trying to add a that isn't showing up?
This is the most universally applicable method. It works for any desktop program ( .exe ), script ( .bat ), or other executable file, making it perfect for those apps not listed in the Settings app. The key is to place a to the program in this folder, not the program file itself.
The Task Manager is another way to add programs to the startup list in Windows 11. Here's how:
Open ( Ctrl + Shift + Esc ) and go to the Startup apps tab. Check the list to confirm the app is enabled. How to Remove Programs from Startup
The Settings app provides a simple, modern interface to manage startup. This method is ideal for enabling or disabling apps that are already registered to run at startup. You cannot use it to add a completely new app that isn't already in the list. how to add programs to startup windows 11 updated
Click Create Basic Task (right-hand panel).
files that aren't listed there, you'll need to manually use the Startup folder 1. Using Windows Settings (Recommended)
If your computer is starting too slowly, you may want to remove unnecessary apps. Go to and toggle the app off.
: Search for the program in the Start menu, right-click it, select More , and then Open file location . Undeterred, Leo remembered an old trick
Go to Task Manager > Startup apps , right-click an app, and select Disable .
Incorrect registry edits can destabilize Windows. Always back up the registry or create a system restore point before proceeding.
Press Windows + S , type Task Scheduler , and click the result.
In the 22H2 and 23H2 updates, Microsoft successfully migrated startup management from the archaic Task Manager tab into the main Settings app ( Settings > Apps > Startup ). This is a significant UX improvement. The interface presents a simple toggle list, making it incredibly easy for the average user to identify high-impact apps and disable them. The next morning, as he opened his laptop,
Right-click on the program file and select (or Copy as path if needed).
Press Windows + R .
The Startup folder is the traditional and simplest method. It leverages Windows File Explorer and is ideal for per-user configurations.