Learning How to Turn Off Startup Programs and Reduce the Time It Takes for Windows 11 to Boot

Learning How to Turn Off Startup Programs and Reduce the Time It Takes for Windows 11 to Boot

If your computer running Windows 11 takes an excessive amount of time to start up, the issue is often not with the operating system itself; rather, it is with the hundreds of apps that are not essential and that start up automatically once you turn it on. Before you even begin to use your personal computer, these initial applications begin to slow down the boot process, waste memory, and make your computer seem sluggish. You will be relieved to know that you have the ability to quickly regulate which apps start automatically, which can significantly boost the efficiency of your computer.

1. Why Do Programs That Start Up Slow Down Your Computer?

During the boot process, Windows loads all of the system services, drivers, and any third-party applications that have been instructed to start automatically. A great number of applications, including clients for cloud storage, chat tools, and update checks, all add themselves to this list without being asked to do so. Every single one of them consumes a portion of the processing power and memory of your machine.

It may take your personal computer a few minutes longer to become useable over time as a result of the increased number of software’s starting entries. One of the easiest and most effective methods to enhance boot speed is to reduce the amount of stress that is placed on the system during startup.

2. Determine the factors that are causing the startup to go more slowly

Identifying which apps are beginning automatically and determining the extent to which they impact performance is an essential step before deactivating almost anything. After opening Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, pick the Startup applications tab from the menu that appears.

A list of programs that launch during startup will be shown to you here, along with a rating for the influence that they have on startup, which may be low, medium, or high. By doing so, you are able to identify the individuals who are accountable for the delay. Software developed by a third party, such as Discord, Steam, Adobe Creative Cloud, or cloud sync applications, is often included among the high-impact products.

3. Disable any startup programs that are non-essential.

Select the Disable option from the context menu that appears when you right-click on an undesired starting application. When you load up your computer again, the application will continue to be installed, but it will not start automatically.

Most programs that are not part of the system may be securely disabled. Ensure that only the tools that are really necessary, such as your antivirus software, audio drivers, and input utilities, are turned on. In the event that it is required, everything else may be started manually.

After you have narrowed down your selection, go to restart your computer and see how much quicker it starts up. More than half of the time required to start up is cut down in many instances.

4. For more control, make use of the Windows Settings Menu

Windows 11 also has a built-in options panel that allows users to manage the behavior of the starting process. To see a streamlined list of applications that use toggle switches, go to the Settings menu, then choose Apps, and finally select Startup.

This interface is very user-friendly and is perfect for rapidly shutting off applications that is running in the background. Those who would rather not use Task Manager or those who are in charge of managing startup applications for many user accounts may find this feature very helpful.

5. Investigate the possibility of covert or secret services

There are certain programs that add background services that are not included in the primary startup list but have the ability to activate automatically. To manage these, press the Windows key and the R key simultaneously, then type msconfig and click the Enter key. Navigate to the Services tab inside the System Configuration window, check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services, and then examine the remaining options.

You should uncheck any services that are associated with software that is not being utilized in order to avoid automatic starting. It is possible that Task Manager will not reveal any hidden slowdowns; this step helps eradicate them.

6. Completed Tasks That Were Scheduled

There are certain tools that will add tasks to your schedule that will execute automatically whenever you login in. You can check for them by opening the Task Scheduler (you can find it in the Start menu) and looking at the triggers that are associated with the Startup or Login process.

Turning off processes that aren’t essential, such update checkers or telemetry collectors, may cut down on the amount of time it takes to boot up and the amount of work that is done in the background. Never disable a job without first doing research on it to confirm that it is not a system-critical one.

7. Allow for a Quick initiation

Fast Startup is a function that is integrated into Windows 11 that combines cold start and hibernation technologies to reduce the amount of time it takes for the computer to power up. In order to make it possible:

To access the Power Options, open the Control Panel and go to the Hardware and Sound section.

To change the behavior of the power buttons on the left, click the “Choose” button.

Check the box next to Turn on rapid startup after you have selected Change settings that are temporarily unavailable.

Consequently, when you start your personal computer, Windows is able to load vital system data more rapidly, which gives the impression that the boot procedure is almost immediate.

8. Ensure that your storage drive is always optimized.

Even if you have deactivated apps that aren’t essential, a disk that is crowded or fragmented might still slow down the starting process. From the Start menu, choose your primary drive, and then click the Optimize option. This will open the Defragment and Optimize Drives program.

A TRIM command that preserves performance is triggered by this procedure if you are using a solid-state drive (SSD). It rearranges the data on hard disk drives (HDDs) in order to achieve quicker read rates. To guarantee that your system files and boot data load as quickly and effectively as possible, you should do routine maintenance.

9. Ensure that your drivers and BIOS are up to date.

Your computer’s startup time may be extended by a few seconds or even minutes if you have outdated device drivers, particularly for the storage and graphics components. Make sure you check for updates by using Device Manager or the support website provided by your manufacturer.

In addition, changing your BIOS or UEFI firmware may increase the speed at which your hardware initializes and their interoperability with other devices. If you want to prevent problems, you should always follow the published guidelines while doing a BIOS upgrade.

10. Use Startup Metrics to Keep Track of Your Personal Boot Time

Using Event Viewer, you will be able to monitor the improvement in boot time that has occurred after you have made all of these modifications. To launch eventvwr.msc, press the Windows key and the Rkey simultaneously. To get the Applications and Services Logs file, go to Microsoft, then Windows, then Diagnostics-Performance, and finally Operational.

If you look at Event ID 100, you will get precise statistics on the boot time. A good picture of your progress may be obtained by comparing these logs at the beginning and after the optimization process.

• It is not necessary to make significant updates in order to improve the boot speed in Windows 11; rather, it is necessary to reduce unnecessary components. Your computer may be brought back to life without having to reinstall Windows if you disable applications that are not essential for the starting process, manage services that are hidden from view, and enable features such as Fast starting.
• You may save numerous hours of waiting time by doing some little adjustments, which only take a few minutes. The end result is a personal computer that starts up fast, operates without any hiccups, and gives the impression of being ready whenever you are.