Startup Folder Windows 11: How to Access & Use It

Windows 11’s Startup folder is a special location that automatically launches any app, script, or shortcut you place inside it every time you sign in. This guide shows you how to find both the personal and common Startup folders, how to add or remove items, and how to manage startup behavior from Settings and Task Manager.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with administrator access (only needed for the common Startup folder).
• File Explorer open (Win + E).
• Optional: a shortcut to an app, a script, or a document you want to launch at sign-in.

Step-by-Step

Open Your Personal Startup Folder

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type shell:startup and press Enter. File Explorer opens directly to your personal Startup folder, typically at C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
3. Alternatively, open File Explorer, paste the full path above into the address bar (replace YourUserName with your actual account name), and press Enter.

Open the Common (All Users) Startup Folder

1. Press Win + R, type shell:common startup, and press Enter. This opens the folder at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp. Items here launch for every user on the PC.
2. If you don’t have administrator rights, Windows will ask for permission. You’ll need an admin account to modify this folder.

Add an App to Startup

1. Open the Startup folder using one of the methods above.
2. Right-click in an empty area of the folder and select New > Shortcut.
3. Click Browse, find the executable (.exe) file of the app you want (usually in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86)), and click OK.
4. Click Next, give the shortcut a name, and click Finish.
5. Alternatively, drag an existing shortcut from your desktop or Start menu into the Startup folder.

Remove an Item from Startup

1. Open the Startup folder.
2. Right-click the shortcut you want to remove and select Delete. Confirm if prompted.
3. Deleting the shortcut does not uninstall the app; it only stops it from launching automatically.

Manage Startup Apps in Settings

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Startup.
3. You’ll see a list of apps that can start automatically. Toggle any app On or Off.
4. This list only shows apps that register themselves; it does not include everything in the Startup folders.

Manage Startup Apps in Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Startup apps tab (if you don’t see it, click “More details” at the bottom).
3. Right-click an app and choose Enable or Disable.
4. The “Startup impact” column shows how much the app slows your sign-in (Low, Medium, High).

Common Mistakes

• Putting the actual app file in the Startup folder – You should place a shortcut, not the program itself. The app’s main .exe may rely on adjacent files, and moving it can break the program.
• Deleting instead of disabling – If you delete a shortcut, you lose the ability to re-enable it easily. Use Task Manager or Settings to toggle off instead when possible.
• Confusing personal and common folders – Adding to the common folder affects all users, which may be unwanted on a shared PC.
• Expecting Settings to show everything – The Settings Startup list only shows apps that register with Windows; items you add manually as shortcuts won’t appear there.
• Using the wrong path – Typing the full path manually with a typo (like “StartUp” instead of “Startup”) will fail. Use shell:startup to avoid errors.

Tips

• To delay a startup app, create a shortcut in the Startup folder and edit its target to include a delay command, e.g., cmd /c timeout /t 10 && "C:\Path\To\App.exe". This waits 10 seconds before launching.
• Use a shortcut to a document or script, not just apps. For example, a shortcut to a daily spreadsheet will open it automatically.
• Check Task Manager’s Startup impact to identify heavy apps that slow sign-in. Consider disabling those you rarely need immediately.
• If you want an app to start minimized, edit the shortcut’s Properties and set the “Run” dropdown to “Minimized”.
• Use the common Startup folder for apps that every user needs, like a company-wide VPN client.

Troubleshooting

Startup folder won’t open

If shell:startup gives an error, make sure you typed it exactly. If the Run dialog is not working, open File Explorer and paste the full path manually. If the folder doesn’t exist, create it: navigate to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and create a new folder named “Startup”.

App doesn’t start automatically

• Check the shortcut’s target path. Right-click the shortcut, select Properties, and verify the “Target” field points to the correct executable.
• Make sure the shortcut is in the correct Startup folder (personal vs common).
• Check if the app is disabled in Task Manager or Settings. Even if the shortcut exists, Windows may block it if the app is listed as disabled.
• Some apps require admin privileges. If the shortcut doesn’t have “Run as administrator” checked, the app may fail silently. Right-click the shortcut, go to Properties > Advanced, and check “Run as administrator”.

Startup item causes slow sign-in

Use Task Manager to see which items have “High” impact. Disable the ones you don’t need, or use the delay trick in Tips above. If the PC is still slow, consider using the Task Scheduler to run the app after a specific event instead of at startup.

Changes not taking effect

Restart your PC to test. If an item still doesn’t launch, check Windows Event Viewer (under Windows Logs > Application) for errors related to the app. Also ensure the shortcut file isn’t blocked: right-click the shortcut, go to Properties, and if there’s an “Unblock” checkbox, check it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Startup folder in Windows 11?

There are two: your personal one at %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and the common one at %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp. Use shell:startup and shell:common startup to open them quickly.

How do I add a program to startup in Windows 11?

Open your Startup folder, right-click inside, choose New > Shortcut, browse to the app’s .exe, and finish. The app will launch next time you sign in.

Why can’t I see the Startup folder in File Explorer?

It’s hidden by default because it’s inside the AppData folder. Use the Run command shell:startup to open it directly, or enable “Show hidden files” in File Explorer’s View menu.

What’s the difference between the Startup folder and Task Manager’s Startup tab?

The Startup folder is a physical location for shortcuts. Task Manager lists all startup items, including those registered in the registry by apps. You can disable items from Task Manager, but you can only add new ones via the folder (or registry).

Can I use the Startup folder to run a script or batch file?

Yes. Create a shortcut to the .bat or .ps1 file, or place the script directly in the folder. It will run at sign-in. For PowerShell scripts, you may need to adjust execution policy.

How do I stop a program from starting up without deleting it?

Use Task Manager’s Startup tab or Settings > Apps > Startup to disable it. For items in the Startup folder, you can move the shortcut to another folder (like Desktop) instead of deleting it.

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