Disable Windows 11 App Restart on Sign-in

Windows 11 can automatically reopen apps that were running before you shut down or restarted. This feature is convenient for some, but it can slow down sign-in, drain resources, or bring back work you didn’t want to resume. This guide shows you how to turn off automatic app restart after signing in, using both the Settings app and the classic Control Panel method.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with an account that has administrator privileges (needed only if you want to change the setting for all users; for your own account, standard rights are enough).
• Access to the Start menu and Settings app (both are built into Windows 11).

Step-by-Step

There are two reliable ways to disable automatic app restart on sign-in. The first uses the modern Settings app; the second uses the older Control Panel dialog. Both achieve the same result.

Method 1: Using the Settings App

1. Click the Start button (the Windows logo on the taskbar) or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Click the Settings gear icon in the Start menu. Alternatively, press Windows + I to open Settings directly.
3. In the left sidebar, click Accounts. If you don’t see the sidebar, widen the Settings window or click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) at the top left.
4. In the Accounts page, click Sign-in options in the right-hand pane.
5. Scroll down the Sign-in options page until you find the section called “Additional settings”.
6. Look for a checkbox labeled “Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in”.
7. If the checkbox is checked, click it once to uncheck it. The change is saved immediately – there is no “Save” or “Apply” button to press.
8. Close the Settings window. The setting is now active.

Method 2: Using the Control Panel (Classic Method)

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type control and press Enter. The Control Panel window opens.
3. Make sure the View by option (top right) is set to either Large icons or Small icons – not “Category”.
4. Click Power Options.
5. In the left sidebar of the Power Options window, click “Choose what the power buttons do”.
6. At the top of the next screen, click the link that says “Change settings that are currently unavailable”. You may need administrator privileges to do this; if prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the window, under the “Shutdown settings” section.
8. Look for a checkbox labeled “Turn on fast startup (recommended)”. This is not the setting you want to change, but it is nearby. Directly below or above it, look for “Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in”.
9. Uncheck the “Automatically save my restartable apps” box.
10. Click the Save changes button at the bottom right of the window.
11. Close the Control Panel.

Both methods change the same underlying setting, so you only need to do one. If you previously used the Control Panel method on an older Windows version, the setting may still be there; the Settings app method is the current recommended path.

Common Mistakes

• Unchecking the wrong box: In the Control Panel, the “Turn on fast startup” checkbox is right next to the restartable apps option. Many people uncheck fast startup by mistake, which slows down boot times without fixing the app restart issue.
• Looking in the wrong Settings section: The setting is under Accounts > Sign-in options, not under Apps > Startup. The “Startup” section in Settings controls which apps launch when you log in, not which apps were running before shutdown.
• Forgetting to scroll: In both methods, the checkbox is at the bottom of a long list. If you don’t scroll down, you’ll miss it.
• Expecting an immediate effect on currently open apps: The setting only affects what happens after the next shutdown or restart. If you sign out and back in without restarting, apps may still reopen.
• Confusing “restartable apps” with “startup apps”: Restartable apps are the ones you had open when you shut down. Startup apps are programs configured to launch every time you sign in. Disabling the restart feature does not stop startup apps.

Tips

• Use the Settings method first: It’s simpler and less likely to lead you to the wrong checkbox.
• Check after a Windows update: Major feature updates have been known to reset some personalization settings. It’s worth verifying this checkbox is still unchecked after a big update.
• If you want to keep the feature but speed up sign-in: Instead of disabling it entirely, try closing heavy apps (like video editors or browsers with many tabs) before shutting down. Windows will only restart the apps you had open, so fewer open apps means faster sign-in.
• Use the “Sign out” option instead of “Shut down” when you want a clean slate: Signing out and signing back in does not trigger the restartable apps feature in the same way; it typically clears the session.
• Group Policy (for advanced users): If you manage multiple PCs, you can set this via Group Policy under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Logon > “Restart Apps Automatically after a Sign-in”. This is not needed for a single home PC but is useful for IT administrators.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve followed the steps but apps still reopen after you sign in, try these fixes in order:

1. Verify the checkbox is actually unchecked: Go back to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and scroll down to the Additional settings section. Confirm the box is empty. Sometimes a click doesn’t register, or the window needs to be refreshed.
2. Restart your PC again: The setting takes effect on the next shutdown/restart cycle. If you changed the setting and then used “Restart” from the Start menu, it should work. But if you used “Shut down” and then turned the PC on with the power button, some systems with Fast Startup enabled may behave differently. Try a full restart (Start > Power > Restart) after changing the setting.
3. Check for third-party apps: Some laptop manufacturers (like Dell, HP, Lenovo) include their own power management software that can override Windows settings. Look in the system tray for vendor-specific power utilities and check their settings for a similar “restart apps” option.
4. Disable Fast Startup: This is a separate feature that can interfere with the restartable apps setting. In the Control Panel method, uncheck “Turn on fast startup (recommended)” as well. This will make shutdowns and startups slightly slower, but it can resolve stubborn cases where apps reopen despite the setting being off.
5. Check the Event Viewer for errors: If apps are crashing and reopening, it might not be the restart feature at all. Press Windows + X and select Event Viewer. Look under Windows Logs > System for errors around the time of sign-in. This is an advanced step; if you see errors, search for the specific error code online.
6. Create a new user profile: If the issue persists only on your account, the user profile may be corrupted. Creating a new local account and migrating your files can resolve it, but this is a last resort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this stop all apps from opening at sign-in?

No. This setting only stops apps that were running before you shut down or restarted. Apps listed in the Startup tab of Task Manager (or under Settings > Apps > Startup) will still launch automatically. You need to disable those individually if you want them gone.

Does this affect the “Restart” option or only “Shut down”?

It affects both. When you restart, Windows saves the list of open apps and restores them after the restart. Disabling the setting prevents this from happening for both shutdown and restart.

I don’t see the checkbox in Settings. Where is it?

If you’re on an older build of Windows 11, the option might be under a slightly different name or location. Check for “Automatically save my restartable apps” under Accounts > Sign-in options. If it’s not there, use the Control Panel method described above, which has been present since Windows 8 and is still available in Windows 11.

Will this affect my unsaved work?

No. The restartable apps feature only reopens the apps, not the unsaved documents. If you had unsaved changes in a document, Windows will not restore them – you’ll get the standard “Do you want to save changes?” prompt when the app closes. This setting does not change that behavior.

Can I turn it back on later?

Yes. Simply go back to the same location (Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options) and re-check the box. The setting is a simple toggle with no side effects when re-enabled.

Why does Windows do this in the first place?

Microsoft designed this feature to help you resume work quickly after a restart, especially after a Windows Update that forces a reboot. It’s meant to save time, but many users find it intrusive or performance-draining, which is why it’s easy to disable.

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