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Where’s the Windows 10 Startup folder located?

Startup programs in Windows 10 are the ones that run automatically as Windows is launched. If you go to the Task Manager utility, you will see a Startup tab, Windows 10’s default startup manager, through which you can disable startup software. But what if you want to expand the list of programs and apps that run as Windows starts up? In this case, you will need to look for the Windows 10 Startup folder.

In this article, find out where exactly Win 10’s Startup folder is and how to open the Startup folder.

How to find the Windows 10 Startup folder?

There are several ways in which you can locate the Startup folder.

  • You can open File Explorer and enter the following path: “C: Users USERNAME AppData Roaming Microsoft Windows Start Menu Programs Startup”, where, instead of “USERNAME”, you will need to put in your user account name.
  • Alternatively, you can access the Startup folder via Run. In order to do that, use the Win+R combo to bring up Run and type in “shell: startup” in the text box and click OK.

How to add new programs to the Startup Folder?

If you want certain programs to initiate by default as you start up Windows, you will need to add them to the Startup folder. Here’s how to do that:

  • Open the Startup folder in File Explorer.
  • Within the Startup folder, right-click on any empty space and choose New > Shortcut from the menu.
  • Click the Browse button to bring up a list of available programs.
  • Select a program or file you would like to appear in the Startup folder and click OK.
  • Click the Next button and then the Finish button.
  • You can now go back to the Startup folder to check if it now includes the new software.
  • Finally, restart Windows — your selected programs will now open on startup.

How to remove programs from the Startup folder?

If you want to stop certain programs from initiating on startup, you will need to remove them from the Startup folder. To do that, open up the folder, choose a program you want to remove and click the Delete button.

Alternatively, you can use the Task Manager. Right-click the taskbar and choose Task Manager. Click the Start-up tab to bring up the list of programs that are currently in the Startup folder. You can then choose the ones you want to be removed and click the Disable button.

If you have problems with some of the programs in your Startup folder — or any system software on your PC, for that matter — faulty or outdated drivers may be to blame. To make sure your PC is running smoothly, it is recommended that you perform regular driver updates, which is very easy to do with a dedicated software tool like Auslogics Driver Updater. The program will scan your computer for any potential driver problems and update all drivers on your PC in just one click.

What programs do you have in your Windows Startup folder? Share in the comments below!