Why your computer is slow to start, and what you can do about it

When your computer takes a long time to boot up, startup programs are usually the culprit. These are applications that launch automatically the moment Windows or Mac finishes loading — things like Spotify, Slack, Adobe updates, antivirus software, and dozens of others you may have forgotten you installed. Each one uses memory and processing power while your computer is trying to get ready for you to use it.

You can see which programs are set to launch at startup and turn off the ones you do not need. This is one of the fastest ways to speed up your boot time without buying new hardware or reinstalling your operating system. The steps differ between Windows and Mac, but both let you control this directly without special tools.

Key Takeaways

  • Startup programs load automatically when your computer boots, which slows down how long it takes to reach your desktop.
  • Windows Task Manager and Mac System Settings both show you which programs are set to launch at startup and let you disable them.
  • Disabling a startup program does not uninstall it — you can still open it manually whenever you want.
  • Antivirus software, Windows updates, and other security tools should usually stay enabled at startup for your protection.
  • Disabling startup programs takes effect the next time you restart your computer.

How to disable startup programs on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Open Task Manager by right-clicking your taskbar at the bottom of the screen and selecting "Task Manager" from the menu. If that does not work, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard instead.

Click the "Startup" tab at the top of the Task Manager window. You will see a list of programs with a "Status" column that shows "Enabled" or "Disabled" next to each one. This is every program Windows knows is set to launch when you start your computer.

Find a program you do not need at startup — Spotify, Discord, Slack, or a printer utility are common examples. Right-click it and select "Disable" from the menu. The status will change to "Disabled" immediately. Repeat this for any other programs you want to turn off.

Close Task Manager and restart your computer. The next time you boot up, those programs will not launch automatically. You can still open them manually by clicking their icons or searching for them in the Start menu — disabling them at startup does not uninstall them.

How to disable startup programs on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions of macOS). Then click "General" in the left sidebar.

Look for "Login Items" in the General section and click it. You will see two lists: "Allow in the Login Window" and "Open at Login." The second list shows programs that launch when you start your Mac.

Click any program in the "Open at Login" list that you do not want to start automatically, then click the minus button (–) below the list. The program will disappear from the list. Repeat for any others you want to remove.

Close System Settings and restart your Mac. Those programs will no longer launch at startup. You can open them manually at any time by clicking their icons in the Dock or using Spotlight search.

Which startup programs should you leave alone

Some programs are important to keep enabled at startup, even if they seem to slow things down. Your antivirus software, Windows Defender, and any security tools your company requires should stay enabled — they protect your computer while you work. If you are unsure whether something is important, search for its name online before disabling it.

Windows Update and Mac system updates may also appear in your startup list. These are usually safe to disable if you prefer to update manually, but leaving them enabled means your computer stays current with security patches without you having to remember to do it yourself.

If a program is part of your hardware — like a printer driver, graphics card software, or keyboard utility — test disabling it for a few days. If your device stops working properly, re-enable it. Some hardware needs its software running at startup to function.

What to do if you cannot find a program in the startup list

Not every program that launches at startup appears in Task Manager or System Settings. Some hide themselves in Windows registry entries or Mac launch daemons, which are harder to access. If you see a program launching that you cannot find in the normal startup settings, you have a few options.

The simplest is to uninstall the program entirely if you do not use it. Open Control Panel on Windows (search for "Control Panel" in the Start menu) or Applications on Mac, find the program, and uninstall it. This removes it completely, including its startup entry.

If you want to keep the program but just stop it from launching at startup, try opening the program itself and looking in its settings or preferences. Many applications have an option like "Launch at startup" or "Start with Windows" that you can toggle off directly in the program.

How to tell if disabling a startup program actually helped

The best way to measure the difference is to time your boot process before and after. Restart your computer and note how long it takes from the moment you press the power button until you can actually use your desktop. Do this a few times to get an average, then disable several startup programs and measure again.

You should notice a difference if you disabled programs that were genuinely using a lot of resources. If your computer is still slow, the problem may be something else — a full hard drive, too little RAM, or a failing disk. In that case, disabling startup programs will not solve it, but it will still help a little.

If you disable something and your computer does not get noticeably faster, you can re-enable it. There is no penalty for turning startup programs back on. Right-click the program in Task Manager (Windows) or click the plus button in System Settings (Mac) to add it back to your startup list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling a startup program uninstall it?

No. Disabling a startup program only stops it from launching automatically when your computer boots. The program stays installed on your computer, and you can still open it manually whenever you want by clicking its icon or searching for it.

Will disabling startup programs make my computer faster overall, or just at startup?

Disabling startup programs makes your computer faster at startup — that is the main benefit. Once your computer is fully booted and you are working, the difference is usually small unless those programs were using a lot of memory in the background. If a program is still running after startup, disabling it from the startup list will not stop it from running later.

What if I disable a startup program and something stops working?

Re-enable the program by right-clicking it in Task Manager (Windows) or clicking the plus button in System Settings (Mac), then restart your computer. If that fixes the problem, the program needs to run at startup. You can try uninstalling it instead if you do not use it, or contact the company that makes the hardware or software to see if there is a lighter-weight version.

Can I disable Windows Update or antivirus software from startup?

You can, but it is not recommended. Windows Update and antivirus software protect your computer from security threats. If you disable them, your computer becomes more vulnerable to viruses and malware. If you want to update manually instead, you can disable Windows Update, but keep your antivirus software running at startup.

Why do some programs keep re-enabling themselves at startup?

Some programs reset their startup settings when they update. If you disable a program and it comes back enabled after an update, the program itself re-enabled it. You can disable it again, or uninstall the program if you do not use it. Some programs also require startup access to function properly, so they may re-enable themselves automatically.