Looking at a long list of programs that launch when your computer boots up can be overwhelming. And, much before you hit the disable button, you might have an ocean of questions.
One common question that many users have in mind is – Is it okay to disable Startup programs in Windows 10? Or What programs to disable at Startup in Windows 10? Much before you hit the disable button when choosing to disable Startup programs, give it a thought. We’ll take up all such queries, so read on!
Yes! Startup Programs Or Startup Items Are Power Intensive But, Run For A Reason
Let’s get this out of the way – Yes! Startup programs like cleaning tools, cloud services, Antivirus software, browsers, VPNs, updaters, instant messengers, etc are power intensive. This doesn’t mean that they intend any harm.
Certain programs run automatically at the Startup so that they can preload themselves and open quickly making it easier for them to open when you need them. For example, the instant messenger Skype might run at the Startup so that you are automatically signed in. Then there are hardware utilities that run on Startup so that they can quickly scan your hardware and give you access to settings.
That being said, they do share your CPU’s resources and consume a considerable amount of memory. Needless to say, if you let every program run at the Startup, your PC’s performance will take a hit. Worse! Your PC may even crash. So, the bottom line is you should disable Startup programs in Windows 10 but with care.
How To Discern Between Unwanted Startup Items And Genuine Startup Items
A Brilliant Way To Know And Remove Unwanted Startup Programs Windows 10
Advanced PC Cleanup has a dedicated module to manage Startup items on your PC which might be affecting its speed. You can choose the programs and apps that you want to run at the Startup (every time your computer boots) and remove all those that are unnecessary.
As you can see from the screenshot above, Advanced PC Cleanup clearly shows you the list of applications that launch each time your PC boots. Unlike the Task Manager, it even shows you the area that a particular application targets. This also makes it easier to recognize malware which might have disguised as genuine applications.
And, last but not least, you can quickly remove a Startup program from your Windows 10 PC by clicking on the bin icon against each program.
Want to know more about this wonderful cleanup and maintenance tool? Read here Review on Advanced PC Cleanup
Download Advanced PC Cleanup
Search For The Purpose Of Application
If there are a few applications running at the Startup you might not have any qualms in getting rid of the items. But, what if there are several applications. In that scenario, we’ll list out two ways you can save yourself from removing a genuine Startup item –
-Using The Search Online In Task Manager
1. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc
2. Click on the Startup tab
3. Under Name right click on the name of the application and then click on Search online
This way you will know the exact significance of the file and what it is meant to do.
Using “Open File Location” In The Task Manager
Open the Task Manager as shown in the previous method, right-click on the app and select the open file location. In most cases, the location path should look something like –
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files …..
But if it’s a malware that has taken a garb of a genuine application, it will be located somewhere else.
We already have a comprehensive blog on ways you can manage Startup programs
In A Nutshell – Be Mindful Of The Startup Applications You Are Planning To Remove Or Disable
| Kind Of Startup Apps That Should Be Enabled | Kind Of Startup Apps That Should Be Disabled |
|---|---|
| Applications that you use frequently:
We already have a comprehensive blog on ways you can manage Startup programs System services: It is recommended to keep them untouched. Most programs won’t install such services and the ones that might need it for their operations. Deleting these might lead to system issues. Antivirus software: They run in the background to guard your computer and the files from virus, malware, and other malicious apps. |
Google Chrome:
Despite using it frequently, it eats up a lot of RAM space and you should, therefore, disable it at the Startup. Apps That You Don’t Frequently Use: For instance, if use Acrobat Reader to read documents once in a while, it’s no use letting it launch at the pop-up. |
Conclusion
If you have learned how to disable Startup programs Windows 10, much before you execute a method, ponder upon the Startup app you are disabling. You shouldn’t regret removing or disabling an app later just because you didn’t know its purpose.
We hope the blog has been of help and if it did, do give it a thumbs up and share it with everyone you care for.