After a Windows computer starts upward, each member of a specific group of programs on the computer is launched every bit shortly as the user logs in to Windows. These "startup items" range from third-party programs installed by the user that are configured to launch at startup to built-in Windows programs that the system needs to be running when it boots up. Windows is an Operating System that hands over consummate command of a estimator to its user. That being the instance, Windows users likewise have authorisation over what programs outset running at startup and which ones practice not.

Windows users sometimes need to stop sure programs from running at startup for a broad diverseness of reasons (from the target programme being malicious or otherwise unsafe to the target program eating up a lot of figurer resource after it is launched at startup to everything in between). Thankfully, preventing a program from running at startup on a computer running on Windows 7 is adequately easy. However, in that location are 3 different methods a Windows 7 user can go about preventing a programme or application on their estimator from running at startup.

These 3 methods are also to exist used in succession until one of these methods manages to fulfill the objective. For case, if the first method doesn't work, only then should you move on to the 2nd method and and so the third method until you successfully prevent the target program from running at startup. The following are the 3 methods beingness talked about:

Method 1: Deleting the program'due south shortcut from the Startup folder

Virtually third-political party programs that are configured to launch at startup take a shortcut in theStartupfolder of a Windows estimator. Deleting this shortcut from theStartupfolder results in Windows not launching the plan at boot. On Windows 7, hither's what you need to practise in club to delete a plan's shortcut from theStartupfolder to prevent it from running at startup:

  1. Open up theStart Carte.
  2. Click onAll Programs.
  3. Locate and click on theStartupfolder to aggrandize it.
  4. Look for a shortcut to your target program or application under theStartupfolder. In one case you locate the shortcut, right-click on it and click onDelete.
  5. Ostend the action in the resulting popup.
  6. Restartyour computer and check to brand sure the program doesn't launch when the figurer boots up.

Method 2: Disable the startup item in Arrangement Configuration

If deleting the target programme's shortcut from theStartupfolder doesn't piece of work or if you find that a shortcut for the target program doesn't even be in your reckoner'due southStartupfolder, fear not – it is still entirely possible for you to disable the target program or "startup item" fromSystem Configuration.Organisation Configurationis a Windows utility designed to allow users to configure how their computer starts up and shuts down, among an array of other things. To disable the target "startup item" inSystem Configurationto prevent the target program from being launched at startup, you need to:

  1. Press theWindows Logoprimal +R to open aRundialog.
  2. Typemsconfiginto theRundialog and pressEnterto launch theOrganization Configurationutility.
  3. Navigate to theStartuptab of theSystem Configurationutility.
  4. Locate the program Windows from launching when your reckoner starts up, anddisableinformation technology by unchecking the checkbox located directly next to it.
  5. Click onEmployand then onOK.
  6. Click onRestartin the resulting dialog box.
  7. When the computer boots up, cheque to brand sure Windows doesn't launch the plan you just disabled inArrangement Configuration.

Method 3: Prevent the offending program from launching at startup using the Registry

Apart from theStartupfolder on your reckoner andOrganisation Configuration, theRegistryas well has the power to get Windows to launch sure programs at the startup. That being the instance, you tin merely prevent some programs from launching at startup if you practise so via the Registryon your computer. Brand sure to back upwards your Registry before trying to edit it in case something goes wrong. To prevent a program from being launched at startup using the Registry, but:

  1. Start the registry editor.
  2. Press theWindows Logokey +R to open aRundialog.
  3. Typeregeditinto theRundialog and pressEnter to launch theRegistry Editor.
  4. In the left pane of theRegistry Editor, navigate to the post-obit directory:
    HKEY LOCAL Car > SOFTWARE > Microsoft> Windows > CurrentVersion
  5. In the left pane of the Registry Editor, click on theRunsub-cardinal under theCurrentVersionkey to have its contents displayed in the correct pane.
  6. In the right pane of theRegistry Editor, yous are going to come across listings for all of the programs on your computer that are configured to be launched at startup through theRegistry. Locate the list for the plan you want to preclude Windows from launching at startup, right-click on it and click onDelete.
  7. Confirm the action in the resulting popup.
  8. Close theRegistry Editor.
  9. Restartyour computer. At startup, check to ensure that Windows does not automatically launch the program you justdisabledfrom beingness launched at startup.

Note: Deleting a program or awarding's entry from theRunsub-key in theRegistry Editoronly prevents the program from existence launched at startup – it does Nonuninstallthe program from your computer.

Method iv: Adjusting in MSConfig

Information technology is possible in some cases that the programme that you are trying to end from running or launching at your computer'south startup has also installed a service on your computer that automatically overrides whatever restrictions that you implement and allows the programme to be launched at the startup. Therefore, in this pace, we volition exist adjusting this in the MSConfig window. For that:

  1. Printing "Windows" + "R" to open the Run prompt.
  2. Type in "MSConfig" and press "Enter" to open the Microsoft Configuration Window.
    msconfig
  3. In the Configuration Window, click on the "Services" panel and ringlet through the list of mentioned services.
  4. From this, endeavour to disable a service that seems relevant to the application that you are trying to disable.
  5. Subsequently doing and then, striking the "Apply" button to confirm that the service is disabled.
  6. Check to meet if the program even so launches.

Method 5: Delete Registry Startup

In some isolated cases, there is some other registry where the program that is launching at startup might accept manifested its startup control. This registry entry can sometimes contain the command to launch a particular application at startup and in this pace, nosotros volition exist getting rid of the entry to make sure that the application isn't launched. In social club to practise and so, make sure to back up the registry beforehand in case something goes south.

  1. Press "Windows" + " "R" on your keyboard to open the Run prompt.
  2. Inside the Run prompt, type in "Regedit" and press "Enter" to launch the registry editor.
    Open Regedit
  3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the below mentioned location.
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SharedTools\MSConfig\startupreg
  4. From here, on the correct side, you should encounter a registry entry for any programs that are currently enabled to run on your computer'south startup.
  5. Right-click on their entries and select the "Delete" push to remove them from your computer.
  6. Bank check to see if doing and then has fixed the issue.

Method 6: Disable Startup Programs Using CCleaner

Sometimes, your computer'due south configurations might be and so messed up that in spite of trying all the fixes above, yous would not be able to disable the program that you want from launching at startup. Therefore, sometimes, you lot will take to go for a third-political party solution to completely forestall whatever program from launching at your computer's startup. In lodge to practice so, follow the guide below.

  1. First of all, what you want to do is launch your favorite browser and download the CCleaner program from hither.
  2. Later downloading this tool, brand sure to press the executable icon and follow through with the on-screen instructions to install it on your calculator.
  3. Later on the installation process is completed, launch the application on your reckoner.
  4. Afterward the application has been started, click on the "Tools" button at the left side of the dialogue box and select the "Startup" button after that.
  5. The "Enabled" column on the left should be listing the programs that are currently enabled to launch at your reckoner's startup.
    Clicking on the enabled column
  6. Click on the programme that you want to disable from the listing and then click on the "Disable" button to prevent it from launching at startup.
  7. After disabling all the preferred programs, restart your computer to make sure that the change takes issue.
  8. Check to meet if by doing so you lot have been able to disable the programs.

Method 7: Cheque Application Settings

In some cases, we have seen that the awarding in question is configured to launch at startup through its ain settings. This option is usually presented when you first install the application and if y'all don't change the default "Launch at Startup" option, the application becomes configured to launch at startup. Due to this, even though yous are trying to prevent it from starting past changing the computer configurations, it will still override these settings to accommodate to your preference. Therefore, a wise workaround to this would be to check your application settings in particular to disable any launch at startup setting.

Method 8: Using Selective Startup

Some users were going through the effect that their computer was unable to function and they were unable to move even the cursor when the computer was starting up considering a particular awarding was breaking down the operating system and causing it to hang up. Therefore, in this pace, we will be booting the computer into a selective startup mode and this way, you will exist able to properly diagnose which application is causing this result and then disable it from launching at startup. For that:

  1. Press "Windows' + "R' to open the Run prompt.
  2. Blazon in "msconfig" and printing "enter" to launch the Microsoft Configuration panel.
    msconfig
  3. Inside this panel, click on the "Boot" option, and from here make sure to check the "Safe Boot" selection and after that, select the "Minimal" push.
    Check Safe Mode in Boot Tab
  4. Click on the "Apply" button to save your changes and so click on the "OK" button to exit out of the window.
  5. Restart your computer to actually boot into the selective startup way.
  6. This mode won't allow any extra application to start upwards and you should be able to easily diagnose and prepare your computer.
  7. Check to meet if doing and so has fixed your issue.

Note: Nosotros don't recommend leaving your estimator in selective startup, because this tin can render portions of your security software or other applications unavailable. Once you have determined which program is causing the problem, yous should bank check the plan'south documentation or help site to see if the program tin can be configured to avoid the conflict.

Method 9: Disable Startup Programs Using iSumSoft System Refixer

One time again, if you are unable to perform whatsoever of the steps that we take mentioned below, a convenient and decent approach would be to use the iSumSoft System Refixer tool to actually become through this whole ordeal for you. In order to demonstrate this, we have listed the steps below.

  1. Launch your favorite browser and download the iSumsoft Arrangement Refixer on your calculator from here.
  2. After the download is finished, click on the executable to launch its installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your computer.
  3. Select the Startup selection on the top of this tool and it will display a list of all the programs that accept been configured to launch at startup on your computer.
    Clicking on the "Startup" tab
  4. Click the 'Disable get-go' button to disable your unwanted startup programs.
  5. Salvage your settings and cheque to come across if doing so has gotten rid of your outcome.

Method 10: Disable Startup Application Using Shift Central

If y'all aren't comfy with whatever third-party applications and really want to perform these steps conveniently at the press of a push, you can just press and hold the Shift central during the startup process of the computer. This will forestall any programs from existence able to run subsequently the startup.

On some computers, you lot demand to press and concur the shift key while restarting your figurer to actually launch information technology without having whatsoever startup programs enabled so make certain that you endeavour both these methods and see which one works the best for you lot.

  • %SystemDrive%\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
  • %SystemDrive%\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Starting time Menu\Programs\Startup

As nosotros discussed above, the folders above contain the list of the programs that are to be launched at the startup of the estimator and whenever the user cues the startup, the system goes into these locations to check for the listing but when y'all press the Shift fundamental, this process is skipped and you lot are able to bypass that list. In order to practise this:

  1. Log off the calculator and and then log on again, Immediately press and hold downwards the Shift primal as the computer starts.
  2. Go on to hold down the Shift key until the desktop icons appear.
  3. Next, you should apply the System Configuration utility to temporarily disable applications one by i until you identify the cause of the problem.
  4. With the cause of the trouble identified, you can fix the application or permanently remove it from your startup programs.
  5. Check to see if this method works and you are able to prevent the app from starting.