How to speed up Windows 10 boot time? (Startup apps)

If Windows 10 boots slowly, disable unnecessary startup apps via Task Manager, msconfig, Settings app (filtering by impact), or Registry Editor—prioritizing high-impact items and avoiding critical system entries.

If your Windows 10 system takes too long to start, startup applications may be consuming resources before the desktop fully loads. Here are methods to reduce boot time by managing those apps:

The operating environment of this tutorial: Dell XPS 13, Windows 10 Pro (21H2)

1. Disable unnecessary startup apps via Task Manager

This method directly controls which programs launch automatically when Windows starts, reducing CPU and disk load during boot.

• Press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager.
• Click the Startup tab.
• Right-click any application you do not need at startup and select Disable.
• Repeat until only essential services (e.g., antivirus, cloud sync clients you actively use) remain enabled.

2. Use System Configuration (msconfig) to manage startup items

This approach offers a legacy but reliable interface for disabling non-Microsoft startup entries and adjusting boot parameters.

• Press Win R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
• Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager to redirect to the modern interface — or, if on older builds, uncheck unwanted entries directly.
• Switch to the Boot tab, check Safe boot temporarily to test boot speed impact, then uncheck it after verification.

3. Adjust startup impact settings in Settings app

This built-in Windows feature categorizes apps by resource usage during startup and allows filtering based on impact level.

• Open Settings > Apps > Startup.
• Toggle off apps listed under High or Medium impact that are not required immediately after login.
• Observe the Impact column to prioritize disabling high-impact items first.

4. Remove startup entries from Registry Editor

This method targets hidden or persistent startup locations not visible in Task Manager, including Run keys used by some installers.

• Press Win R, type regedit, and press Enter.
• Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
• Right-click any suspicious or unnecessary value and select Delete.
• Repeat for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, but only if you recognize the entry or have verified its safety.

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