For long-time Windows users, waiting for apps and services to load during start-up can be frustrating. While recent Windows updates and SSDs have improved speed, some stubborn default or third-party apps still insist on launching on boot. Disabling certain apps, like OneDrive, may not be possible through the Settings menu (Apps > Startup). But Windows Autoruns avoids these problems.
Microsoft’s new solution: Autoruns
Surprisingly, Microsoft provides a solution with their software, Autoruns. Although primarily designed to combat malicious apps and services that exploit the auto-run process, Autoruns can be used to disable persistent apps as well.
To begin, download and install the Autoruns ZIP file in any directory. Open the app, and you’ll notice many tabs and information don’t be intimidated.
Head straight to the Logon tab, which displays the apps starting up when the current user logs in. Scroll through the list to locate the app you want to disable and uncheck the corresponding box. Although manual, this process is worthwhile. As shown below, I disabled OneDrive, Plex, Discord, and other utilities, which will remain disabled unless the changes are reversed.
The list can be long. To focus on recently installed third-party apps, click the “Hide Windows entries” button. Color-coding indicates Microsoft’s approval: yellow highlights indicate the app is not currently found on the system, while red signifies it’s not Microsoft-approved (though not necessarily harmful).
With that completed, feel free to explore Autoruns to understand everything occurring during boot up. The Drivers section displays all device drivers, while the Services section helps identify unwanted services to terminate. Each service has a brief description—read before disabling. Generally, avoid disabling essential Windows services for optimal performance.
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