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Save Time by Auto-Launching Your Favorite Apps on Windows 11

How to set up auto launching at startup

Arthur Gaplanyan

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Time is money, and as a small business owner, you know how quickly the day fills up with tasks and interruptions. Between emails, meetings, and managing your team, why waste even a second opening the same apps every morning? Windows 11 offers a simple yet powerful feature that can save you time and help you start your day on the right foot: auto-launching your most-used apps.

Why It Matters

Imagine if when you start your computer, and Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and your accounting software are already open and ready to go. No clicking around, no waiting for them to load. It’s a small tweak that makes a big impact on your productivity.

When you set up apps to auto-launch, you eliminate distractions, ensure you don’t forget critical tools, and hit the ground running. Think of it as setting your digital workspace up for success before you even take your first sip of coffee.

How to Set Up Apps to Auto-Launch on Windows 11

This might sound like a job for IT, but the truth is, you can easily configure it yourself in just a few steps.

There’s two different ways to approach this, so I’ll cover both.

Method 1: Use Startup Settings

1. Open the Windows settings

(You can do this by clicking the windows start menu and then the gear icon)

  • On the left hand side, select Apps
  • Then on the right hand side, select Startup
StartupMenu

2. Toggle Startup Apps

  • Find the app you wish to load on startup, and toggle the selector to On
  • Alternatively, you can disable any apps you don’t want to load on startup as well
StartupToggle

If the app you wish to load isn’t listed, you can have more granular control over the apps using method 2 below. Otherwise you can jump to step 3 in the following section.

Method 2: Use Startup Folder

1. Access the Startup Folder

  • Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type shell:startup and click OK.
  • This will open a folder where you can manage which apps launch automatically.
shellstartup

2. Add Your Apps

  • Find the shortcut for the app you want to auto-launch.

You can do this by clicking New from the top menu, then selecting Shortcut

Click Browse to navigate to the desired app folder (This is usually located in C://Program Files or Program Files (x86)

  • Drag and drop it into the Startup folder.
NewShortcut

Finalize Your Settings

3. Fine-Tune in Task Manager

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • Go to the Startup tab to see a list of apps.
  • From here, you can enable or disable apps and check how much they might slow down your startup time.
TaskManagerStartupApps

4. Test It Out

  • Restart your computer to make sure everything works as expected. Your chosen apps should now open automatically when you log in.

Make It Work for You

Whether it’s communication tools, project management software, or cloud storage apps, this setup can save you precious minutes every day. Multiply those minutes by five workdays a week, and the time saved really adds up—time you can reinvest into growing your business.

Small tweaks like this can make a world of difference in your workflow. What other time-saving tricks could make your day run smoother? Let’s find out together.