How to Locate the Startup Folder(s) in Windows 10/8/7.
The Startup folder in Windows, is the location where are stored all the shortcuts of applications that start with Windows. There are two different startup folders in Windows: there is a startup folder which contains all the applications that runs for all users, and there is a different startup folder, which contains only the applications that run for the current user.
This tutorial contains instructions on how to locate the startup folders in Windows 10, 8 or 7 OS, in order to manage (add or remove) the applications that starting with Windows.
How to View the Windows Startup Folder (Startup Programs). *
* Note: If want to manage the startup apps (Store Apps) in Windows 10, navigate to:
- Go to Start menu, click Settings and then click Apps -> Startup.
To Navigate to "All Users" Startup Folder.
If you want to locate the folder that contains all the applications which run automatically at Windows startup, for all the user accounts, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the following path: *
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
* Note: To view the "ProgramData" folder in Windows Explorer, you must enable the hidden files view.
TIP: To make your life easier, you can use the following way to navigate to above location:
-
- Press Windows
+ R keys to open the run command box. - In the Search box, type: shell:common startup & click OK
- Press Windows
To Navigate to "Current Account" Startup Folder.
If you want to locate the startup folder that contains all the applications which run automatically at Windows startup, for the current user account (only), open Windows Explorer and navigate to the following path: *
- C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
* Note: To view the "AppData" folder in Windows Explorer, you must enable the hidden files view.
TIP: Here, is another easier way to navigate at the above location:
-
- Press Windows + R keys to open the run command box.
- In the Search box, type: shell:startup & click OK
- Press Windows
That’s all! Did it work for you?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Startup folder in Windows?
The Startup folder in Windows stores shortcuts of applications that start with the operating system. There are two Startup folders: one for all users and another for the current user only.
Where can I find the 'All Users' Startup folder in Windows?
To locate the 'All Users' Startup folder, open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp. Make sure to enable hidden files view to access 'ProgramData'.
How can I quickly access the current user's Startup folder?
To quickly access the current user's Startup folder, press Windows + R keys to open the Run command box. Type shell:startup and click OK.
How do I manage Startup applications in Windows 10?
To manage Startup applications in Windows 10, go to the Start menu, click Settings, and then click Apps -> Startup.
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