Mastering the Windows 11 Autostart Folder: The Exclusive Guide to Taking Control

This is the most common location. Items placed here only launch when you log into your account.

Find the program you want to autostart in your Start Menu or installation folder.

Press Win + R , type shell:common startup , and hit Enter. How to Add Apps to Autostart: A Step-by-Step

Right-click the application and select Show more options > Create shortcut . If Windows asks to place it on the desktop, say Yes.

If an app requires Admin rights (UAC) to run, Windows will often block it from autostarting for security reasons. To fix this, you’ll need to use the Task Scheduler to create a task that runs "with highest privileges" at log-on.

Windows 11 uses a feature called "Fast Startup." Sometimes, this prevents a "clean" log-on sequence. Try performing a full Restart rather than a Shut Down to see if the folder triggers correctly. Summary for Power Users