We previously explained how to remove startup programs in Windows 10 (and other editions) using Startup Sentinel, but in that article we mentioned the existence of more complete tools, with Autoruns leading the way. If you're thinking about downloading a copy, you should know that the new Autoruns is already available, with built-in dark mode, and the same robustness as always to remove startup programs.
The availability of some hardware components remains quite scarce, and users have turned to pre-built configurations to get complete computers without (too many) headaches. The problem is that their software environments leave much to be desired. In most cases, the bloatware is so dense that the "nuke and pave" strategy becomes the best option, but if you prefer to use a "scalpel" instead of a "bomb"... the first step is to remove startup programs in Windows. That's when Autoruns comes in.
How to remove startup programs with Autoruns
While Autoruns needs no introduction for many of our readers, it's not a bad idea to review some basic concepts. It is a tool created by Microsoft's Sysinternals division, the same one that offers Process Explorer, an excellent replacement for Windows Task Manager. The last major update of Autoruns was version 13 from 2015, when it added support for analyzing processes in VirusTotal.
In general, the new Autoruns 14 hasn't changed except for an aesthetic detail: dark mode. To activate it we must go to Options, then Theme, and choose the Dark option. Due to the classic style of the interface in Autoruns, this dark mode isn't the best we've seen, but I imagine many users will appreciate it anyway.
To disable or remove startup programs in Windows, the ritual hasn't changed: Open Autoruns with elevated privileges, uncheck what you want to disable, or select and delete the entries. In the Options menu there is the function "Hide Microsoft Entries", which hides everything related to Redmond, and leaves exposed only the entries associated with third-party programs. This is especially useful to identify services that are not part of the operating system, and that on more than one occasion can be disabled. Don't hesitate: Download Autoruns 14, and update your maintenance flash drive.
Official site and download: Click here
