
Do you know how your technology is set up? Knowing this is crucial for maintaining a reliable network. One easy and simple thing to know how to do is managing which applications launch at startup.
It is typical that lots of software wants to auto-start, but having multiple programmes launching at once can slow down your system and potentially introduce security risks. Did you know that Windows 11 offers a useful feature that alerts you whenever new apps are added to the startup list? Every time you turn on your PC, it loads a set of apps automatically. While some of these are essential, others might not be necessary and can slow down your system.
Over time your startup lists can grow as you install more software, this then leads to longer startup times and a much slower experience. Not only that but keeping an eye on startup apps is good security practice. This is because if you notice and unwanted or unknown app starting automatically it can be a red flag for malicious software or other security threats. By receiving alerts about new startup apps, you can quickly identify and investigate any suspicious additions.
Here is how you can enable these alerts:
- Start by opening the Windows 11 system settings. You can do this by clicking the Start menu and selecting the gear icon or by pressing ‘Windows + I’ on your keyboard.
- In the settings window, click on ‘System’ in the left sidebar, then select ‘Notifications’ on the right.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the notifications page. Just above Additional settings, you’ll find ‘Startup App Notification’, which is switched off by default. Move the slider to ‘On’.
From then on, you’ll receive a notification whenever a new application is added to the startup process. You can even customise how these alerts look by clicking the arrow next to the slider button.
To further manage startup apps, you can use task manager. All you have to do is select the startup tab and you will be able to see a list of all the apps that start with Windows. By regularly checking this list and using the new alert feature you can keep your startup process streamlined!