How to Access the Startup Folder on Windows 11

Windows 11 is expected to release by the end of this year and we can’t keep calm about it! The upcoming major update wraps Windows in a whole new avatar, bringing you close to things you love. It offers you a fresh perspective and a working space that will allow you to accomplish your tasks creatively. 

Wondering how to access the startup folder on Windows 11? Well, you’ve come to the right place! For those of you who are not aware, the Windows Startup folder contains a list of shortcuts of applications that need to be launched each time you log in on your PC. The earlier versions of Windows, including Windows 7, offered direct access to the Startup folder via Menu> Startup. However, the Startup folder in Windows 10 is hidden deep inside the driver folders. Hence, accessing the Startup folder in Windows 10 or later is not as easy as you think. 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this post, we have listed a variety of ways that will allow you to access the startup folder on Windows 11. 

Also read: How To Manage Startup Programs In Windows 10 On Multiple Computers With Remote Access?

How to Access Startup Folder on Windows 11

Via Shell Command

Follow these quick steps to access the startup folder on Windows 11.

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Shell:startup” in the textbox and hit Enter.

You will now be automatically redirected to the Windows Startup folder. Right-click anywhere on the blank space, select “New” and then tap on “Shortcut” to create a new shortcut entry. 

Copy the exact folder location and then paste it in the “Create Shortcut” window. Tap on Next to proceed. 

Enter a shortcut name. Hit the “Finish” button when done.

You will now be able to see a new shortcut in the Windows Startup folder. 

Hence, now the application that you added in the Startup folder will not automatically launch at the time of startup each time you restart your device. 

Via File Explorer

Another way to access the startup folder on Windows 11 is via navigating through File Explorer. To open the Startup folder by using File Explorer, here’s what you need to do.

Launch the Start menu search box, type “File Explorer” and hit Enter.

Tap on the “This PC” option placed on the left menu pane in the File Explorer window.

Select the C: drive or the primary system drive where Windows OS is stored on your device.

Tap on “Users”. Here you will see two primary accounts, one is “Public” and another folder with your username. Tap on the folder with your username.

Pull the “View” menu and tap on the “Show hidden items” option. 

Select the “App Data” folder in the File Explorer window.

Tap on “Roaming”.

Select “Microsoft” and then double-tap on the “Windows” folder.

Tap on “Start Menu” and then select “Programs”.

And yes, finally you will see the Startup folder on the screen. Double-tap on it to access the Startup folder on Windows 11. 

Also read: How to Remove Startup Programs in macOS Catalina

Via Run Command

You can also use the Run dialog box to open the Startup folder on Windows 11. Follow these quick steps:

Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. 

Type the following location in the textbox and hit Enter.

%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

As soon as you hit Enter, you will be redirected to the Windows Startup folder.

Also read: How To Identify Which Startup Item Is Safe To Disable In Windows 10?

How to Add/Remove Shortcut in Startup Folder

Once you’ve arrived at the location of the Startup folder, here’s a quick way to add/remove shortcuts of your favorite applications. 

Right-click anywhere on the blank space of the Windows Startup folder and then select New> Shortcut. 

Hit the “Browse” button and then specify the location of the application whose shortcut you need to create in the Startup folder. Tap on “Next” to continue.

Enter the name of the shortcut and then tap on Finish.

And that’s it! 

To delete an application from the Startup folder, right-click on the app’s icon and then select “Delete” to remove the shortcut. 

Conclusion

Here were a few ways that you can use to access the startup folder on Windows 11. We hope the above-listed methods help you in accessing the Startup folder once you upgrade your device to Windows 11. For any other queries or assistance, feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments space!