How to Add Programs, Files to System Startup in Windows

You may want to add an app, a document or a folder to startup in Windows 10 so they automatically launch or open when the PC boots.

Open the “Run” dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R, type “shell:startup” (without the quotes) in the “Open” edit box and click “OK.”

In the right pane of the Windows Explorer window, right-click on the empty space and select “Paste” from the popup menu.

To place an app, URL or document to startup you should place its shortcut to user startup folder. By default it is located in:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

How to add an app to startup for all users

If you wish the program to run at startup in all users accounts place a shortcut in common startup folder. In Windows 10 its default location is:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

1. Win+R

2. Type

shell:Common Startup