Windows 11 includes a feature that automatically reopens apps and folders after you sign in or restart your computer, helping you pick up where you left off. While this can be convenient, it may also slow down your startup process or reopen apps you'd rather not have running automatically. This guide will show you how to prevent Windows 11 from automatically reopening apps and folders upon sign-in or restart, as well as how to manage startup apps.

Stop Windows 11 from reopening apps automatically

To prevent Windows 11 from automatically reopening your apps after a restart or sign-in, adjust a setting in the Sign-in options. Here's how to do it:

  1. Open the Settings app by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Settings, or by pressing Windows+I on your keyboard.
  1. In the Settings window, select Accounts from the left sidebar.
  1. Click on Sign-in options in the right pane.
  1. Under the Additional settings section, locate the option Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.
  1. Toggle the switch next to this option to turn it Off.

Windows 11 will no longer automatically reopen your apps when you sign back in or restart your computer.

Stop Windows 11 from reopening folders automatically

Windows 11 can also reopen File Explorer windows from your previous session when you sign in or restart. If you'd prefer to start fresh without reopening folders, you can disable this feature. Here's how:

  1. Open File Explorer by clicking its icon on the taskbar.
  1. In the File Explorer window, click the three dots (also known as See more) in the toolbar.
  1. From the dropdown menu, select Options.
  1. In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab.
  1. Scroll down the Advanced settings list and uncheck the option Restore previous folder windows at logon.
  2. Click OK to save the changes.

Now, Windows 11 will not reopen previously opened folders when you sign in or start up your computer.

Disable startup apps on Windows 11

Some applications are configured to start automatically when you sign in or restart your Windows 11 PC, such as Cortana or Spotify. Even after disabling the automatic reopening of apps, these startup apps may still launch. To prevent these apps from starting automatically, follow these steps:

  1. Open Task Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Task Manager, or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard.
  1. In the Task Manager window, click the Startup tab.
  1. You'll see a list of apps that can start automatically. Apps with Enabled status will launch at startup.
  2. Select an app you want to prevent from starting automatically, and click the Disable button at the bottom right.
  1. The status of the app will change to Disabled.

Repeat these steps for any other apps you want to prevent from starting automatically. This will help speed up your startup process and reduce unnecessary background processes.

By following these steps, you can control which apps and folders reopen when you sign in to Windows 11, helping you streamline your startup process and improve system performance.