The startup folder in Windows 10 is the house for shortcuts to different programs that you wish to launch when Windows 10 boots. After you located the location of the folder, it becomes easy to add an alternative indicating the executable file for a particular program on your PC.
Steps for adding App to the Startup
- Select – Start button, scroll to search the App you wish to run during the Startup
- Now, right-click the preferred App and select- More. Now, select – Open file location. It will open the place where the app shortcut is saved. In case you don’t find the option – Open file location, this means the application cannot operate at Startup.
- Keeping the location of the file open, press – Windows logo key + R and then type – shell: Startup and select – OK. It will open the folder – Startup
- Now copy & paste this shortcut for your App through the file location to the Startup folder.
If you wish to add a particular program to Startup, the first thing you need to do is open – Windows Startup folder. As the startup folder is a hidden folder in the system, there are two different methods to open it first is
- With the help of File Explorer
- With the help of shell: startup command
You have learned the second method that is the shell: startup command above so now let’s learn how to open Startup folder using File Explorer
- Press – Win + E to expand – File Explorer
- Click on the tab- View and next check the option- Hidden items so that the hidden folder is displayed.

- Now copy & paste the path mentioned below into address bar
- %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
You can use any of the methods to open the Startup folder and then add any program/app you want to the Startup so that it starts upon Windows boot.