Every app you install asks, politely or not, to launch automatically when your computer starts. A year or two later, you're running fifteen background programs before you've opened a single window. Trimming this list is one of the highest-value, lowest-risk speed fixes available — and it takes about ten minutes.
Why this matters more than people think
Each startup program competes for the same limited CPU, memory, and disk access during boot — the slowest part of your computer's day. A cloud sync client, a chat app, an update checker, and a "helper" utility from a printer you sold two years ago can each add several seconds to boot time, and continue quietly using memory afterward. Removing five unnecessary startup items often shaves 20-40 seconds off boot time and frees up RAM that would otherwise sit locked in background processes.
Check startup programs on Windows
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, then click the "Startup" tab (or "Startup apps" in Windows 11 — you may need to click "More details" first if the simple view is showing). You'll see a list of every program set to launch at boot, along with a "Startup impact" rating of Low, Medium, or High. Right-click anything rated Medium or High that you don't use daily and select "Disable." This doesn't uninstall the program — it just stops it from launching automatically. You can always turn it back on the same way.
What's safe to disable
Safe to disable: cloud storage sync clients you don't need running constantly, chat/communication apps (Slack, Discord, Teams) unless you need them the instant you log in, printer software, game launchers (Steam, Epic), media player helpers, and "software updater" utilities that aren't your antivirus. Keep enabled: your antivirus/security software, your display or audio driver utilities if you rely on custom settings, and anything explicitly labeled by your laptop manufacturer as a power management or battery tool.
Check startup programs on Mac
Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) and go to General > Login Items (in newer macOS) or Users & Groups > Login Items (older versions). You'll see a list of apps set to open at login. Select any you don't need immediately and click the minus (–) button to remove them. Also check "Allow in the Background" further down the same screen — this is a newer macOS feature showing apps with background permissions even if they're not full login items; disable ones you don't recognize or don't use.
Don't stop at the obvious list — check background services
Some programs run background services that don't show in the simple startup list. On Windows, open Task Manager's "Services" tab to see a longer list — but be cautious here, since many of these are legitimate Windows components. Only disable services you recognize as belonging to software you installed and don't need running constantly. On Mac, background services mostly show in the Login Items screen described above in modern macOS versions.
Browser extensions count too
Browsers with many extensions installed also slow down startup, since each extension loads when the browser opens. Go to your browser's extensions page (chrome://extensions in Chrome, about:addons in Firefox) and disable or remove ones you haven't used in months. This won't speed up your computer's boot time directly, but it noticeably speeds up how fast your browser is usable after you open it.
Measure the difference
Note your boot time before making changes — from pressing the power button to being able to actually use the desktop, not just seeing it appear. Time it again after disabling unnecessary startup items. On Windows, Task Manager's Startup tab also shows a rough "time added at boot" estimate you can use as a sanity check. Most people see a meaningful, noticeable improvement after removing five or more unnecessary items.
Do this again every six months
New software you install often adds itself back to startup without asking clearly. Set a reminder every six months to re-check your startup list — it's a five-minute task once you know where to look, and it keeps your boot time from creeping back up over the following months.