Most of us have added some applications that are configured to start at boot, these applications are called startup applications. There are multiple ways to do this, but the startup folder method seems to be the most convenient option. But what if the startup folder is empty in Windows 11?
Most users are unaware of this concept and therefore unable to solve the problem. You must know how to use startup folders.
But, don’t worry! We've got you covered. Read the following sections to know all about the problem and its best solution.
Why is the Windows 11 startup folder empty?
There could be many reasons behind the problem, but first, try to remember if you actually added any application to the folder. Since many use Settings or Task Manager to configure startup apps, the startup folder is empty, although many apps load at startup.
In addition, there are not one but two startup folders. One runs for individual users and the other runs at the system level. So, there's a good chance that you've added the app to one but are looking for it in another, and the Windows 11 startup folder appears to be empty.
Also, there may be issues with the startup folder itself, which can be resolved using effective repair tools. If there are no startup items to display in Windows, let us now introduce you to the most effective solutions.
What should I do if the Windows 11 startup folder is empty?
1. Check the two startup folders
- Press Windows R to start the run command and enter in the text field shell:startup and click OK or Enter to launch the user-specific startup folder.
- Now, check if the app you are looking for is located here. If not, we next check the public startup folder.
- Press Windows again R to start the Run dialog box, enter shell:common startup in the text field, and click "Sure" .
- Check if the application is located here.
If the app you are looking for was manually added before, it should be in one of these folders. However, if Windows startup apps are still missing, move on to the next method.
Also, you now know where the Windows 11 startup folder is, so adding or removing apps shouldn’t be a problem from now on.
2. Verify through the task manager whether the startup application has been configured
- Press Ctrl Shift Esc to start Task Manager and navigate to the Startup tab from the top.
- Now, find the program you are looking for here and check if it is Enabled under the Status column.
- If not, select it and click the Enable button at the bottom.
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Even if the Windows 11 startup folder is empty, you can still use Task Manager to set an app to start at startup.
Actually, this would be the ideal approach. This is because the operating system first loads applications enabled through Task Manager and then looks at the applications stored in the startup folder.
3. Add the application again
- Press Windows EStartFile Explorer, and change the Paste the path into the address bar and hit Enter.
- For a user-specific startup folder, use the following path:
<strong>C:\Users\kazim\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs \Startup</strong>
- For the Universal Startup Folder, use the following path:
<strong>C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs \Startup</strong>
##Now, right-click on the empty section, hover your cursor over New, and select - Shortcut from the list of options.
Click the "- Browse" button in the "Create Shortcut" window.
Go to the location where the shortcut is stored, select it, and click - OK.
Click - Next at the bottom.
Finally, click - Finish without changing the default name entered in the text field.
#If the Startup tab in Task Manager is empty, manually adding the application to the Startup folder in Windows 11 can resolve the issue.
Make sure to add a shortcut to the application you want to load on startup, not the launcher (.exe file). Once completed, the Windows 11 startup folder will no longer be empty.
Should I disable all startup apps in Windows 11?
The more startup applications you have, the longer it will take for the operating system to boot. However, that doesn't mean you should disable all of them either. Some applications are critical, such as antivirus software, and these should be allowed to load at startup.
However, you can disable other apps you don’t use frequently to make Windows 11 faster and more responsive. Most users prefer to launch applications manually after turning on their computer rather than letting them load automatically. It depends on which option you choose.
These are all the ways you can ensure that your Windows 11 startup folder is not empty and that the apps you need are loaded when you boot the operating system.
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