Our verdict: Autoruns is the most complete view of what starts with Windows. It goes far beyond Task Manager's Startup tab, covering services, drivers, scheduled tasks, Explorer add-ons and more. The amount of detail makes it easy to break something if you disable entries you do not understand.
About Autoruns
Autoruns is part of Microsoft's Sysinternals suite and was written by Mark Russinovich. It shows programs and drivers configured to run at boot or logon, including the Startup folder, Run and RunOnce registry keys, services, scheduled tasks, Winlogon notifications, Explorer shell extensions, codecs and Winsock providers.
Unchecking an entry disables it, and you can jump straight to its registry key or file. The Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option filters the list down to third-party items, and the scan options can verify code signatures and look up files on VirusTotal. The download also contains Autorunsc, a command-line version that outputs CSV, XML or tab-separated text.
What it does well
- Every autostart location. Logon entries, services, drivers, tasks, Explorer and browser add-ons, codecs and more.
- Signature and VirusTotal checks. Verifies digital signatures and checks file hashes on VirusTotal.
- Hide Microsoft entries. Filters the list to third-party programs only.
- Other users and offline systems. Shows autostarts for other accounts or an offline Windows installation.
- Command-line version. Autorunsc exports results as CSV, XML or tab-delimited text.
Who it is for
Good fit
Power users and technicians cleaning up a slow PC or hunting for malware that starts with Windows.
Look elsewhere
Beginners who just want to turn off a few startup apps; Task Manager's Startup tab is safer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Most complete list of autostart locations
- Official Microsoft tool, no ads
- Portable, nothing to install
- VirusTotal and signature checks
Cons
- Overwhelming for beginners
- Disabling the wrong entry can break drivers or Windows features
- Closed source
How to install Autoruns
Download the ZIP from Microsoft Learn, extract it and run Autoruns64.exe (or Autoruns64a.exe on ARM PCs). Nothing is installed. Turn on Options → Hide Microsoft Entries first, and uncheck entries instead of deleting them so you can undo changes.
Questions about Autoruns
Is Autoruns free?
Yes. Autoruns is a free Sysinternals tool from Microsoft.
Is it safe to disable entries in Autoruns?
Disabling is reversible: check the box again to restore an entry. Avoid deleting entries and leave signed Microsoft entries alone unless you know what they do.
What is Autorunsc?
The command-line version of Autoruns, included in the same download. It can output results as CSV or XML for scripts.
