Windows Registry Startup Paths

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Here is a list of Windows Registry Startup Paths for applications and programs when they are launched at Startup.

1. Via Start up folder.

First enable show hidden files option and then navigate to any of the following paths and Add shortcuts of the programs to be run at start up.

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

C:\ Users\AllUsers\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup


The best way to open the Startup folder in Windows 10 is with the address shell:startup, you can enter this path in address bar of MS Explorer.

Or use the Run-Dialog Box [Windows-logo] + [R] in Windows-10 and enter the command shell:startup

The second startup folder in Windows 10 shell:common startup is responsible for all users, when here, an entry is created, or deleted, this is valid for all users on the Windows-10 PC.

Here is the alternative addresses, this can you use to create a new Windows 10 desktop shortcut. 

Autostart for currently logged-on user:
shell:startup = %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
And startup folder all users:
shell:common startup = %programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

TIP:
shell:start menu = start menu in Windows-10
shell:common start menu =All user start menu in Windows-10

2. Via Registry.

Navigate to any of the following path according to your requirement and then add a new “String key” and store path of the Program to be run in this key’s value.

For Local Machine-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

For Current User-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Other Paths
HKU\ProgID\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
systemdrive\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
systemdrive\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

3.Programs to run at logon time or when explorer runs.

Navigate to path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\ and add path of your program to be run as follows.

• Via Shell String as by editing value of key “Shell” as explorer.exe, <path of your program with extension .exe>”.

• Via Userinit String as by editing value of key “Userinit” as C:\Windows\System32,,<path of Your program with extension .exe>”.