How To Add Exe File To Startup Windows 11 Work May 2026

How to Add an Exe File to Startup in Windows 11

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Startup tab at the top (you might need to click "More details" if the window looks small).
3. Right-click the application you want to start automatically.
4. Select Enable.

Save and Test:

Verify: Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the Startup apps tab; your program should now be listed as "Enabled". Method 2: Using Task Scheduler (For Admin Rights) how to add exe file to startup windows 11

For a program that should start for every user on the machine, they navigate to: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run How to Add an Exe File to Startup in Windows 11

To use Task Scheduler, the user types “Task Scheduler” in the Start menu search and opens the app. In the Actions pane (right side), they click “Create Basic Task.” After naming the task, they select the trigger “When the computer starts” (for system startup) or “When I log on” (for user login). Next, they select the action “Start a program” and browse to the EXE file. After completing the wizard, the user can right-click the new task, select “Properties,” and under the “Conditions” or “Settings” tabs, configure options like “Run with highest privileges” or “Delay task for 30 seconds.” Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager

Step 1: Open the Run Dialog Right-click the Start button and select Run (or press Windows Key + R on your keyboard).