Start program at Windows Startup

In this post I will show you how to make an executable open when Windows starts, adding its shortcut to a special directory called Startup folder.

Thanks to this, as soon as the computer starts, the executable will be opened, regardless of its origin.

Step 1: put executable in safe folder

The executable that we are going to open at the beginning must be placed in a safe folder or a folder that we know that it will not be very frequented; for example, you don’t have to put it in Downloads or Documents, but in a more protected folder.

In my case I am going to place it in C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Parzibyte where user is my username and Parzibyte is a folder that I just created.

Inside the folder I have placed an executable, which is my plugin for tickets, although in your case it could be any other file with an exe extension.

Note: if the program you want to run at startup is already in Program Files (or another folder) or if you think that no one is going to delete it, this step is not necessary.

Step 2: create desktop shortcut

Once we have the file copied to the path, it is time to create a shortcut. To do this, we right-click and select Send to desktop (create direct access)

With this we have created a shortcut to our program, which for now lives on the desktop but which we are going to copy to another directory.

Step 3: open startup directory

Now we have to open the directory where we are going to place our direct access; In order to not get lost in locating it, simply press Windows + R and in the window that appears, execute:

shell:startup

As seen in the image:

That will open a folder which in my case is at:

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

(remember that it is better to use the command that I indicate)

Within that directory there must be other shortcuts (probably).

Step 4: copy startup shortcut

Now we must copy the shortcut that we have on the desktop to the folder that has just been opened. In my case it looks like this:

My shortcut is plugin_impresora_termica_64_bits.exe.

And that’s it, now every time the computer starts, our executable will be opened. If you want you can restart your computer and check it.

Checking execution at startup

In my case I restarted my computer and the plugin actually ran. Also, in the Task Manager on the Startup tab, my plugin was listed:

So everything works perfectly and with this we can add any executable when starting Windows.