Windows has a built-in feature that automatically reopens apps you had running before a shutdown or restart. It’s designed to help you pick up right where you left off. Interestingly, this feature isn’t enabled by default, so it only affects users who have chosen to turn it on or whose settings allow it.
While this sounds convenient, it created more problems—reopening apps I didn’t need, slowing down startup, and creating clutter on my desktop. It got to the point where I ended up turning it off for good, and I wish I had done it sooner.
What causes Windows to reopen apps after sign-in
How Windows “remembers” your last session
When you log into your Windows PC after a shutdown or restart and find your apps from previous sessions already running, it can be a bit surprising. When it first happened to me, I assumed I had accidentally hibernated my system instead of shutting it down. But as it kept happening, I realized it was actually a Windows feature that caused apps to open automatically.
Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft added a setting that allows supported apps to reopen automatically after a reboot. This is not the same as the startup apps, where apps launch every time your computer boots. Instead, it focuses on the apps you left open during your last session. Windows aims to restore your workflow exactly as you left it, which, in theory, sounds convenient.
The feature works quietly in the background. During shutdown or restart, Windows keeps track of the apps you have open and signals them to relaunch when you log back in. Most built-in Windows apps, such as File Explorer, Paint, Calculator, and Notepad, along with certain Microsoft Store UWP apps, support this behavior. In essence, Windows tries to remember your last session and save you a few steps when you get back to work.
If you have a standard set of apps you open every day, this feature can be helpful. And if you usually hibernate your PC but need to restart or shut it down for some reason, it can still come in handy.
Why I turned this feature off
The frustrations of auto-relaunching apps
Unfortunately, for me, this seemingly helpful feature quickly became more of a nuisance than a time-saver. The biggest issue was consistency. Not all apps support it, which means some would reopen if I forgot to close them, while others I actually relied on wouldn’t restart at all. It also created a frustrating problem where I had to spend extra time closing apps I didn’t want to open at the next boot.
Another major drawback was the slightly longer startup time. Every additional app Windows tried to relaunch added a few precious seconds to the boot process. I often found myself staring at the spinning circle of doom while my desktop slowly filled with programs I hadn’t asked for. In the end, the time saved by having apps reopen wasn’t much at all.
Stopping Windows from opening random apps was quite easy
The simple tweak that saved my mornings
Although closing these automatically restartable apps doesn’t take long, I decided to turn this feature off once and for all. It was quite straightforward, which was a relief.
If you want to do the same, start by pressing Windows + I to launch the Settings app. From there, head to Accounts tab, then scroll down to Account settings and click on Sign-in options. Under the Additional settings section, you will find the option labeled Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in. Simply turn it off, and Windows will stop reopening apps you didn’t ask for.
How I control which apps restart automatically
Managing my startup apps
Turning off Windows’ automatic app relaunch doesn’t mean I have to waste time opening my daily apps manually—that would be a step backward. For the programs I use every day, I rely on Windows’ Startup Apps feature, which gives me full control over what opens when my PC boots.
To manage this, head to Settings > Apps > Startup. Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps that can be configured to launch when Windows starts. You can toggle each one on or off depending on whether you want it to open automatically. For example, I keep my Outlook, Slack, OneDrive, Phone Link, and a few other essentials enabled, while leaving the rest off. This way, I get a clean, fast startup but still have all my necessary tools ready to go.
Windows’ automatic app relaunch could be a real time-saver if it worked reliably for every app out there. Sadly, that’s not the case, and until it does, I don’t think many people will actually use it—I certainly won’t. For me, startup apps handle the job far better.