Windows 11 may reopen compatible apps when you sign back in after restarting. To disable that behavior, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turn off Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in. If an app still opens, check its separate startup setting.
Turn off Windows’ Restart apps setting
- Open Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Find Restart apps and switch off Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.
The path and toggle are described in Microsoft-hosted community guidance, rather than a formal compatibility guarantee. The wording or placement can vary between Windows builds. This setting concerns supported restartable apps; it does not promise that every app will reopen, or that the app will restore its previous documents, tabs, windows, or other state. What comes back depends on the app.
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Why apps can still open after you switch it off
Restartable-app restoration and startup launch are separate behaviors. An app may be configured to launch whenever you sign in, independently of whether Windows restarts it after a system restart. Turning off Restart apps does not remove that separate startup entry.
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Check the Startup settings page
- Open Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Find the app and switch it off if it is listed. Microsoft Support says to set an app’s toggle to Off to prevent it from starting automatically.
Check Task Manager or the app itself
Microsoft also documents managing listed startup apps in Task Manager’s Startup apps tab. Available controls depend on how an app was installed and registered; some apps may need to be configured through their own preferences or another startup location. If the app is not listed, look in the app’s settings for an option such as launching at sign-in.
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How the three sign-in behaviors differ
| Behavior | What triggers it | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Restartable apps | Windows may restart supported apps when you sign back in after a restart. | Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Restart apps |
| Startup apps | An app registered or configured to launch when you sign in. | Settings > Apps > Startup; Task Manager’s Startup apps tab; or the app’s own settings |
| Automatic sign-in and lock behavior (ARSO) | A device policy can automatically sign in and lock the last interactive user after a restart or cold boot; it concerns lock-screen apps. | Administrative policy documentation; this is distinct from the user-facing Restart apps toggle |
Microsoft Learn describes ARSO as a separate policy. Disabling that policy means automatic sign-in is not configured and the user’s lock-screen apps are not restarted after restart. This is primarily relevant to managed or administratively configured devices, not the routine first fix for an app reopening.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if the app keeps returning
- Turn off Restart apps in Sign-in options.
- Check Settings > Apps > Startup and Task Manager’s Startup apps tab for the app.
- If it is not listed, check the app’s own startup preferences.
- If this is a work-managed PC and the behavior persists, ask your IT administrator whether a device policy controls sign-in behavior.
These steps target the two ordinary causes without changing the registry. Automatic sign-in policy is a separate administrative case, so do not treat ARSO as another name for Restart apps.
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