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Windows startup programs can be registered in several places, not just one folder. The main registry locations are the machine-wide and current-user Run and RunOnce keys; Startup folders and other auto-start mechanisms also exist. For a wider inventory, Microsoft Sysinternals Autoruns shows many of these locations in one tool.
Where Windows stores startup programs
Windows has registry entries for programs launched at sign-in, plus Startup profile locations. Microsoft’s Run and RunOnce documentation identifies four principal registry keys:
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| Registry key | Scope | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun |
Machine-wide | Runs registered programs when a user logs on. |
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce |
Machine-wide | Runs registered programs once, then the entry is deleted. |
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun |
Current user | Runs registered programs whenever that user logs on. |
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce |
Current user | Runs registered programs once, then the entry is deleted. |
The distinction matters when you are investigating a program that starts for one account versus all users. HKCU refers to the currently selected user hive; HKLM is machine-scoped.
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How Run and RunOnce behave
Run repeats at logon
A value in a Run key is intended to launch each time the relevant user logs on. Microsoft documents a maximum command-line length of 260 characters for the value data. That is a limit on the command line stored in the value, not a guarantee that every command within that length will start successfully.
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RunOnce is for a one-time task
A RunOnce entry is processed once and then removed. Microsoft describes it as appropriate for transient tasks such as finishing application setup, rather than as a place for an app to continually recreate its startup entry. Its driver-install documentation describes two name prefixes that alter behavior: an exclamation point (!) defers deleting the entry until after the command runs successfully, and an asterisk (*) makes it run in Safe Mode, where RunOnce entries are otherwise ignored. See Microsoft’s RunOnce Registry Key reference.
Launch timing and order are not dependable
Windows may delay programs registered through Run and Startup groups to reduce interference with the foreground experience. Microsoft also says the order of multiple values under a single key is indeterminate and that “The system does not provide guarantees about how promptly the programs in the Run key are run.” Do not assume that entries will launch immediately or in a particular order.
Startup folders and other auto-start locations
The registry keys are not a complete map of everything that can start automatically. Microsoft’s Win32_StartupCommand reference covers registry entries as well as per-user and all-users Startup profile locations. Its sample paths use the legacy Documents and Settings form, so they establish that profile locations exist but should not be copied as verified literal paths for a current Windows release.
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The WMI class can enumerate startup programs. Microsoft notes that using the local registry provider as described requires the calling process to have SE_RESTORE_NAME privilege. The cited reference does not establish a complete, current Windows 11 mapping from each startup mechanism to Settings or Task Manager controls.
How to inspect a broad range of startup entries
For an inventory broader than the four Run keys, Microsoft Sysinternals Autoruns displays many auto-start categories, including Startup folder entries, Run and RunOnce, other registry locations, Explorer add-ons, Winlogon notifications, and auto-start services. The official page identifies Autoruns version 14.3 and was published June 17, 2026. It also describes Autorunsc, the command-line counterpart, which can output CSV.
Autoruns supports inspecting auto-start images configured for other accounts, which can help when the entry is not associated with the account currently being used. Microsoft calls it the utility with “the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor”; that is the vendor’s description, not an independent comparative finding.
Quick Recap
Inspect entries carefully before changing them
- Use the registry path to identify scope:
HKCUapplies to the current user, whileHKLMis machine-wide. - Check whether an entry is in
RunorRunOnce; a one-time setup task has different expected behavior from an app meant to start at every logon. - Use a broad inventory tool when you need to look beyond those keys, since startup configuration can also come from profile locations, services, and other categories.
- Do not delete or disable an entry solely because of where it is stored. The location identifies how it is configured, not whether it is safe or necessary.
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