Every program that launches the moment you sign in to Windows steals a little boot time and a little memory. Startup Manager lists all of those programs in one place and lets you switch any of them off (or back on) with a single toggle. It manages other apps' startup entries — it is not where you make BRUTAL itself start with Windows (that lives in Settings).
What it shows you
Open Startup Manager from the sidebar. BRUTAL scans the same five places Windows actually launches startup programs from:
- Registry (current user) — apps that auto-start just for your account
- Registry (all users) and Registry (all users, 32-bit) — apps that start for everyone on the PC
- Startup folder (you) and Startup folder (all users) — shortcuts dropped into the classic Startup folders
For each entry you see its name, its publisher (read from the program's own file, or Unknown publisher if it has none), where it launches from, and whether it is currently Enabled or Disabled. The counter near the top reads like 4 ON / 9 — four of nine entries are currently active.
How to disable (or re-enable) a startup app
- Find the program in the list.
- Click its toggle. Unchecking it disables it; checking it turns it back on.
- That's it — the change takes effect at your next sign-in.
BRUTAL flips startup entries using the exact same mechanism as Windows Task Manager — the StartupApproved registry markers. Disabling never deletes the entry; it just records "don't run this at sign-in," with a timestamp, the same way Task Manager does. That means whatever you turn off here also shows as Disabled in Task Manager, and vice-versa.
Reversible by design — nothing is deleted
This is the honest part. A lot of "PC cleaners" delete startup entries outright, so if you ever want the app back you have to reinstall it. BRUTAL doesn't do that. Disabling only sets the off marker; the original entry stays exactly where the app put it. Re-enabling is always one click away, and you never lose the app's own configuration.
What's safe to turn off
You decide — but a good rule of thumb:
- Usually safe to disable: updaters, launchers, and "helper" agents for apps you open manually anyway (game stores, chat apps, cloud-sync helpers, printer/driver dashboards). They'll still work fine when you launch them yourself.
- Leave on: anything from your antivirus/security software, audio or touchpad drivers, and OneDrive if you rely on live sync.
- If you're unsure, check the publisher column. A recognizable, trusted publisher on a background helper is the easiest "turn it off and see" candidate — and because it's fully reversible, there's no risk in trying.
After disabling a few startup helpers, you can confirm the win with the
Benchmark tool — fewer startup apps usually means fewer background processes and a little more free RAM.
Best practice
- Disable in small batches and sign out / back in to feel the difference, rather than turning everything off at once.
- Trim updaters and launchers first — they're the most common boot-time tax with the least downside.
- If something you rely on stops appearing in the tray after a reboot, just come back and re-enable it.
Common issues / troubleshooting
- "Could not change '…'. It may require different permissions." — Some all-users (registry) entries need elevation to modify. BRUTAL runs as Administrator, but a few entries are still protected by Windows; the toggle simply snaps back so the list always reflects reality.
- An entry won't stay off. A few apps re-add or re-enable their own startup entry every time they run (updaters are notorious for this). If yours does, the fix is in the app's own settings, not here.
- I don't see an app I expected. Some programs start via Scheduled Tasks or Windows services instead of the Run keys / Startup folders — those aren't shown here. Click Refresh to re-scan after installing or removing software.
FAQ
Does disabling a startup app uninstall it?
No. Disabling only tells Windows not to launch the app at sign-in. The program stays installed and works normally when you open it yourself. Re-enabling is one click.
Will my changes also show up in Task Manager?
Yes. BRUTAL uses the same StartupApproved markers Task Manager uses, so the two stay perfectly in sync — disable here and it's disabled there too.
Is this where I make BRUTAL start with Windows?
No — that's a separate toggle. Startup Manager controls other apps. To have BRUTAL itself launch at sign-in, use the 'Start with Windows' switch in Settings.
Why does a toggle sometimes snap back to its old state?
That means the registry write was blocked — usually an all-users entry that Windows protects. BRUTAL reverts the toggle so the list never shows a change that didn't actually happen.