The path to users Startup folder in Windows 10 is:
%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
ie. C:\Users\JimmyJo\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
You can open a users Startup folder by going through Windows Explorer, command line or by right clicking on the START button and typing the command shell:startup .
The path to the ALL USERS Startup folder in Windows 10 is:
%allusersprofile%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
ie. C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
You can open allusers Startup folder by going through Windows Explorer or by right clicking on the START button and typing the command shell:common startup .
Note that if you are using Windows Explorer (This PC / My Computer / Computer) to get to the STARTUP folder that the APPDATA folder is “hidden” so you will have to enable hidden files to see it. If you are typing in the STARTUP folder path at a CMD prompt or in a script, the hidden APPDATA folder will not be an issue.
Also note that shell:startup and shell:common startup are will not open through Cortana search so you must right click on the START button and select RUN.
2 Comments
Alison · January 29, 2020 at 6:44 am
So… having found this folder, how do we use it to cause a program to start?
Ian Matthews · February 10, 2020 at 8:38 pm
Just copy a shortcut into that folder.
For instance if you wanted OUTLOOK to launch on login, one way to do this is to:
1 – click START
2 – find your OUTLOOK shortcut, right click on it and select MORE > OPEN FILE LOCATION
3 – right click on the OUTLOOK shortcut and select COPY
4 – open C:\Users\USER NAME HERE\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
5 – right click and select PASTE
You can follow this process for any shortcut you see in the START menu.
Let us know if that answers your question 🙂