How to Stop Windows 11 from Automatically Reopening Open Apps on Restart

When you restart or power on a computer running Windows 11, you may notice that application windows open before the reboot—such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, File Explorer windows, or office documents—automatically reopen across your desktop upon login. While intended as a convenience to help users resume work seamlessly after operating system updates, this behaviour consumes memory immediately upon startup, slows down initial responsiveness, and can present privacy concerns if someone else is nearby. In Windows 11, you can disable restartable app relaunching completely.

Disabling the Automatically Save My Restartable Apps Setting

Windows 11 houses the primary restart persistence toggle inside account sign-in settings:

1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Select Accounts from the navigation sidebar on the left.
3. Click on Sign-in options in the right-hand options panel.
4. Scroll down to the Additional settings section.
5. Locate the toggle switch labelled Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.
6. Click the toggle to switch it to the Off position.

With this setting deactivated, Windows 11 will initialise a fresh, empty desktop canvas each time you reboot, leaving application launches entirely under your manual control.

Preventing File Explorer from Restoring Previous Windows

In addition to browser apps, File Explorer has an independent legacy preference that saves open folder directories across reboot cycles:

1. Press Windows Key + E to launch File Explorer.
2. In the top command bar, click the See more button (the three dots …) and choose Options.
3. In the Folder Options dialogue, switch to the View tab.
4. Scroll down through the Advanced settings list to find the option labelled Restore previous folder windows at logon.
5. Ensure the checkbox next to Restore previous folder windows at logon is completely unchecked.
6. Click Apply, then click OK.

Checking Startup Apps for Unintended Background Launchers

If specific apps (such as Spotify, Microsoft Teams, or Discord) continue opening upon boot even after disabling restartable app settings, they are likely configured as registered system startup entries rather than crash recovery apps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Startup apps icon in the left panel.
3. Review the list of apps marked as “Enabled”.
4. Right-click any application you do not wish to launch automatically and select Disable.