The Re-Opening Application Mystery
Windows 10 includes a feature designed to seamlessly resume your workflow after an update or a system restart. The setting, verbosely named “Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart,” allows Windows to cache your login credentials. When the system reboots, it uses this cached data to silently log you in behind the lock screen, finish installing any pending updates, and attempt to re-open any applications you had running before the reboot.
While this sounds convenient, it can be extremely frustrating. If you shut down your computer to clear out a massive, cluttered workspace, turning the PC back on only to have Chrome, Word, and Excel instantly pop back open defeats the purpose of a fresh boot. Furthermore, in shared computing environments, having your applications automatically launch behind the lock screen before you’ve even typed your password can pose a minor privacy risk. If you prefer a clean, empty desktop every time you turn on your computer, you must disable this feature.
How to Stop Applications Reopening After Restart
You can prevent Windows from caching your credentials via the Sign-in options.
- Click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon.
- In the Settings menu, click on Accounts.
- In the left-hand navigation pane, select Sign-in options.
- Scroll down to the Privacy section at the bottom of the page.
- Look for the toggle switch labelled Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart.
- Toggle the switch to the Off position.
The next time you restart or turn on your PC, Windows will wait at the lock screen. It will not pre-load your profile, and you will be greeted with a perfectly clean, empty desktop upon logging in.