Autoruns lists everything Windows starts on its own at bootup and login, and it looks in more places than most startup tools. Sysinternals distributes version 14.3 for free from download.sysinternals.com, and the file is about 3 MB.
Startup folders, Run keys and the places beyond them
The core job is a full list of auto-starting items. It covers the startup folder, the Run and RunOnce Registry keys, and further Registry locations.
It also reports Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications and auto-start services. Drivers appear too. The developer says the count of automatically launched executables tends to surprise people.
A session with Hide Signed Microsoft Entries
A typical run starts by opening the program and reading the list. The Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option removes Microsoft-signed items so the third-party ones stand out.
The tool can also look at auto-starting images configured for other accounts on the same system. For scripting, the package includes Autorunsc, a command-line equivalent that can write CSV output.
Where it sits next to BleachBit, Process Explorer and others
Autoruns is narrow by design. Cleaners such as BleachBit, Glary Utilities and Advanced SystemCare cover broader maintenance, while O&O ShutUp10 deals with privacy settings. Process Explorer, also from the Sysinternals family, is an alternative, and PowerToys is the other name on the list.
Autoruns has no cleaning or one-click optimizing function. It is for inspecting startup entries.
What's new in 14.3
Version 14.3 came out on June 17, 2026. No notes about what changed in it are provided.
Autoruns pros and cons
Pros
- Checks the startup folder, Run, RunOnce and other Registry keys
- Hide Signed Microsoft Entries filters to third-party items
- Includes Autorunsc with CSV output for scripting
- Free and about 3 MB
- Can inspect auto-start entries for other accounts
Cons
- The interface cannot be previewed before installing
- Proprietary license, so the source is not open
- Focused on listing entries, with no cleaning features described
Is Autoruns safe?
Autoruns is published by Sysinternals under a proprietary license and costs nothing. The download link points to download.sysinternals.com, the official Sysinternals server. Because the tool lists drivers, services and Registry autostart entries, review each item before disabling or deleting it, since removing a needed entry can affect how Windows starts.
How to install Autoruns
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Autoruns from the Start menu.
