microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

Feature Request: Scheduled Startup Manager (Advanced Autostart Control)

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#47,550 1 comment 4 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
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Dominant language
C
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Description

### Description of the new feature / enhancement

The proposed feature is a new PowerToys utility (e.g., "PowerStart" or "Startup Scheduler") that allows users to manage their startup applications based on a schedule.

Currently, the Windows Task Manager only allows a binary choice: an app starts every time the system boots, or it doesn't. This utility would allow users to:

Toggle startup apps based on days of the week: For example, work-related apps (Slack, Teams, VPN) only launch automatically from Monday to Friday.
Set specific triggers: Launch certain apps only on weekends or specific days.
Delay Start: Add a custom delay (e.g., 30 seconds after login) to prevent system lag during boot, combined with the daily schedule.
The interface could look like a list of startup items with a 7-day checkbox matrix (M T W T F S S) next to each entry.

### Scenario when this would be used?

This feature is essential for users who use the same PC for both professional work and personal entertainment/gaming:

Work-Life Balance: A user works from Monday to Friday. They want their heavy "work suite" (Docker, IDEs, Communication tools) to start automatically during those days. On Saturday and Sunday, they want a "clean" system boot to maximize performance for gaming or personal projects without manual closing of work apps.
System Performance: Many users have apps they only need occasionally (e.g., update checkers, specialized drivers for a hobby). Instead of having them run every single day, they could schedule them to run only once a week (e.g., on Mondays).
Reducing "Startup Impact": Even with SSDs, dozens of apps launching simultaneously can slow down the initial login experience. Scheduling them prevents unnecessary resource consumption on days they aren't needed.

### Supporting information

Technical Implementation: This could be implemented by PowerToys managing a background service that triggers the apps, or by modifying the Registry/Task Scheduler entries dynamically.
Existing gap: While "Task Scheduler" in Windows can do this, its UI is outdated, complex, and not user-friendly for the average person who just wants to manage their "Startup" folder.
UI Inspiration: Similar to how the "Quiet Hours" or "Night Light" settings work, but applied to the list of applications found in Task Manager > Startup.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

No files, tests, or entry points are named. Start by reviewing the existing PowerToys utility structure and Windows startup and Task Scheduler behavior. Done would require an agreed scope and a complete utility that schedules selected startup apps by day and delay.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
c
Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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