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One of the better ways to improve Windows boot time is to stop unwanted programs from loading with Windows operating system. Programs like Skype, Evernote, and TeamViewer automatically start with Windows operating system with default settings.
In previous Windows 7 previous versions the option to remove or disable startup entries was present under System Configuration utility. In Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10, the same has been moved under Task Manager.
In this guide, we will see the top four easy ways to remove programs from startup in Windows 10.
Method 1 of 4
Disable startup programs using Task Manager
Step 1: Open Task Manager by simultaneously pressing Ctrl, Shift and Esc keys. Alternatively, right-click on the empty space of the taskbar and then click Task Manager to open the same.
Step 2: If the Task Manager is launched with minimal view, click More details button to view the actual Task Manager.
Step 3: Click on the Startup tab to switch to the same.
Step 4: Here, right-click on the program entry that you want to stop from loading with Windows 10 and then click Disable option to remove it from the Windows 10 startup folder. That’s it!
Method 2 of 4
Disable startup programs via Settings app
The Settings app now supports managing startup items.
Step 1: Navigate to Settings app > Apps > Startup.
Step 2: Turn off apps that you don’t want to load with Windows 10 by moving the slider to the off position.
Method 3 of 4
Delete startup programs from Startup folder
As said before, shortcuts of programs that start with Windows 10 are mostly saved in a folder called Startup. You can delete a program shortcut from this folder to stop the program from starting with Windows 10. Here is how to do it. Note that you might not be able to find all programs that startup Windows under Startup folder. If you can’t find the program shortcut that you’re looking for, please follow the instructions in other methods.
Step 1: Open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows logo and R keys.
Step 2: In the field, type shell:startup, and then press Enter key to open the Startup folder.
Step 3: Select the program shortcut that you want to remove from Windows 10 startup, and then press Delete key.
Method 4 of 4
Remove startup programs using CCleaner
Many of the popular Windows optimization utilities like CCleaner and Glary Utilities help you remove programs from Windows startup. In this guide, we will see how to remove startup programs using the popular CCleaner (free).
Step 1:Download CCleaner and install the same, if not installed already.
Step 2: Launch CCleaner, click Tools, and then click Startup.
Step 3: Under Windows tab, select the entry of the program that you want to remove from startup, and then click Disable button.
That’s it!
How to add apps installed from Store to startup in Windows 10 guide might also interest you.
WindowsMac
Step 1: Stop Skype for Business from starting automatically
- In Skype for Business, choose the tools icon and Tools > Options.
- Choose Personal, then uncheck Automatically start the app when I log on to Windows and Start the app in the foreground. Then choose OK.
- Choose File > Exit.
Skype for Business is still on your computer, but you'll no longer see it.
Step 2: Remove Skype for Business from your computer
IMPORTANT: If you are using Office 365 Skype for Business, you can't delete it from your computer without also uninstalling the rest of the Office suite. This because it's integrated with the other Office apps. The following instructions are for customers who have standalone versions of Skype for Business.
- Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall or change a program.
- Choose Skype for Business > Uninstall. If you don't see Skype for Business listed, then you're using a version that's integrated with other Office 365 apps. The only way to uninstall it is to remove all of Office from your computer.
- At the Ready to uninstall? box, choose Uninstall.
- When it's done uninstalling, choose Close.
Remove Skype for Business from your registry
If the above instructions don't work for you, then another option is to disable it in your registry. For instructions, see this post in the Skype community: Completely Uninstall Skype for Business.
You can uninstall Skype for Business on Mac so you don't see it on your Dock in a few easy steps.
To uninstall Skype for Business on Mac
- To remove the Skype for Business icon from your Dock, sign out of Skype for Business on Mac.
- Close the Skype for Business on Mac sign in page.
- Press Control and click at the same time. Choose Quit.
- Open Finder > Applications. Scroll to Skype for Business. Drag and drop it into the Trash.
If this procedure doesn't solve the problem, use the more detailed procedure in How to do a clean uninstallation of Skype for Business on Mac.
By default, Skype opens automatically each time your computer starts and you log in to your user account. This happens so that you can always get instant notifications when someone sends you a message or calls you.
How To Remove Skype From Startup Windows 7
When you disable Skype on startup, you have to manually open it the first time you want to use it after starting your computer. Once it’s open, it will remain open like normal — and messages and calls can come in — until you sign out or close it down.
The procedures we outline below work for current versions of Skype running on Windows 10, Windows 8, and macOS.
Windows: Sign Out or Change Skype's Auto-Start Settings
Both Skype for Windows 10 and for Windows 8 can be configured to stop starting automatically with Windows. However, depending on how you installed the program, the steps for disabling the auto-start feature is different.
Windows 10 Skype App
If you’re a Windows 10 user who obtained the program from the Microsoft Store, you can’t technically disable Skype on startup. However, you can log out of the program to close it down and prevent all notifications.
Here’s how to log out of the Skype app in Windows 10:
- Click your profile image on the upper left-hand corner.
- Click or tap Sign out at the bottom of the pop-up window.
- Skype will exit automatically.
Normally, when you leave Skype open and you’re logged in, SkypeHost.exe and SkypeApp.exe will both be running in Task Manager. When you close the app without logging out, SkypeHost.exe will remain running so that you can still receive notifications.
However, when you log out of Skype in Windows 10, the SkypeHost.exe process closes down, too, so that not only will you no longer get notified about messages and calls, but the program will shut down.
The SkypeHost.exe process might start back up when you log back into Windows after a reboot, but the program will not log you in because you logged out the last time you used it.
If you installed the standard Skype program in Windows 10 or Windows 8 (through Skype.com), open the Skype settings to disable the auto-start feature.
Unlike the Windows 10 method above which requires a sign off, when you use these steps to disable Skype from automatically starting, you will remain logged in the next time you open the program.
- Click or tap the three-dotted menu next to your name on the main page.
- Choose Settings.
- Go to General.
- Toggle Automatically start Skype to the off position (the button will turn grey).
- Exit the settings screen.
macOS: Remove Skype From the Login Items
There are a couple ways to disable autorun for Skype on a Mac. The first, and easiest, method is to do so from the Dock.
- Right-click the Skype icon from the Dock.
- Go to Options.
- Click Open at Login to remove the checkbox.How can the answer be improved? The final phase of Dark Troopers results in a larger droid with total armor coverage, an assault cannon, and weapons mounts in the forearms and under the retractable shoulder plates. The most common configuration is described below, but the shoulder mounted missile launcher racks can be replaced with Merr-sonn PLX-2M missile launcher tubes. Dark trooper phase 3.
The other way to prevent Skype from opening automatically in macOS is by removing it from the list of startup items in System Preferences. This method is handy not only for stopping Skype from opening automatically but also for viewing and disabling other startup programs.
- Open System Preferences.
- Click Users & Groups.
- Click your user name.
- Open the Login Items tab.
- Click Skype.
- Click the minus/remove button at the bottom of the screen.
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Skype is one of the few programs that I use on regular basis to keep in touch with my family and friends. Although it’s available for mobile operating systems as well, I installed and use it only on my Windows 10 notebook.
Skype icon on the taskbar
By default, Skype program starts with Windows 10 and sits in the taskbar so that you can quickly start using the program. With default settings, when you close the Skype window hoping to close the program or when you right-click on the Skype icon on the taskbar and click Close button, Skype simply minimizes itself and doesn’t move away from the taskbar.
Right-clicking on the Skype icon on the taskbar and clicking Quit option kills the program, meaning it won’t run the background to notify whenever there is a new call or message and hence, quitting is not a good idea.
Millions of PC users happily using Skype and most of them have no issues with the always visible taskbar icon. That said, there are some users, like me, who would like to free up some space on the taskbar.
Move Skype icon from taskbar to system tray
Wouldn’t it be great if it was possible remove Skype from taskbar without actually quitting the program? If you’re in search for a way to remove Skype icon from Windows 10 taskbar without quitting it, you will be glad to know that the Skype program can be removed from the taskbar without killing the program. And you can make it happen without the help of third-party tools.
In this guide, we will show how you can remove Skype icon from Windows 10 taskbar and move it to system tray area (see picture below). This way, you will continue to get notifications and other alerts from your Skype as long as your PC is connected to the internet.
This method simply moves Skype icon from the taskbar to the system tray.
Remove Skype icon from Windows 10 taskbar
Step 1: Launch Skype. Click Tools menu and then click Options.
Step 2: Click Advanced settings tab as shown in the picture below.
Step 3: On the right-side, uncheck the option titled Keep Skype in the taskbar while I’m singed in. Finally, click Save button. That’s it!
From now onwards, whenever you close the Skype window, the Skype icon will disappear from taskbar. It will continue running in the background and you can see its icon in the system tray. To open Skype, click on the Skype icon in the system tray. Like before, you will be notified whenever there is a new call or message.
To completely quit Skype, right-click on Skype icon in the system tray and then click Quit option. If you’re an avid user of Skype, have a loot at Skype for Business free e-book with over 200 pages.