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Chromebook⏱ 3 min

How to Disable Startup Programs on Chromebook

Stop unnecessary apps from launching at startup to speed up boot times.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

Chromebook doesn't have a conventional startup programs manager because the OS itself launches extremely efficiently and user apps don't persist between sessions the way desktop apps do. The closest equivalent is managing which Android apps (from the Play Store) are allowed to run in the background under Settings > Apps, and disabling Background activity for apps you don't need running constantly. For browser speed specifically, going to chrome://extensions and disabling unused extensions reduces Chrome startup time measurably, since each extension adds to the browser's initialisation process.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Open Settings > Apps > Manage apps. Review which apps have background activity permissions and revoke them for apps you rarely use.
  2. 2Only disable applications you recognise — do not disable antivirus, cloud sync, or manufacturer system services.
  3. 3Restart the device and time how long it takes to reach a usable desktop or home screen.

Still Not Working?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Chromebook so slow to start up?
Too many background apps with auto-start permissions slow boot. Check Settings > Apps and revoke background activity permissions for apps you don't use often.
Is it safe to disable startup programs on Chromebook?
Yes, for user-installed apps. Never disable antivirus software, cloud sync clients (OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox) if you rely on them, or items you don't recognise from the OS manufacturer. If in doubt, disable one item at a time, restart, and check that nothing breaks.
How much faster will my Chromebook boot after disabling startup programs?
Results vary depending on how many High-impact items you disable. Disabling 2–4 heavy startup apps (Spotify, Teams, Steam, Discord) on Windows can reduce startup time by 15–40 seconds. Boot time won't change dramatically if the items you disabled were already marked as Low impact.
Will disabled startup programs still work normally on Chromebook?
Yes. Disabling an app from startup only prevents it from launching automatically — you can still open it manually whenever you need it. The app is not uninstalled or disabled in any other way.

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