# Autoruns Application: Microsoft Corporation Also called autoruns64, sysinternals autoruns Microsoft Corporation, System Shows every logon hook. It is more complete than Settings > Startup. The 64-bit process is Autoruns64.exe. It is not Task Manager Startup. ## What you need to know Autoruns lists every logon hook. Task Manager Startup is a short subset. Sysinternals Autoruns shows Run keys, tasks, services, and more. Get it from Microsoft Learn. It is more complete than Settings > Startup or Task Manager > Startup. It is not Process Explorer. - **What is it?**: A complete autostart list **Same as Task Manager Startup?**: No. Autoruns shows far more hooks **Does uncheck uninstall?**: No. It only disables the hook Feex says If Startup Settings looks clean and something still launches, I would open Autoruns and hide Microsoft entries. I would uncheck one row at a time. I would not treat this as Task Manager. ## What is Autoruns? Autoruns enumerates Run keys, scheduled tasks, services, Explorer extensions, and more. Autoruns64.exe is the GUI. Settings > Apps > Startup and Task Manager > Startup show a subset. ## If you have never used it If Settings > Startup looks empty but something still runs at logon, Autoruns is the Sysinternals list of almost every autostart location. Download it from Microsoft Learn. Hide Microsoft entries if you only want third-party rows. It is not Task Manager's Startup tab, not Process Explorer, and not a cleaner that deletes files for you. ## What is it used for? **See every logon hook** Services, tasks, and Run keys appear here. Task Manager Startup hides most of that. **Uncheck a third-party row as a test** Unchecking disables the hook. It does not uninstall the app. Process Explorer will not persist that disable. **Compare against a known-good save** File > Save a comparison baseline. That is Autoruns, not CCleaner's startup list. ## Who is it for? - People with a mystery program at logon - Admins cleaning a PC after many installs - Anyone who found Task Manager Startup too short ## Current status Autoruns (2004) is a current autostart inspector from Microsoft Corporation. The vendor still points Windows users at https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns. ## How old is it? Autoruns launched in 2004. Task Manager Startup is a shorter in-box list that arrived later. Microsoft still publishes Autoruns with the rest of Sysinternals. ## Versions Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here. Autoruns64.exe autorunsc.exe Sysinternals Suite zip ## System requirements Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need. ### Minimum | Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per Microsoft Sysinternals | | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. | ## Resource profile - **CPU demand**: A short scan when you refresh **RAM demand**: Low for a list window ## Installed processes These executables belong to this product when it is installed. | Autoruns64.exe | Autostart list window | | -------------- | --------------------- | | autorunsc.exe | Command-line Autoruns | ## Startup components Autoruns itself should not start with Windows. It is the tool that lists what does. ## File locations | Typical install | Wherever you unpacked Sysinternals | | --------------- | ---------------------------------- | ## File formats ARN saved comparisons ## Common problems ### Unchecking a Microsoft row by accident Use Hide Microsoft Entries first. Disabling a shell extension can break Explorer. Task Manager Startup never showed that row. ### People delete files from Autoruns The tool disables registration. Uninstall the app from Settings if you want the files gone. ## Getting unstuck ### Download Autoruns from Microsoft Learn A random Autoruns.exe in Downloads from a forum is the wrong file. Task Manager > Startup is the in-box subset. ### Options > Hide Microsoft Entries, then look at the Logon tab That is the usual third-party hunt. Process Monitor is the wrong first tool for "what starts at logon". ### Uncheck one row, reboot, and test Do not disable a page of services at once. Autoruns can put them back by checking the box again. ## Alternatives Task Manager > Startup for a short list. Open-Shell and StartAllBack change the Start menu, not this inventory. ## Official help and downloads Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel. | Download | [learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns ](https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns)Official installer or vendor page | | ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Help | [learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/ ](https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/)Vendor support | | Official site | [learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns ](https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns)Start here, not a random exe host | ## Related hardware Autoruns reads registration locations. It does not bench hardware. ## Technical details Technical details Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build. ## Related These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link. [Sysinternals Suite: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/sysinternals)[Process Explorer: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/process-explorer)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager) ## Sources and verification Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research). - [Autoruns official site ](https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns)· Vendor product page - [Autoruns help ](https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/)· Vendor support - [Autoruns ](https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns)· Microsoft documentation - [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark. ## Was this article useful? A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note. Quick facts The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article. - **Developer**: Microsoft Corporation **Category**: Autostart inspector **Process**: Autoruns64.exe **License**: Freeware from Microsoft Sysinternals **First released**: 2004 **Official site**: [learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/autoruns](https://learn.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns) **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026 --- Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/autoruns/) [Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)