How to open your programs automatically when you turn on your PC

You turn on your computer and the routine begins: open your email, the spreadsheet, the invoicing program and a couple of websites. Every day, in the same order. There are several ways to open programs automatically when Windows starts, and some come with the system itself. In this article you'll see what options you have, how far they go and how to take it one step further: not only opening them, but also having the first clicks of the day done for you.

What exactly do you want to automate?

Before choosing a tool, it's worth telling two needs apart:

• Just opening programs. You want the browser, your email and a specific folder to open when you turn on your PC. Nothing more.
• Opening programs and doing things inside them. You want the management program to open, sign in, load yesterday's file and click "Refresh".

You can also combine both: let Windows open the programs and let a macro do the steps inside them. What matters is being clear about which part of your routine is "opening" and which part is "doing".

For the first, Windows has its own tools that work well. For the second, you need something that can repeat clicks and keystrokes, in other words a macro.

Windows options

Startup folder

This is the simplest way. Everything you put in the Startup folder opens when you sign in to Windows.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type shell:startup and press Enter. Your user's Startup folder opens.
3. Copy a shortcut to the program, file or folder you want to open there.

According to Microsoft support, apps that register a startup task with Windows can also be turned on or off from Settings or from Task Manager.

Task Scheduler

Task Scheduler gives you more control. According to Windows Report, it lets you open programs or files at specific times, show messages or run commands, and it's a valid alternative for automating program startup. You create a "basic task", choose the trigger (for example, a time) and the action "Start a program".

[VERIFY: check the exact names of the Task Scheduler steps in the current version of Windows 11 before publishing]

Where they fall short

Both options do their job well: they open things. But that's where they stop.

According to Windows Report, Task Scheduler can't record macros. And the Startup folder only opens what's in it. Neither of them will:

• Sign in inside a program.
• Open a specific file from an application's menu.
• Click buttons, type text or move between tabs.

If your morning routine includes those steps, you need something that repeats your clicks and keystrokes.

Scheduling a macro at PC startup with Macro Quantic Pro

With Macro Quantic Pro you can record that routine once and have it run on its own. The process has three parts: record, save and schedule.

1. Record the sequence. In the Recording section, press Record or Alt + F9 and go through your routine as usual: open the programs, sign in, open the file. The program also saves the time between each action.
2. Save it. Press Stop. The macro is stored in My Macros. Give it a clear name, such as "Open my programs".
3. Schedule it. Go to Scheduled Tasks, press New Task, type a name, choose the Macro type and select your macro. For the frequency, choose At startup.

Besides At startup, you can choose Once (date and time), Daily (with the option of working days only) or Weekly (days and time). In Advanced Options you can set how many times it repeats, how many retries it makes if it fails and a timeout.

When you save an At startup task, the program configures itself to start with Windows. And if you close the window, it keeps running in the system tray, next to the clock.

Advanced options worth knowing

The task's advanced options give you more control over what happens if something goes wrong:

The background setting

Whether the task runs at startup depends on the program starting with Windows. That's decided in Settings → Background, with three options:

• Smart mode (recommended): if you have active tasks, it starts with Windows and stays in the background; if not, it doesn't start on its own.
• Always keep in background: it starts with Windows and always stays in the background.
• Do not run in background: it only works while you have it open. With this option, an At startup task won't run on its own.

Precautions

A task that runs on its own needs a little more care than one you start yourself:

• The PC has to be on and you have to be signed in. Macro Quantic Pro starts with Windows when you sign in, like any other startup app. If the computer is off or nobody has signed in, the task doesn't run.
• Give the startup some time. Right after you turn it on, Windows is still loading things. If your macro starts too early, it may click on something that hasn't appeared yet. When recording, wait a few seconds before the first click: that pause is saved too.
• Test the macro several times before relying on it. Play it with Alt + F8 in different situations, for example with other windows open.
• Check your plan's limits. The Free plan, the trial and the Starter plan allow 2 scheduled tasks; Pro and Enterprise, unlimited. On the Free plan, playback is also limited to 60 cumulative minutes. It's all on the pricing page.

If you want to see all the task options in detail, they're in the scheduled tasks documentation.

Start the day with everything open

If you want your morning routine to run itself, you can download Macro Quantic Pro for free from the Microsoft Store. You don't need an account to get started.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a program open when Windows starts?

Press Windows + R, type shell:startup and copy a shortcut to the program into that folder. It will open every time you sign in. If the program has its own startup option, you can also turn it on from Settings or from Task Manager.

Can Task Scheduler record my clicks?

No. Task Scheduler opens programs, runs commands or shows messages at a specific time, but it doesn't record or repeat clicks. For that you need a macro recorder.

Does the macro run if I close the program?

Yes, if you close the window. Macro Quantic Pro stays in the system tray and runs the tasks. If you close it completely with Exit, the tasks won't run until it's opened again.

How many scheduled tasks can I create for free?

On the Free plan you can have 2 scheduled tasks. The 7-day trial and the Starter plan keep the same limit, and the Pro and Enterprise plans allow unlimited tasks.

Sources

• Microsoft Support: Configure Startup applications in Windows
• Windows Report: How to Automate Tasks in Windows 11 Using Macros
• Windows Report: Windows 11 Keyboard Macros: How to Create & Record Them