For small and mid-sized law firms, every minute matters. Whether it’s responding to client inquiries, reviewing case files, or preparing for court, the last thing you want is to spend precious time manually opening the same apps every morning. Fortunately, Windows 11 offers a simple solution: auto-launching your most-used applications. With a few tweaks, you can set your computer to have everything ready as soon as you log in, helping you hit the ground running every day.
Why Auto-Launching Apps Makes Sense
Starting the day with the right tools already open can save time and reduce stress. Think about the apps you use daily—Microsoft Outlook, your case management software, legal research tools, or even a secure billing platform. Manually launching these apps one by one might only take a few minutes, but over time, that adds up.
For law firms with teams working remotely or in-office, enabling auto-launch also ensures consistency. Your team can start their day focused on work, not fumbling with software setups. Plus, with less friction at the start of the day, you’re setting the tone for productivity.
How to Set Up Apps to Auto-Launch on Windows 11
This might sound like a job for IT, but the truth is, you can easily configure it yourself in just a few steps.
There’s two different ways to approach this, so I’ll cover both.
Method 1: Use Startup Settings
1. Open the Windows settings
(You can do this by clicking the windows start menu and then the gear icon)
- On the left hand side, select Apps
- Then on the right hand side, select Startup
2. Toggle Startup Apps
- Find the app you wish to load on startup, and toggle the selector to On
- Alternatively, you can disable any apps you don’t want to load on startup as well
If the app you wish to load isn’t listed, you can have more granular control over the apps using method 2 below. Otherwise you can jump to step 3 in the following section.
Method 2: Use Startup Folder
1. Access the Startup Folder
- Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
- Type shell:startup and click OK.
- This will open a folder where you can manage which apps launch automatically.
2. Add Your Apps
- Find the shortcut for the app you want to auto-launch.
- You can do this by clicking New from the top menu, then selecting Shortcut
- Click Browse to navigate to the desired app folder (This is usually located in C://Program Files or Program Files (x86)
- Drag and drop it into the Startup folder.
Finalize Your Settings
3. Fine-Tune in Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the Startup tab to see a list of apps.
- From here, you can enable or disable apps and check how much they might slow down your startup time.
4. Test It Out
- Restart your computer to make sure everything works as expected. Your chosen apps should now open automatically when you log in.
Take Control of Your Time
Law firm life is busy enough without extra steps slowing you down. By setting your key apps to auto-launch, you’re creating a smoother start to every workday. This small change helps you focus on what matters most—serving your clients.
If you’re ready to streamline your workflow further, explore other features in Windows 11 designed to improve productivity. And for more helpful tech tips, check out our blog regularly!