Startup Delay Time - Reduce in Windows 8

How to Reduce the Startup Delay Time for Desktop Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

When Windows 8 starts up and/or you sign in, any desktop apps that have been set to run at startup are delayed by a few (5-10) seconds by default now. Previous Windows did not have this delay for startup programs.

While you cannot completely eliminate this startup delay, you can adjust to either reduce or increase the delay.

This tutorial will show you how to change the startup delay time of your desktop apps that run at startup to what you want instead in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

OPTION ONE

To Set Startup Delay Time to Zero using a REG File

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1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below.​

NOTE: This .reg file will set the Startupdelayinmsec DWORD in OPTION TWO below to 0 (zero) for almost no startup delay.​

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Windows_8_Zero_Startup_Delay.reg​

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2. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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3. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

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4. If prompted, click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

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5. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

OPTION TWO

To Set a Custom Startup Delay Time in Registry Editor

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1. Press the :winkey: + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

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3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

If you do not have a Serialize key, then right click or press and hold on the Explorer key, click/tap on New and Key, type Serialize for the name, and press Enter.

   Note

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Serialize​

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4. In the right pane of Serialize, double/click tap on the Startupdelayinmsec DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot above)​

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   Note

If you do not have a Startupdelayinmsec DWORD, then right click or press and hold on an empty space in the right pane of Serialize, click/tap on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value , type Startupdelayinmsec for the name, and press Enter.

   Note

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5. Type in a number for how many milliseconds you want to have for a startup delay time for desktop apps that run at startup, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

0 = almost no startup delay

   Note

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1000 milliseconds = 1 second​

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60000 milliseconds = 60 seconds (1 minute)​

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6. When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Manage Startup Programs and Items in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Specify HungAppTimeout Used to Determine a Hung Process in Windows
• How to Specify WaitToKillAppTimeout to Speed Up Shut Down Time in Windows
• Turn On or Off to Automatically Close Apps not Responding at Shutdown in Windows
• How to Set WaitToKillServiceTimeout to Speed Up Shut Down Time in Windows
• How to Turn Fast Startup On or Off for a Hybrid Boot in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Go to Desktop or Start Screen when You Sign in or Close Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Change Time to Wait before Default OS Runs Automatically at Startup in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[proudtobegreek]

Admin,I gotta tell you,that little "tweak",reduced my reboot time by at least seven seconds,cant be placebo.This should be sticky and I mean real STICKY.Thank you very much,again.

 

[Brink]

Hello Savvas,

Oh it's no placebo. It'll save about that many seconds without the delay before startup programs run. This includes the restart script.

Restart Time - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[proudtobegreek]

Thanks for the input,had that .vbs file since the Seven era,took it over to Eight,among a view other scripts.
One thing must be said though.I had and have zero startup items (according to TaskManager) and keep almost everything (application's auto-updaters,WMP,Chrome etc.) configured not to startup at boot and this script still reduced my restart-time by seven if not eight seconds.The script must have an impact on Windows services and processes that (at least me) could not get my hands on.
Great job indeed,a MUST for all.

 

[Thibaultmol]

Hi
I have a question: How can I make specific programs delayed. For example, I want to keep everything as it is (delay time wise), but I want Dropbox to be delayed for 45 seconds (because it sometimes slows time my startup time a lot somehow). Is this possible?

 

[Brink]

Hello Thibaultmol, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you like, you could create a .vbs or .bat file that has a 45 second delay before running Dropbox. This way you could have the .vbs or .bat file run at startup instead for this.

 

[Thibaultmol]

Hello Thibaultmol, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you like, you could create a .vbs or .bat file that has a 45 second delay before running Dropbox. This way you could have the .vbs or .bat file run at startup instead for this.

Oh okay, thansk!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[ghanson]

Brink,
Thanks for putting up this post. I'm new to Win 8.1 (just received a Sager NP8628 with an Intel 4810MQ) and was curious about the delay. Thanks to you the delay has been vanquished!

Greg

 

[dencal]

Brink
Thank you...it does what it says on the tin.

 

[gulls777]

So i was wondering that in windows 7, gadgets and startup items load immediately after getting to desktop.
But in 8.1, half the start up items loaded immediately, and other half (including gadgets/touchpad driver) loaded after a delay of about 10 seconds.

Thanks to this trick, everything loads as soon as it gets to desktop now.

 

[mrdreamers]

i have no Serialize in regedit what can i do?

 

[Brink]

i have no Serialize in regedit what can i do?

Hello Mrdreamers, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You could do what's in the note box under step 3 in Option Two to add it to be able to continue.

   Note

If you do not have a Serialize key, then right click or press and hold on the Explorer key, click/tap on New and Key, type Serialize for the name, and press Enter.

 

[mrdreamers]

i have no Serialize in regedit what can i do?

Hello Mrdreamers, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You could do what's in the note box under step 3 in Option Two to add it to be able to continue.

   Note

If you do not have a Serialize key, then right click or press and hold on the Explorer key, click/tap on New and Key, type Serialize for the name, and press Enter.

TY sorry i missed that

 

[Brink]

No problem.

 

[Orangutan]

Hello,

Could you tell me how to undo this change? I had used Option 1 (using the reg file) to set it to 0 on Windows 10.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Orangutan, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You could use OPTION TWO and delete the Startupdelayinmsec DWORD to go back to default.

 

[Orangutan]

That worked! Thank you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well.