On Windows 10, starting with version 2004, Cortana becomes a regular app that is no longer attached to the operating system and updates to the Microsoft Store.

The new experience brings a new chat-based interface with the ability to type or speak to the assistant. The only caveat is that once you set up the app for the first time, it’ll always start minimized in the taskbar after a reboot, even if you’re not planning to continue using the assistant.

If you want to stop this behavior, since Cortana is a regular app, it’ll now appear in the Startup settings page, where you can disable the assistant during startup on Windows 10.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to disable Cortana from starting up automatically at reboot on Windows 10.

  • Disable Cortana at startup on Windows 10
  • Disable Cortana at startup using app settings

Disable Cortana at startup on Windows 10

To stop Cortana from restarting automatically, use these steps:

  • Open Start.
  • Click on Apps.
  • Click on Startup.
  • Turn off the Cortana toggle switch.
  • Startup settings disable Cortana

Once you complete the steps, you can still use Cortana, but the next time you reboot the device, the app will not restart automatically during startup.

Open Start.

Click on Apps.

Click on Startup.

Turn off the Cortana toggle switch.

Startup settings disable Cortana

Disable Cortana at startup app settings on Windows 10

Alternatively, the same option is also available from the app settings.

  • Open Start.
  • Click on Apps.
  • Click on Apps & features.
  • Under the “Apps & features” section, select the Cortana option.
  • Click the Advanced options link.
  • Cortana advanced options
  • Under the “Runs at log-in” section, turn off the Cortana toggle switch.
  • Cortana settings disable runs at log-in

After you complete the steps, Cortana will no longer run a startup.

Click on Apps & features.

Under the “Apps & features” section, select the Cortana option.

Click the Advanced options link.

Cortana advanced options

Under the “Runs at log-in” section, turn off the Cortana toggle switch.

Cortana settings disable runs at log-in

Also, note that within the app settings, you can also reset Cortana to fix any problems.