MSConfig Selective Startup vs. Normal Startup in Windows

If your Windows PC has been starting slowly or acting strangely, you've probably encountered MSConfig, which is short for Microsoft System Configuration Utility.

This tool lets you control how your system boots and which programs and services launch with Windows. Two key startup modes offered in MSConfig are Normal Startup and Selective Startup. Let's see what each does and when to use them.

What is MSConfig?

MSConfig is a built-in Windows feature that allows us to manage startup programs and services, boot into safe mode or diagnostic states, and troubleshoot system issues related to performance or software conflicts.

You can access MSConfig by pressing Windows + R, typing msconfig, and hitting Enter.

What is Normal startup?

In Normal startup mode, Windows boots with all services and programs enabled by default, including all third-party services (like drivers, antivirus software, etc) and all items in the Startup tab of Task Manager.

This is the standard mode for everyday use, ideal when everything is running smoothly.

miconfig selective start up vs normal startup

When to use Normal startup

When your system is stable and you don't need to diagnose any issues.
After you've finished troubleshooting in Selective Startup.
To restore default settings after temporary changes.

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What is Selective startup?

Selective startup allows you to load Windows with only essential components. You can manually choose to enable or disable system services/ startup items/ original boot configuration.

This makes it advantageous for troubleshooting and diagnostics, especially when you suspect that a third-party app or service is causing problems. These are key options in Selective Startup:

Load system services: Essential services needed for Windows to run
Load startup items: Programs that auto-start with Windows
Use original boot configuration: Keeps your default boot settings

You can check or uncheck these options depending on what you're testing.

When to use Selective startup

When diagnosing boot issues, crashes, or performance lags.
To isolate problematic services or startup programs.
Before transitioning into Safe Mode with networking or diagnostics.

There is a summary table for your reference:

MSConfig	Normal Startup	Selective Startup
✅ Pros:	Full system functionality	Great for identifying and fixing problems
❌ Cons:	May load unnecessary programs, slowing boot time	Might temporarily disable helpful services (like antivirus)

To switch between startup modes, press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter. In the General tab, choose either Normal startup or Selective startup, then click Apply and OK, and restart your computer.

Pro tip: After troubleshooting, remember to switch back to Normal Startup to restore full system functionality.

Final thoughts

While Normal startup is perfect for day-to-day use, Selective startup is a go-to choice when your system misbehaves. Disabling third-party applications and services helps narrow down the root cause of performance issues.

Remember that MSConfig isn't a permanent solution for managing startup programs. For ongoing control, use Task Manager for more advanced filtering. Furthermore, after using MSConfig to stabilize your system, tools like iBoysoft DiskGeeker can help you further manage disk health and clean up unnecessary files.

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Bonus tip: If your system doesn't behave after changes in MSConfig, you can always boot into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart) and reset MSConfig to Normal Startup.

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