Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides: Should You Remove It?

If you've noticed "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides" in your startup applications, you might be curious about what it is and how to remove it. This guide will walk you through how to understand and remove this startup entry.

What is "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides"?​

"Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides" is related to Microsoft's Dev Home application. Recently, it has been added to startup programs without user permission, causing some confusion and concern among users.

1. Remove Dev Home Using PowerShell​

• Open PowerShell as Administrator:
  • Press the Windows key + S and type PowerShell.
  • Right-click on Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
    
• Run the Command to Remove Dev Home:
  • In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:Get-AppxPackage *DevHome* | Remove-AppxPackage
    
• Wait for the Process to Complete:
  • The command will uninstall the Dev Home application along with the "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides" startup entry.

This method directly removes the application causing the startup entry, ensuring that it won't reappear.

2. Disable the Startup Entry Manually​

• Open Task Manager:
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • Alternatively, right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
• Navigate to the Startup Tab:
  • Click on the Startup tab to see a list of startup programs.
• Find and Disable "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides":
  • Look for "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides" in the list.
  • Right-click on it and select Disable.

Disabling the startup entry prevents it from running automatically when your computer starts, but does not uninstall the Dev Home application.

3. Use Settings to Manage Startup Programs​

• Open Settings:
  • Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
  • Alternatively, click on the Start menu and select Settings.
• Navigate to Apps:
  • Click on Apps, and then select Startup.
• Toggle Off "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides":
  • Find "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides" in the list.
  • Toggle the switch to Off.

This method uses the built-in Settings app to manage startup programs, offering a user-friendly interface.

4. Use the System Configuration Tool​

• Open System Configuration:
  • Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
  • Type msconfig and press Enter.
• Navigate to the Startup Tab:
  • Click on the Startup tab.
  • If you're using Windows 10 or 11, click on Open Task Manager.
• Disable the Startup Entry:
  • Locate "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides" and right-click on it.
  • Select Disable.

Using the System Configuration tool provides another way to manage startup entries, particularly useful for users familiar with older versions of Windows.

Removing "Hotkey for Dev Home Project Ironsides" from your startup entries can be done through various methods. Whether you choose to uninstall the Dev Home application entirely or simply disable the startup entry, these solutions will help you manage your startup programs effectively.