---
title: "How to Solve Slow OmicsBox Startup on Windows"
canonical: "https://help.biobam.com/space/OBFAQ/4827545604/How+to+Solve+Slow+OmicsBox+Startup+on+Windows"
format: markdown
---
**Issue:** OmicsBox may take an unusually long time to initialize or open when running on Windows operating systems. In some cases, it may take several minutes before the application opens.

**Cause:** This problem is frequently caused by real-time antivirus scanning. OmicsBox is a comprehensive bioinformatics platform that relies on thousands of small library files and Java components. During the startup sequence, Windows Security (Microsoft Defender) or third-party antivirus software may attempt to scan every file being accessed.

**Solution:** To resolve this, you can add an exclusion to Windows Security. This instructs the antivirus to skip scanning the OmicsBox folders, allowing for a near-instantaneous startup.

Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

1. **Open Windows Security:** Click on the Start Menu and type "Windows Security".
2. **Navigate to Threat Settings:** Click on Virus & threat protection in the left-hand sidebar or the main dashboard.
3. **Manage Settings:** Under the "Virus & threat protection settings" section, click on Manage settings.
4. **Locate Exclusions:** Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the Exclusions section and click on Add or remove exclusions.
5. **Add the Folders:** Click the + Add an exclusion button and select Folder (see an example below). You should add the following directories:
  - **The Application Folder:** This is where the OmicsBox executable and system files are located.
  - **The OmicsBox Files Folder:** This is the user data and configuration folder.

![image-20260506-104526.png](media://40e9792f-fbdf-4e5e-a355-338922194cc1)

###### Windows Security "Exclusions" Dialog