Slow startup on Windows: splash screen appears in more than 20 seconds

Symptoms

• IDE startup takes more than 20 seconds to show the splash screen for the first time, subsequent start is usually much faster.

• Antivirus software with the real-time monitor such as Windows Defender is working on the computer.

Cause

Windows Defender slows down IDE startup by scanning its files. The scanning has become much slower recently for the yet unknown reason.

Resolution

Add IDE process to the exclusion list of the installed antivirus. Here are the steps for the Windows Defender:

1. Go to Start > Settings -> Update & Security -> Virus & threat protection -> Virus & threat protection
2. Under Virus & threat protection settings select Manage settings
3. Under Exclusions, select Add or remove exclusions
4. Select Add exclusion, choose Process option, and add the "<Your IDE Process Name>" and "fsnotifier.exe" executables.
   <Your IDE Process Name> is one of the following process names depending on the IDE:
   • idea64.exe
   • webstorm64.exe
   • datagrip64.exe
   • clion64.exe
   • rider64.exe
   • datagrip64.exe
   • goland64.exe
   • phpstorm64.exe
   • pycharm64.exe
   • rubymine64.exe
   • studio64.exe