How can I prevent Discord from launching at startup on Windows 11?

Windows
1

Discord keeps opening automatically whenever I start my Windows 11 PC. It’s pretty annoying, and I want to stop it from launching every time I boot up my computer. Does anyone know how to change this setting? Any help would be appreciated!

2

First, go to your Task Manager. You can do this quickly by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc or by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting “Task Manager.” Once you’re there, navigate to the “Startup” tab. Here, you’ll find a list of all the programs that launch when you start your computer. Look for “Discord” in this list. If you find it, right-click on it and select “Disable.” This will prevent Discord from starting automatically.

That said, sometimes this method alone doesn’t disable all the settings causing Discord to launch at startup. So, for a more thorough approach, you’ll want to open Discord itself and adjust its settings.

Here’s a more detailed, step-by-step guide:

  1. Open Discord:
    Launch Discord if it’s not already running. You’ll need to access the app’s own settings.

  2. Go to User Settings:
    Click on the gear icon at the bottom-left corner next to your username. This opens the User Settings menu.

  3. Navigate to Windows Settings:
    On the left menu, scroll down to the “App Settings” section and click on “Windows Settings.”

  4. Disable Open Discord:
    You’ll see an option that says “Open Discord.” By default, this is usually toggled on. Switch it off to prevent Discord from opening automatically upon startup.

  5. Close the Settings:
    You can simply close the settings window or the entire app. Your changes should save automatically.

It’s also worth double-checking to see if Discord is listed as a startup program in the Windows Start-up Folder. To do this, press Win + R, type shell:startup and press Enter. This will open the Startup folder. If you see a Discord shortcut here, delete it.

Lastly, make sure Windows itself isn’t overriding these settings. Sometimes, there’re multiple layers affecting what gets launched on startup.

  1. Run Settings:
    Open the Settings app by pressing Win + I.

  2. Go to Apps:
    Navigate to “Apps” from the sidebar.

  3. Startup Apps:
    Click on “Startup” and review the list here. Make sure Discord is toggled off.

Doing these should cover all your bases, but if you’re still experiencing the issue, you might want to consider checking if there’s an update for Discord. Sometimes bugs can cause settings to revert, and an update might fix those. Also, don’t forget to restart your computer after making these changes to ensure they’re applied correctly.

For those more technically inclined, you can dive deeper into Windows Services and Task Scheduler, but typically, the above steps should suffice.

Checking Windows Services:

  1. Press Win + R to pull up the Run dialogue.
  2. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
  3. Look through the list for any service related to Discord. If you find anything, right-click it, go to Properties, and set the Startup type to “Manual” or “Disabled.”

Using Task Scheduler:

  1. Open Task Scheduler by pressing Win + R and typing taskschd.msc.
  2. Check any scheduled tasks related to Discord. If something’s there enabling it to launch on boot, you can disable or delete these tasks.

Also, there are several third-party tools like CCleaner that let you manage startup programs in a more streamlined manner. But really, the built-in Windows methods are typically enough.

By following these steps, you’ll have ensured that Discord doesn’t sneak its way into your startup routine again.

3

You know, dealing with Discord auto-launch issues can sometimes feel like playing whack-a-mole. Even if you follow those steps about disabling it in Task Manager and in Discord’s own settings, it can still find a way to annoy you.

Let me throw another wrench into this: instead of using traditional methods, why not check out third-party apps like CCleaner or Autoruns from Sysinternals? They dive a bit deeper into startup entries that might be hidden in the Windows registry or other obscure places. Autoruns, in particular, is like going full detective mode.

But bear in mind, these tools have their own quirks. CCleaner sometimes pushes its own Pro version annoyingly, and Autoruns can be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with all the technical jargon. Plus, there’s always the risk of disabling something essential if you’re too click-happy.

Given Discord’s knack for sneaking back, I’d regularly check back after updates or new installs. Honestly, sometimes the best method is the hammer approach: uninstall and re-install but this time, during installation, make sure to look for and uncheck any startup options. Sure, drastic, but it works.

One downside of this is you might lose some custom settings or data. And while on the topic, remember there are other gaming communication apps out there, like Teamspeak or Mumble, which might suit your needs without the startup annoyance.

So yeah, short of a more extreme method, those basic steps combined with a good third-party tool should keep Discord in check. But hey, be prepared for the occasional inconsistency. Tech life, right?

4

I agree with @techchizkid and @byteguru’s methods, but I’d like to add another twist to the mix, especially if those steps don’t fully resolve the issue. Sometimes, closing the barn door AFTER the horse has bolted is not enough—these persistent apps often linger like uninvited guests. Let’s go a bit rogue and consider alternative apps or features for managing startup programs, such as Microsoft’s “Sysinternals Suite.”

Here’s an approach with Sysinternals’ Autoruns that dives deeper:

  1. Download and Run Autoruns: Go to the Microsoft Sysinternals page and get Autoruns.
  2. Uncover All Startup Entries: Launch it and tap into the “Logon” tab. This interface shows EVERY nook and cranny where startup programs could hide.
  3. Find Discord: Scroll through and look for any Discord entries. Uncheck the boxes next to these entries to disable them.

Heads-up: This tool digs deep—it even reveals some cryptic entries. If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, don’t just uncheck everything willy-nilly. Stick to what you know unless you’re down for a Windows treasure hunt!

If you’re still stuck and feeling adventurous, let’s discuss Group Policy (yep, it exists on Windows Home too, with a little tweak):

  1. Enable Local Group Policy Editor on Windows Home: This part is for the brave souls ready to edit their registry:

    • Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
    • Navigate to: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System”
    • Right-click and create a new DWORD value named EnableLUA, and set it to 0.

  2. Use Group Policy Editor: Now you can officially use gpedit.msc:

    • Open it, and go to “User Configuration” → “Administrative Templates” → “System” → “Logon.”
    • Look for “Run These Programs at User Logon” and make sure Discord isn’t listed there.

Caution: A wrong step here can mess with your system settings. Always back up your registry before diving in.

Lastly, time for a blunt reality check—uninstall and reinstall Discord but PAY ATTENTION during the install process. Sometimes, while we’re eagerly clicking “Next,” we miss sneaky checkboxes for startup schedules.

An uninstall lets you start fresh and adjust from scratch. If Discord is crucial for your setup, make sure to export or save any necessary data before the nuke.

So, there you have it. Sure, it’s a bit more intense, but if Discord keeps ghosting you on boot, these deeper methods might be what you need. The tech life is never straightforward, right?