Disable Discord's startup setting in three steps

Discord launches automatically when you turn on your computer because the app has a built-in startup setting enabled by default. You can turn this off in Discord's own settings — it takes less than a minute and works the same way on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Open Discord, click the gear icon in the bottom left corner to open User Settings, then select "App Settings" from the left menu. Scroll down to find "Startup" and toggle off the switch next to "Open Discord when I start my computer." Close the settings window and restart your computer to confirm the change took effect.

Key Takeaways

  • Discord's startup toggle is in User Settings under App Settings, and turning it off prevents the app from launching when your computer boots.
  • The setting works identically on Windows, Mac, and Linux — you only need to access one menu.
  • If Discord still opens after you disable the setting and restart, check your system's startup programs list, as Discord may have been added there separately.
  • Disabling startup launch does not affect Discord's ability to run normally when you open it manually.

What to do if Discord still opens after you disable the setting

Sometimes Discord gets added to your operating system's startup programs list independently of the in-app setting. If you turned off the Discord startup toggle but the app still launches when you boot up, your system itself is starting it. This happens occasionally when Discord updates or when you install it fresh.

On Windows, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, click the "Startup" tab, find Discord in the list, right-click it, and select "Disable." On Mac, go to System Settings, click "General," then "Login Items," find Discord, and click the minus button to remove it. On Linux, the process depends on your desktop environment, but you can usually find startup programs in your system settings under "Startup Applications" or "Autostart."

Why Discord opens on startup in the first place

Discord enables the startup setting by default because the developers want the app running in the background so you do not miss messages or calls. Many communication apps do this — Slack, Teams, and similar tools use the same approach. The assumption is that you want to stay connected at all times.

If you prefer to open Discord only when you need it, disabling the setting saves system resources and gives you more control over what runs when your computer starts. This is especially useful if you have a slower computer or if you want to reduce the number of background processes running.

How to check if Discord is still running in the background

Even after you disable the startup setting, Discord may still run in the background if you have not fully closed it. When you click the X button on Discord's window, the app minimizes to your system tray rather than closing completely — it keeps running and can still receive notifications. This is why you might see Discord active even though you did not open it manually.

To fully close Discord, right-click the Discord icon in your system tray (bottom right on Windows, top right on Mac) and select "Quit Discord" or "Exit." If you want Discord to close completely every time you close its window, you can disable the "Minimize to tray" setting in User Settings under App Settings. This prevents the app from hiding in the background.

The difference between startup launch and background running

Disabling the startup setting stops Discord from launching when your computer boots, but it does not prevent the app from running in the background after you open it manually. These are two separate behaviors, and understanding the difference helps you control Discord more effectively.

If you want Discord to close completely when you close its window instead of staying in the background, turn off "Minimize to tray" in the same App Settings menu. This way, Discord will only run when you actively have it open, and it will not start automatically when you restart your computer. You will have full control over when the app is running.

Checking your browser settings if Discord Web is opening instead

If you use Discord through a web browser rather than the desktop app, the browser itself might be set to reopen tabs from your last session. This can make it appear that Discord is opening on startup when it is actually your browser restoring previous tabs.

Check your browser settings to disable session restoration. In Chrome, go to Settings, click "On startup," and select "Open the New Tab page" instead of "Continue where you left off." In Firefox, go to Settings, click "Home," and under "Tabs," uncheck "Restore previous session." This prevents your browser from automatically reopening Discord when it starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling startup launch affect my notifications?

Yes — if Discord is not running, you will not receive notifications until you open the app manually. If you want notifications but do not want Discord to launch on startup, you can open it manually after your computer starts and let it run in the background.

Can I set Discord to launch on startup for only certain days or times?

Discord does not have a built-in scheduling feature for startup launch. Your only options are to enable it for all startups or disable it completely. If you need more control, you would have to manually open Discord on the days you want it.

Does disabling startup launch speed up my computer's boot time?

Slightly, yes — Discord uses some system resources during startup, so removing it from the startup process frees up a small amount of memory and processing power. The difference is usually noticeable only if your computer is already running many startup programs.

What if I want Discord to start automatically again later?

Go back to User Settings, click App Settings, scroll to Startup, and toggle the switch back on. If you disabled it in your system's startup programs list instead, use Task Manager, Login Items, or your system settings to re-enable it there.