Discord opens itself every time you boot your computer. You did not ask for it. You do not want it. And yet, there it is, sitting in your taskbar before you even open your browser. This guide shows you exactly how to stop Discord from auto starting on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It takes less than two minutes, and you will not need to touch any third-party tools.
Why Discord Starts Automatically
Discord enables auto-start during installation by default. It also re-enables itself after updates in some cases. The setting lives in two places: inside Discord itself and inside your operating system’s startup manager. You need to check both to fully stop it.
There is nothing harmful about this behavior. Discord does it so you are always connected when you log in. But if you do not need Discord running in the background all day, it is just wasting memory and slowing down your startup time.
How to Stop Discord From Auto Starting on Windows
Windows users have two options. Start with the Discord in-app setting first. Then confirm it in Task Manager.
Method 1: Disable Auto Start Inside Discord
This is the fastest fix.
- Open Discord.
- Click the gear icon at the bottom left (User Settings).
- Scroll down to Windows Settings in the left sidebar.
- Find Open Discord and toggle it off.
- Close settings. Done.
If Discord re-enables this after an update, just repeat these steps.
Method 2: Disable Discord in Windows Task Manager
This method stops Discord at the OS level. Even if Discord tries to re-enable itself, Task Manager gives you full control.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click the Startup apps tab (on Windows 11) or the Startup tab (on Windows 10).
- Find Discord in the list.
- Right-click it and select Disable.
That is it. Discord will no longer launch on startup.
Method 3: Use Windows Settings (Windows 11)
- Open Settings (Win + I).
- Go to Apps then Startup.
- Find Discord in the list.
- Toggle it off.
All three methods work. Method 1 plus Method 2 together is the most reliable combination.
How to Stop Discord From Auto Starting on Mac
Mac handles startup programs differently. Discord’s own setting still applies, but you also need to check Login Items.
Step 1: Turn Off Auto Start in Discord
- Open Discord on your Mac.
- Click the gear icon next to your username.
- Scroll to Mac Settings in the left panel.
- Turn off Open Discord.
Step 2: Remove Discord From Mac Login Items
Even after the above, Discord might still appear in Login Items.
On macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia (macOS 13 and later):
- Open System Settings.
- Click General.
- Select Login Items and Extensions.
- Under “Open at Login,” find Discord.
- Click the minus (-) button to remove it.
On macOS Monterey or earlier:
- Open System Preferences.
- Click Users and Groups.
- Select your user, then click the Login Items tab.
- Find Discord, select it, and click the minus (-) button.
How to Stop Discord From Auto Starting on Linux
Most Linux distributions handle this through startup application managers or systemd, depending on your desktop environment.
GNOME (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)
- Open GNOME Tweaks or search for “Startup Applications” in your app launcher.
- Find Discord in the list.
- Toggle it off or click Remove.
KDE Plasma
- Open System Settings.
- Go to Startup and Shutdown, then Autostart.
- Find Discord and remove it.
Manually via Terminal
If Discord added itself as a desktop entry:
rm ~/.config/autostart/discord.desktop
This removes the autostart entry completely.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | In-App Setting | OS-Level Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10/11 | User Settings > Windows Settings | Task Manager > Startup |
| macOS (New) | User Settings > Mac Settings | System Settings > Login Items |
| macOS (Old) | User Settings > Mac Settings | System Preferences > Login Items |
| Linux (GNOME) | User Settings | Startup Applications / GNOME Tweaks |
| Linux (KDE) | User Settings | System Settings > Autostart |
What to Do if Discord Keeps Re-Enabling Auto Start
Some users find that Discord resets its own startup setting after updates. Here is how to deal with that.
Check both locations every time Discord updates. Updates can write a fresh autostart entry to your system without asking.
On Windows, the most permanent fix is to disable it in Task Manager. Discord’s own setting controls the Discord-level behavior, but Task Manager overrides what actually runs at boot.
On Mac, removing Discord from Login Items via System Settings is more permanent than the in-app toggle alone.
If you are on Windows and Discord keeps coming back, you can also restrict its permissions by going to Task Manager, right-clicking Discord in Startup apps, and setting it to Disabled. Windows will not let Discord override a Disabled status automatically.
Does Disabling Auto Start Affect Discord?
No. Discord works exactly the same. You just open it manually when you want it. Nothing is deleted or changed in your account. Your messages, servers, friends list, and settings all stay intact.
If you use Discord’s minimize to tray feature, Discord will still run in the background after you close it, but it will no longer start automatically on boot. You can also disable the tray icon behavior inside Discord settings if you want it to fully close when you click X.
Other Discord Performance Tips Worth Knowing
While you are in Discord settings, a few other changes can reduce resource usage.
- Turn off Hardware Acceleration (Appearance settings) if Discord feels laggy.
- Disable Streamer Mode if you do not need it.
- Lower Video Codec settings if you do screen sharing often.
Discord can use a surprising amount of RAM when left idle. According to Tom’s Hardware’s browser and app memory usage research, background apps like Discord regularly consume 200 to 400MB even when not actively used. Stopping auto start means that memory stays free until you actually need Discord.
Summary
Stopping Discord from auto starting is a two-step process. First, go into Discord settings and turn off the open on startup toggle. Second, check your operating system’s startup manager and disable Discord there too. On Windows, that means Task Manager. On Mac, that means Login Items. On Linux, it depends on your desktop environment but is usually one click in Startup Applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Discord keep turning auto start back on after updates?
Discord sometimes rewrites its startup entry when it updates. This is a known behavior. The fix is to disable it in both the in-app settings and your OS startup manager. The OS-level disable is harder for Discord to override automatically.
Will stopping auto start log me out of Discord?
No. Your login session is stored separately. When you open Discord manually, you will be logged in automatically. Nothing about your account or data changes.
Does disabling auto start stop Discord from running in the background?
It stops Discord from launching at boot. But if you open Discord and then close it with the X button, it may still run in the system tray depending on your close behavior setting. Go to User Settings and under Windows Settings, change “Close Discord” behavior to actually quit the app.
How do I stop Discord from auto starting on a Chromebook?
Chromebook uses Android apps or the web version of Discord. For the Android app, go to your Chromebook’s app management settings, find Discord, and disable background activity. For the web version, there is no auto start since it only runs in your browser tab.
Can I set Discord to auto start only sometimes?
Not natively. Discord does not have a schedule-based startup option. Your choices are always on or always off. If you want Discord open on certain days, just open it manually. It launches in about two to three seconds, so the tradeoff is minimal.
