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Turn off Steam’s own startup option first: open Steam > Settings (or Preferences on some Mac builds), choose Interface, and disable Run Steam when my computer starts. Quit Steam completely, then sign out or restart. If it still appears, disable its operating-system startup entry—Settings > Apps > Startup on Windows or System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions on macOS.
Stop Steam from starting automatically on Windows
1. Disable Steam’s own startup setting
- Open Steam.
- Click Steam in the upper-left corner and select Settings.
- Choose Interface.
- Turn off Run Steam when my computer starts (wording can vary between client builds).
- Close Settings, then choose Steam > Exit or use the Steam icon in the notification area and select its exit command. Closing the window alone can leave the client running.
- Restart Windows or sign out and back in to test.
Steam’s current wording is documented in its official guide, Disable Steam from running at startup.
2. Disable Steam in Windows Startup apps
Use this if Steam’s checkbox is already off but the client still opens. The path applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11:
- Open Start > Settings.
- Go to Apps > Startup.
- Find Steam and switch it Off.
- Restart or sign out to verify the change.
Microsoft documents this Settings list and the alternative Task Manager method at Configure Startup applications in Windows.
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3. Use Task Manager if Settings does not work
- Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
- Open Startup apps.
- Select Steam, then click Disable.
- Restart Windows.
Task Manager may show a low, medium, or high startup-impact label. That category reflects Windows’ startup CPU and disk criteria; it is not a measurement of Steam’s total resource use after login.
4. Check the Windows Startup folders
If Steam is absent from both lists, a shortcut may be launching it:
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- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
shell:startupand press Enter. - Remove any Steam shortcut.
- For startup items shared by all user accounts, repeat with
shell:common startup.
Removing a shortcut from these folders removes that trigger; it does not uninstall Steam. Microsoft lists these locations and cautions that Registry changes can have unintended consequences, so Registry editing should not be the normal fix.
Stop Steam from starting automatically on Mac
1. Disable Steam’s startup setting
- Open Steam.
- In the macOS menu bar, click Steam, then choose Settings or Preferences.
- Select Interface.
- Turn off Run Steam when my computer starts (or the equivalent label).
- Quit with Steam > Quit Steam or Command-Q.
- Restart the Mac or log out and back in.
Older Mac instructions usually say “Preferences”; newer Steam builds may say “Settings.” The official Steam instructions remain the best reference for the installed client: Steam Support.
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2. Remove Steam from Login Items
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select General > Login Items & Extensions.
- Under Open at Login, select Steam.
- Click the Remove button.
- Restart or log out and back in.
Apple’s current instructions are at Open items automatically when you log in on Mac. Very old guides may use System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items; current macOS uses the System Settings path above.
Open at Login versus background activity
Open at Login controls the visible application launch. The same Login Items & Extensions pane can also allow an app to run in the background—for example, to check for updates or sync while its window is closed. Turning off a Steam background permission may reduce background work, but it is separate from removing Steam under Open at Login. Change only entries clearly identified as Steam.
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If Steam still opens after startup is disabled
| What you see | Possible cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Steam opens immediately after Windows sign-in | Windows Startup-app entry | Disable Steam in Settings > Apps > Startup or Task Manager > Startup apps. |
| Steam is not listed in Windows Startup apps | Shortcut in a Startup folder | Check shell:startup and shell:common startup. |
| Steam returns after Mac login | macOS Login Item | Remove Steam under System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Open at Login. |
| Steam reappears only after a Mac restart | Session restoration | Quit Steam before restarting or shutting down, and clear Reopen windows when logging back in in the confirmation dialog. Apple also documents System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Close windows when quitting an application: Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac. |
| Steam opens when you start a game | The game requires the Steam client | This is expected and is unrelated to boot-time startup. |
| The Steam window is closed but Steam remains active | The client was minimized or left running | Use Steam > Exit on Windows or Steam > Quit Steam/Command-Q on Mac. |
Use a temporary Mac test
At the Mac login window, hold Shift while clicking Log In. If the login window does not appear, restart and hold Shift when the progress bar appears. Apple documents this as a temporary way to prevent login items from opening. To isolate a troublesome item more permanently, Apple recommends removing login items, restarting, and adding them back one at a time: Remove login items to resolve startup problems on your Mac.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What disabling startup changes
- Steam remains installed and can be opened manually from the Start menu, desktop, Finder, or another launcher.
- A game shortcut may still start Steam when the game needs the client.
- Updates, cloud synchronization, notifications, chat presence, overlay features, and controller-related services may wait until Steam is running; exact behavior depends on Steam settings, the game, and operating-system permissions.
- You may reduce login clutter and startup activity, but no fixed number of seconds of boot-time savings is guaranteed.
How to turn Steam startup back on
- In Steam’s Interface settings, re-enable Run Steam when my computer starts.
- On Windows, turn Steam back on under Settings > Apps > Startup (or Task Manager’s Startup apps).
- On Mac, add Steam again under System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, if your macOS version offers an add control.
Do you need to uninstall Steam?
No. Uninstalling is unnecessary for a startup problem. Disabling the startup controls preserves the client and installed games while allowing you to launch Steam whenever you need it.
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