Discord can automatically start when you log into your computer. That’s convenient at first, but it can quickly become annoying—especially if you don’t use Discord all day.
This guide gives you three proven ways to stop Discord from opening on startup. Use Method 1 first (it’s the cleanest), then add OS-level changes only if Discord keeps launching anyway.
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Works for the current Discord app (desktop) and the common “DiscordAutoStart” behaviors on Windows and macOS, plus typical Linux autostart setups.
Why Discord Might Open on Startup
There are three common reasons Discord launches automatically:
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- Discord’s own setting enables “Start Discord” on login (varies slightly by client version).
- Your operating system autostart entry (Startup Apps, Login Items, or XDG autostart) launches it.
- Leftover launch automation (Scheduled Task, LaunchAgent, or systemd user unit) keeps running even after you change settings.
When you change one layer but not the others, Discord may still open.
Pre-Check: Confirm the Setting That Discord Uses
Before changing OS settings, confirm Discord’s internal toggle.
- Open Discord.
- Click the gear icon (User Settings) at the bottom-left.
- Go to Windows Settings (or similar) and look for Startup options.
- Turn off any toggle like Start Discord / Open Discord on startup.
If you don’t see a Startup setting, skip to Method 2. Some builds manage it indirectly through OS entries.
Method 1: Turn Off Discord’s Startup Behavior (Inside Discord)
This method stops Discord at the source when the desktop client supports the toggle.
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- Open Discord.
- Click ⚙️ (User Settings).
- Find the section named Windows Settings or Startup (wording can vary).
- Disable the option labeled Start Discord / Open Discord on startup.
- Close Discord completely (see gotcha below).
Gotcha: If Discord is still running in the background, changes may not apply until you fully exit the app. Use File > Quit Discord (Windows/macOS) or right-click the tray icon (Windows) and choose Quit Discord.
Method 2: Disable the Autostart Entry in Your Operating System
If Discord still launches, it’s being started by your OS. This is the fastest “second layer” fix.
Windows 10/11
Disable Discord under Startup Apps, then confirm it’s not in the Startup folder.
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- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the Startup apps tab.
- Find Discord (sometimes named Discord or Discord.exe).
- Click it and select Disable.
- Next, press Win + R, type
shell:startup, and press Enter. - In the Startup folder, remove any Discord-related shortcut.
If you use multiple Windows accounts, do the Startup folder check for the account where you actually log in.
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macOS (Ventura/Sonoma and earlier)
Disable Discord under Login Items.
- Click the Apple menu () > System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
- Go to General > Login Items.
- Find Discord in the list.
- Select it and click Remove (minus button).
- Quit Discord fully, then restart your Mac to test.
On macOS, “Start on login” can be controlled by a LaunchAgent even after you remove it from Login Items. Method 3 covers that case.
Linux (GNOME/KDE/XDG autostart)
Linux startup is more variable, but the common fix is to disable an autostart entry.
- Open your desktop’s Settings.
- Go to Apps > Startup (GNOME) or Startup and Shutdown (KDE).
- Disable any entry named Discord.
- If you can’t find it, check XDG autostart:
- Open your file manager and go to
~/.config/autostart. - Look for files like
discord.desktopor similar and remove/disable them.
- Open your file manager and go to
For system-wide entries, check /etc/xdg/autostart (requires admin privileges).
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If Discord keeps launching even after disabling settings and OS autostart entries, it usually means there’s a leftover launch mechanism.
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Windows: Startup folder, Scheduled Tasks, and services
Use this checklist if Discord returns after reboot.
- Verify Discord isn’t in the global Startup folder:
- Press Win + R, type
shell:common startup, press Enter. - Remove any Discord shortcut you see.
- Press Win + R, type
- Check Scheduled Tasks:
- Press Win, type Task Scheduler, open it.
- Click Task Scheduler Library.
- Look for tasks referencing Discord or Update with discord paths.
- Disable or delete the matching task(s).
- Optional: check running processes/services:
- In Task Manager, go to Details.
- Confirm whether Discord.exe starts at login and note its parent process.
macOS: LaunchAgents
LaunchAgents can start Discord even if Login Items is clean.
- Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
- Check LaunchAgents for Discord entries:
- Run
ls ~/Library/LaunchAgents - Look for files containing discord in the name.
- Run
- If you find a Discord-related plist (example:
com.discord.*.plist), disable it by moving it:- Run
mkdir -p ~/Library/LaunchAgents/disabled - Move the plist, for example:
mv ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.discord.*.plist ~/Library/LaunchAgents/disabled/
- Run
- Also check system-wide agents (admin required):
/Library/LaunchAgents. - Restart your Mac and verify Discord no longer launches.
If you want to revert later, move the plist back into ~/Library/LaunchAgents and log out/in.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Linux: systemd user units
Some Linux setups start Discord using systemd user units.
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- Open a terminal.
- List user services:
- Run
systemctl --user list-unit-files
- Run
- Look for units referencing discord or Discord.
- If you find one (example:
discord.service), disable it:- Run
systemctl --user disable --now discord.service
- Run
- Reboot or log out/in and test.
Not every distro uses systemd user units for desktop apps, but when the GUI setting doesn’t show anything, this is a reliable next step.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to Do If Discord Still Opens
When you’re confident you turned off startup, but Discord still appears after login, use this triage order.
- Fully quit Discord first. Discord can keep a helper process running. On Windows, right-click the tray icon and choose Quit Discord. On macOS, use Quit Discord from the menu bar.
- Check for update launchers. Some installs create a second process that re-triggers the app. Look for scheduled tasks or LaunchAgents with discord paths.
- Verify you didn’t disable the wrong account on Windows/macOS. Startup items are per-user.
- Look for a second Discord install. You might have Discord Canary or a different package installed. Disable startup entries for all variants.
- Confirm you’re not using a “task auto-run” tool (enterprise endpoint tools, RMM agents, or scripts that call Discord at login). Check logs or recently executed tasks.
If you want a quick sanity check: reboot once after each change, not five changes at once. That makes it obvious which layer is still starting Discord.
Common Mistakes That Cause “It Won’t Stop”
- You disabled Discord in Discord but left it enabled in Task Manager > Startup apps (Windows).
- You removed it from Login Items but a LaunchAgent still starts it (macOS).
- You quit Discord partially. Some components live in the background until you fully quit.
- You edited files without restarting. LaunchAgent/systemd changes generally require a restart or log out/in.
- You removed the wrong autostart entry on Linux. Check for discord-related
.desktopentries and unit files.
Bottom Line
Use Method 1 to disable Discord’s startup inside the app. Then use Method 2 to disable the OS autostart entry. If it still launches, Method 3 is where most stubborn cases get fixed by removing leftover tasks or services.
Common FAQs
Why does Discord re-enable itself after an update?
Updates can recreate startup entries or restore defaults. Re-check Discord’s internal Startup toggle, then verify Task Manager (Windows) or Login Items (macOS) after the update.
Will turning this off stop notifications?
No. It only prevents Discord from opening automatically at login. Notifications still work when Discord isn’t running only if your platform supports system-level notifications for background clients.
Can I stop Discord from starting but still start it manually?
Yes. Disabling startup won’t remove Discord from your system—just prevent auto-launch on login. You can open it normally whenever you want.
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