How to Stop Discord from Opening on Startup and Reclaim Your Boot-Time

Discord is an absolute gem of an application, but it has this annoying habit of launching every time you start your computer.

It happens when the app’s desktop client checks for updates, but the pop-up window can be quite irritating. The good news is that you can change the default setting, prevent Discord from opening on startup, and reduce the boot time significantly.

Read on to learn more about this behavior and how to easily fix it.

Why Discord Launches Itself on Windows Startup

Discord, an instant messaging social platform, makes communication as seamless as possible. You can voice call, video call, text message, or exchange multimedia and files in an instant.

However, the prime reason Discord gained popularity is not because of all these mundane features offered by every other social media platform. Instead, it became popular for its communities, called “Servers,” where like-minded people can come together and discuss their interests and hobbies or even collaborate for work.

Like many other apps, Discord launches on startup to check for the latest updates. I wish there were a better way for those apps to do this because it takes up a lot of valuable seconds of boot time.

This can be a great feature for people who use Discord often, as they can land on the app right after the update check. However, this can be a nuisance if you’re like me, who uses Discord sparsely or might not need it right after the startup.

Thankfully, this problem has quick fixes and can be done via multiple methods. Whether you’re a Mac or Windows user, these methods work like a charm.

Also read: What does Idle Status on Discord Mean?

Importance of Controlling Applications Launched on Startup

As soon as you turn on your computer, you’re welcomed with a bunch of applications ready to be used. Some of these apps, such as the operating system, are essential, while others slow your system down unnecessarily.

These apps launch on startup without your permission or knowledge, making your computer take too much time to start. This can be frustrating for people who don’t like waiting (basically, me.)

You can be in the driver’s seat by controlling the applications that launch on startup. You get to decide which programs start automatically and which don’t.

By allowing only the important apps to start on launch, you reduce the work system has to do while starting. As a result, the computer starts up faster, like a Cheetah who just got back his speed. 🐆

Besides, it helps you save time and prevents the computer from getting clogged by unnecessary programs.

Ultimately, you can dive into your work or use your computer without feeling stuck in a never-ending queue.

With that said, let’s jump into the methods to stop Discord from opening on startup.

From Discord Settings on Windows

You can prevent this issue by switching up Discord’s default settings on Windows. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Launch the Discord app on your computer.

Step 2: Click on User Settings next to your Avatar in the screen’s bottom left corner.

Step 3: Click on Windows Settings under the App Settings tab from the menu on the left.

Step 4: Disable the button that says Open Discord.

And you’re all done! Once you’ve turned off this option, you’ll no longer be bothered by the update checks, leading to reduced boot time.

From Task Manager on Windows

This nifty way to turn off the feature is from the task manager on Windows. You can also use this method to disable the automatic launch of any other app that opens on startup to check updates. Follow the below steps:

Step 1: Open the task manager using the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Click on the Startup tab.

Step 2: Look for the Discord app from the list and select it by clicking on it.

Step 3: Click the button that says Disable on the bottom right. Alternatively, you can disable the startups of any other app.

If you ever need to switch the setting back, you can follow the same steps and enable the startup again. 

From System Settings on Mac

Mac computers don’t allow you to change the startup settings from the Discord app, but you can do that from the System Settings. Here are the steps for it:

Step 1: Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner.

Step 2: From the drop-down menu, click on System Settings.

Step 3: From System Settings, click on General from the left menu.

Step 4: Click on Login Items.

Step 5: You should see the Discord app in the Open at Login box. Click on it once to select it.

Step 6: Click the minus (-) icon to remove it from auto-logins. This will prevent Discord from launching on startup.

And that’s it! You can test the changes by restarting your Mac.

From now on, you’ll no longer have to put up with long boot times. Instead, you can get to business as soon as your Windows or Mac starts.

Impact of Discord Launching Automatically on System Boot

For those who don’t know, boot time refers to the time consumed from when the device is turned on to when it’s ready to be used. You may notice that the moment you start your Windows or Mac, it takes the system a little while to load before being ready to be used. 

Your device takes time to load up some of the programs. Once loaded, they stay active in the system’s memory. As a result, the boot time slows down. While several other factors negatively impact boot time, this is one of the most common ones.

You can reduce the boot time by disabling programs you don’t frequently use from loading up every time you power on the device. This will help you save time daily and, as a result, enhance the user experience.

Closing Thoughts

Discord is one of the best apps for collaboration, both personal and professional. So much so, many people find the feature of startup launch useful because it’s one of the first apps they want to check as soon as they turn on their systems.

However, for the rest of us, this feature is an inconvenience. If you’ve been facing this issue, the above methods can prevent it on both Windows and Mac computers.

Next, check out the best Discord proxies you can use.