Discord is a popular app for gamers, remote teams, and online communities, but its default settings can be frustrating. One common annoyance is Discord launching automatically when you start your computer or phone.
If you’re tired of closing it every time you boot up your device, you’ll want to know how to stop Discord from opening on startup. This saves system resources and speeds up your boot time.
This guide covers simple steps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You don’t need technical expertise—just follow the instructions below.
We’ll also explain why Discord might still open unexpectedly and how to prevent it from running in the background. Let’s get straight to the solutions.
How Do I Stop Discord from Automatically Opening?
Here’s how to disable Discord’s auto-start feature across devices.
On Mobile (Android & iOS)
On Android
- Go to Settings > Apps > Discord.
- Tap Battery and select Restricted or Optimized to prevent background activity.
On iPhone
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
- Find Discord and toggle it off.
On Windows (PC)
Change Settings in Discord
- Open Discord.
- Click on the User Settings icon (gear icon) at the bottom left.
- Scroll down and select Windows Settings under App Settings.
- Toggle off Open Discord under System Startup Behavior.
Disable from Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click the Startup tab.
- Find Discord in the list.
- Right-click it and select Disable.
Remove Discord from Windows Startup Folder
- Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and hit Enter.
- Look for a Discord shortcut in the folder.
- If you find one, delete it.
On macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
- Go to Users & Groups.
- Select your username.
- Click on Login Items.
- Find Discord in the list and select it.
- Click the – (minus) button to remove it.
Why Is Discord Still Opening on Startup?
If you’ve disabled auto-start but Discord still opens at boot, a few things could be causing it:
| Causes | Solution |
|---|---|
| Another program is lunching Discord. | Another program is launching Discord. |
| Task Manager settings didn’t save. | Windows fast start-up is enabled. |
| Windows fast start up is enabled. | Ensure Discord is disabled in the task manager. |
| Corrupt discord files | Discord was running when you last shut down. |
| You didn’t turn off your PC | Corrupted files can override preferences. Uninstall, then reinstall from a verified source. |
| Discord was the running when you last shut down. | You may be thinking you shutdown your PC when you hibernated or put it to sleep. Discord will still open if it is in use. |
How Do I Stop Discord from Running in the Background?
Discord can drain resources even when closed. Here’s how to shut it down completely.
On Windows
- Open Discord.
- Click on User Settings (gear icon).
- Go to Windows Settings.
- Toggle off Minimize to Tray.
- Exit Discord by right-clicking its icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner) and selecting Quit Discord.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps > Discord.
- Tap Force Stop.
- You can also disable Background Data under Mobile Data & Wi-Fi.
On macOS
- Open Discord.
- Press Cmd + Q to close it completely.
- If Discord is still running, open Activity Monitor, find Discord and click Quit Process.
On iPhone
Swipe up from the bottom (or double-tap the home button on older models).
Find Discord and swipe it away to force it close.
Conclusion
Stopping Discord from opening on startup is simple and helps improve your system’s performance. You can disable it through Discord settings, Task Manager, or system preferences.
If Discord still launches automatically, check for other software triggering it or reset its settings. To further reduce resource usage, close Discord completely when not in use.
