Open Discord, go to User Settings (the cog by your name), scroll to Windows Settings and switch off Open Discord. You can also block it from outside the app: on Windows, open Task Manager, pick the Startup apps tab, select Discord and click Disable; on a Mac, go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and remove Discord.
The Discord toggle is the cleanest fix because it stops the app asking Windows to launch it in the first place. Task Manager and the Mac's Login Items are the backup when the toggle doesn't stick, which happens more often than you'd expect after an update.
The catch most people miss: clicking the X on Discord's window doesn't close it. With Minimize to Tray switched on, Discord keeps running in the system tray by the clock, so it looks as if it never shut down and you assume the startup setting failed. Right-click the tray icon and choose Quit Discord to close it for real.
Turn it off inside Discord
This works on the Windows desktop app. The settings live in the same place on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Open Discord and click the cog icon next to your username at the bottom left. That's User Settings.
- Scroll the left-hand menu down to the App Settings group and click Windows Settings.
- Under the startup section, switch off Open Discord.
- While you're there, decide on Minimize to Tray. Switch it off if you want the X button to close Discord completely.
- Close settings. Next time you sign in to Windows, Discord should stay shut.
App menus get renamed from time to time. If a label looks different on your screen, use the search box at the top of Discord's settings and type startup or tray.
Block it in Windows itself
If Discord still opens after you've switched it off, Windows may be holding on to an older startup entry. Microsoft gives you two places to switch it off, and both do the same job.
Using Task Manager
- Right-click the Start button and choose Task Manager (or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
- Click Startup apps in the left-hand menu. On older versions of Windows it's a tab called Startup.
- Find Discord in the list and click it once.
- Click Disable at the top right. The Status column changes to Disabled.
Using the Settings app
- Open Start, then Settings.
- Go to Apps, then Startup.
- Find Discord and switch its toggle off.
Task Manager also shows a Startup impact column, which is handy if your PC is slow to boot and you want to see what else is piling in at the same time.
Stop it on a Mac
- Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar, then Login Items & Extensions. On older macOS versions it's just called Login Items.
- Under Open at Login, select Discord.
- Click the minus button below the list to remove it.
Apple also lets you skip every login item for one session: hold Shift as you click Log In and let go when the Dock appears. That's useful if you only want a quiet start today, not a permanent change.
Which method does what
| Method | Stops auto start? | Also stops minimize-to-tray? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discord: Open Discord off | Yes | No, that's a separate toggle | Most people, first try |
| Discord: Minimize to Tray off | No | Yes, X now quits the app | Anyone who thinks Discord never closes |
| Windows Task Manager: Disable | Yes | No | When the Discord toggle keeps resetting |
| Windows Settings > Apps > Startup | Yes | No | Same as Task Manager, simpler screen |
| Mac Login Items: remove Discord | Yes | No | Mac users |
Start Minimized and Minimize to Tray explained
These two options sit right next to Open Discord and they're easy to mix up.
- Start Minimized only matters if Open Discord is still on. Discord launches when you sign in, but it goes straight to the tray instead of popping a window over your desktop. If you like getting messages without the window in your face, this is the middle ground.
- Minimize to Tray decides what the X button does. On, the X hides the window and Discord keeps running. Off, the X closes it completely.
Some users have reported on Discord's own support forum that Start Minimized still flashes a full window for a few seconds before it hides. If that bugs you, switching Open Discord off entirely is the more reliable fix.
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A Discord that keeps running in the tray is also why notifications keep arriving after you thought you'd closed it. If you'd rather keep it running but quieter, my guide on Discord notifications covers the settings that control what pings you.
Why it switches itself back on after updates
Discord updates itself often, and a fresh install or a big update can recreate the startup entry. There are a few common reasons it comes back:
- You reinstalled Discord. A new install starts with the default settings, and Open Discord is on by default.
- Your settings didn't sync. Windows Settings are stored on that computer, so changing them on your laptop doesn't change your desktop PC.
- There's a second copy. Discord PTB or Discord Canary (the test versions) each have their own startup entry. Check Task Manager for more than one Discord listing.
- It's still in the tray. It never closed, so it never had to start again.
If Discord keeps reopening, crashing or acting oddly after an update, clearing its stored files often helps. Here's how to clear the Discord cache without losing your account settings, and if it's crashing outright, see what to do when Discord keeps crashing on PC.
What I'd do
I'd switch off Open Discord and Minimize to Tray inside the app, then double-check Task Manager once so there's no leftover entry. That way Discord opens when you click it and closes when you click X, which is all most people want.
Frequently asked questions
Does disabling Discord on startup log me out?
No. Switching off the startup setting only stops Discord launching by itself. You stay logged in, and your servers and messages are all there when you open it yourself.
Why does Discord still open after I turned off Open Discord?
Usually there's a leftover entry in Windows. Open Task Manager, go to Startup apps and disable Discord there too. Also check for Discord PTB or Canary, which have their own startup entries.
How do I fully close Discord instead of sending it to the tray?
Right-click the Discord icon in the system tray and choose Quit Discord. To make the X button do this every time, switch off Minimize to Tray in User Settings > Windows Settings.
Will I still get messages if Discord doesn't start with my computer?
Not on that computer until you open it. Your phone app still gets notifications if it's set up, and anything you missed is waiting when you open Discord on the PC.
