How to disable Discord startup on Windows and Mac
Discord runs automatically when you turn on your computer unless you turn off that setting. The program sits in your system startup folder, which Windows and Mac check every time they boot. You can stop this in Discord's own settings without touching any system files — it takes about 30 seconds.
The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, but both live in the same place: Discord's User Settings, under the App section. You do not need administrator access or any technical knowledge beyond opening a menu.
Key Takeaways
- Discord's startup setting lives in User Settings under the App tab, not in your computer's system settings.
- On Windows, uncheck "Open Discord" under Startup in the App section to stop automatic launch.
- On Mac, toggle off "Open Discord" in the same location to prevent the app from launching at boot.
- Disabling startup does not uninstall Discord or affect your account — it only stops the automatic launch.
- If Discord still opens after you disable the setting, check your system startup folder for duplicate entries.
Disable startup on Windows
Open Discord and look for the gear icon in the bottom left corner next to your username. Click it to enter User Settings. From the left sidebar, click App — this is not the same as "Appearance" or "Account", so make sure you see the word "App".
Scroll down until you see a section labeled Startup. You will see a toggle next to "Open Discord". Click the toggle to turn it off. The toggle will change from blue (on) to gray (off). Close Discord and restart your computer — it should not open automatically this time.
If Discord still launches on startup after you disable this setting, it may have been added to your Windows startup folder twice. Press Windows key + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter. Look for any Discord shortcuts in that folder and delete them. Then restart your computer again.
Disable startup on Mac
Open Discord and click the Discord menu at the very top left of your screen (next to the Apple logo). Select Preferences from the dropdown. Click the App tab in the left sidebar — again, not Appearance or Account.
Find the Startup section and toggle off "Open Discord". The toggle will change from blue to gray. Quit Discord completely by pressing Command + Q and restart your Mac. Discord should no longer launch automatically.
If Discord still opens on startup, check your Mac's Login Items. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), click General, then Login Items. Look for Discord in the list and click the minus sign to remove it. Restart your Mac.
Why Discord starts automatically in the first place
When you install Discord, the installer automatically adds the app to your computer's startup routine. This is the default behavior for many communication apps — Slack, Teams, and Zoom do the same thing. The idea is that people who use these apps constantly want them ready the moment they log in.
If you do not use Discord every day, or if you prefer to launch it only when you need it, disabling startup saves your computer from loading an extra program at boot time. This can make your computer start slightly faster, especially if you have many apps set to launch automatically.
What happens after you disable startup
Disabling startup does nothing to Discord itself. Your account stays the same, your messages stay the same, and your servers stay the same. The only change is that Discord will no longer open when you turn on your computer. You can still launch it manually by clicking the Discord icon on your desktop or in your applications folder whenever you want to use it.
If you change your mind later, you can turn the startup setting back on by following the same steps and toggling it back to blue. There is no penalty for turning it on and off as many times as you want.
If the setting does not stick
Occasionally the startup setting fails to save, usually because Discord did not close properly the last time you used it. If you disable startup but Discord still launches automatically, try this: open Discord, disable the startup setting, then close Discord completely using the X button. Do not just minimize it — actually close the window. Wait 10 seconds, then restart your computer.
If that does not work, uninstall Discord completely, restart your computer, and reinstall it fresh from the official Discord website. When you reinstall, when ready go to User Settings and disable startup before you do anything else. This forces Discord to save the setting while the app is in a clean state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling startup log me out of Discord?
No. Disabling startup only stops the app from launching automatically. Your login status, messages, and servers are not affected. The next time you open Discord manually, you will be logged in exactly as before.
Can I disable startup on mobile Discord?
Mobile apps (iOS and Android) do not have a traditional startup setting because phones do not work the same way as computers. However, you can prevent Discord from running in the background by going to your phone's Settings, finding Discord in the app list, and turning off "Background App Refresh" or "Allow in Background".
Does disabling startup speed up my computer?
Slightly, but only if you have many apps set to launch automatically. Discord uses a small amount of memory and processing power at startup. If you have five or more apps launching automatically, disabling the ones you do not use constantly can make a noticeable difference.
What if I only want Discord to start on certain days?
Discord's built-in setting is all-or-nothing — either it starts automatically or it does not. If you want more control, you can disable the startup setting and instead create a scheduled task (Windows) or a Launch Agent (Mac) that opens Discord only on specific days. This requires more technical setup, so most people find it easier to just launch Discord manually when needed.