How to stop Steam from opening on startup

Methods to prevent Steam from launching at startup

Use Steam Settings

• Disable Steam autostart via the Steam interface:
  1. Open Steam
  2. Click on Steam in the upper left corner
  3. Select Settings
  4. Access the Interface tongue
  5. Uncheck the box next to “Run Steam when my computer starts” to prevent Steam from opening on startup
  6. Click ALL RIGHT to save changes and disable Steam autostart

Using Windows Settings

• Disable via Task Manager to prevent Steam from launching at startup:

  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager
  2. Go to To start up tongue
  3. Find “Steam Client Bootstrap” in the list
  4. Click on it and select Disable to prevent Steam from opening on startup

• Disable via Startup Apps to prevent Steam from opening on startup:

  1. Press the Windows key
  2. To research “Startup apps“
  3. Click on it to open
  4. Find “Steam Client Bootstrap“
  5. Flip the switch in the off position to disable Steam autostart

Advanced methods

• Change Steam shortcut to prevent Steam from launching on startup:

  1. Locate the Steam shortcut in the Startup folder (shell:startup)
  2. Right-click and select Properties
  3. In the Target field, add the -silent flag at the end

• Change the Steam start page to prevent Steam from opening on startup:

  1. Open Steam Settings
  2. Go to Interface tongue
  3. Change the start page to Library

Performance Benefits

Disabling Steam from opening at startup can:

• Improve PC performance And start time by preventing Steam from launching at startup
• Reduce RAM usage And bandwidth consumption for game updates when you prevent Steam from opening at startup
• Prevent obstructed bandwidth And slow startup processes by disabling Steam autostart

Additional Optimization Tips

• Enable Low Performance Mode to further prevent Steam from opening on startup: Go to Steam Settings > Interface > Enable Low performance mode to reduce resource usage

• Disable WebHelper GPU Acceleration to complete disabling Steam autostart.: In Steam settings, force software rendering instead of hardware accelerated rendering to reduce GPU memory overhead

• Run Steam in clean mode to prevent Steam from launching at startup: Create a custom shortcut with specific settings to remove unnecessary services

Security Considerations

• Maintain account security when preventing Steam from opening at startup: Even when you turn off autostart, make sure your Steam account has strong password And two-factor authentication activated

• Regular updates after disabling Steam autostart: Manually check Steam updates periodically to ensure you have the latest security patches.

FAQs

How do I stop Steam from opening on startup?

To prevent Steam from opening at startup, open Steam, go to Settings > Interface and uncheck “Run Steam when my computer starts.” You can also use Task Manager: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, go to the Startup tab, find Steam and click Disable.

Can I disable Steam autostart without opening Steam?

Yes, you can disable Steam autostart without opening Steam using Windows Task Manager or startup applications. In Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, search for “Steam Client Bootstrapper” and click Disable. In Startup Apps, turn off the switch next to Steam.

Will preventing Steam from launching at startup affect my games?

No, preventing Steam from launching at startup will not affect your games. All you have to do is manually start Steam when you want to play. Your games, saves and settings will remain intact.

Is it safe to prevent Steam from opening on startup?

Yes, it is possible to prevent Steam from opening at startup. This action only prevents auto-launch and does not affect Steam functionality or the security of your account. Remember to start Steam manually when you want to use it.

How do I re-enable Steam autostart if I change my mind?

To re-enable Steam to start automatically, open Steam, go to Settings > Interface and check the “Run Steam when my computer starts” box. You can also go to the Startup tab of Task Manager, search for Steam and click Enable.