How To Stop Steam From Opening On Startup?

When you install Steam on Windows, the client is set to open automatically when you start your PC and log in. Like many gaming applications, Steam starts automatically when you log in. This can slow down your computer, especially if you don’t intend to use Steam.

While you can disable this feature, enabling it by default can be annoying. Luckily, there are several ways to prevent this by disabling it in the Steam client. Or by stopping it in Windows Settings or Mac System Preferences. next steps.

Running Steam at startup has its pros and cons, and you’ll find everything you need to know on the subject in this handy guide. If this annoys you or finds it a waste of precious computer resources. Here’s how to prevent Steam from launching on startup on both Windows and Mac.

Table of Contents

3 Ways To Stop Steam From Opening On Startup?

Below are the 3 methods to stop Steam from opening on startup.

Using Windows Task Manager

If you want to disable Steam from starting without opening the software, you can easily do so from the Startup tab of your Windows Task Manager.

This method requires accessing the Task Manager in Windows and disabling Steam in the Startup section. Alternatively, you can select the Steam application, scroll to the bottom of the Task Manager window and click the Disable button.
Then finally click OK. You have disabled the default setting for Steam to start automatically when you start your computer.
Highlight the Steam entry in the menu and then click the – button in the bottom left corner to remove it from startup. To do this, make sure the Steam client is running; if not, launch it from the Start menu (on Windows) or launcher (on Mac).

Changing Steam Startup Settings In The Steam Client

To do this on Windows 10, follow these steps.

Open Steam and click the Settings tab in the upper left corner of the Steam window. Click on settings.
When the settings window appears, click “Interface” and uncheck “Start Steam when my computer starts.”

From now on, Steam will not start automatically when Windows starts. You can disable Steam auto-launch via the Windows startup application or the Task Manager utility. On the right, you’ll still see the option to “Launch Steam when my computer starts.” Steam will no longer start automatically at system boot by following these steps.

However, if this affects PC performance, please note that launching a Steam Library game will automatically launch Steam. Whatever your situation, Steam probably doesn’t need to be launched automatically at startup. However, Steam does the same thing as most other programs and starting as soon as the system starts. Steam is installed with the “Open at startup” box checked.

Disabling Steam Services On Windows 10

In addition to using the Steam interface, you can also prevent Steam from automatically launching on Windows startup. Another way is to disable Steam from Windows AutoStart in the Settings menu. If you’re playing on Windows 10, you can disable startup programs via the Windows Task Manager instead. Luckily, there is a built-in Steam setting that you can turn off so that the program doesn’t open every time you turn on your computer.

There are several ways to do this, as Steam can sometimes be quite stubborn and keep opening after launch. Before we get into specific OS-based methods, you can use a general method to disable Steam from launching on startup. The method for preventing Steam from opening at startup is slightly different on Windows 10 and macOS, but you can also do it through the Steam app on either operating system. If you’re using Windows on your PC, there are several ways to stop Steam from automatically launching every time you turn on your computer.

For MAC Users:

If you are using a MAC, select “Settings.” Click “Steam” in the top left corner of the screen and select “Settings” if you’re on a PC or “Settings” if you’re on a Mac. Alternatively, you can find the Steam icon in the system tray, right-click on it and click Settings.

So, you will forcefully stop the Steam client loader process on startup even if you choose the option mentioned in the method above. If this is the case, you will need to repeat the above steps to stop it or follow the additional steps below. Hence, ensure that Steam cannot open automatically, even if the setting in the Steam client is enabled to do so.

While the steps above should prevent Steam from automatically opening when you start your Windows PC, you can ensure Steam isn’t running by disabling some Steam services. Apple and Mac users can also use their operating system features to disable Steam from opening at startup.

Luckily, you can quickly stop Steam from launching on startup on Mac and Windows computers. Steam can slow down your computer if the desktop client runs at startup. So just like on Windows, Steam also starts automatically when you open your computer. When you install it, Steam is set as the default application. That means it will open every time you log into your computer.

FAQs

How do I stop Steam from opening on startup in Windows?

Open the Steam client, go to Steam > Settings > Interface, and uncheck Run Steam when my computer starts .

Can I disable Steam from starting up using Task Manager on Windows?

Yes, you can open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, locate Steam, right-click it, and select Disable .

Is there a way to stop Steam from opening on startup on a Mac?

On a Mac, you can go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items, find Steam, and remove it from the list .

Will disabling Steam from startup affect its functionality?

No, disabling Steam from startup will not affect its functionality. It will only prevent the app from opening automatically when you turn on your computer .

What should I do if Steam continues to open on startup after disabling it?

If Steam continues to open on startup, ensure that the setting in the Steam client is unchecked, and double-check the startup settings in Task Manager (Windows) or System Preferences (Mac) .

Conclusion

If for some reason, Steam doesn’t allow you to prevent its client from running, you can try stopping it in the windows settings. When you first install Steam, it starts by default when Windows starts. When you install the Steam client on your system, be it Windows or macOS, one of the default features that come with it is to start it automatically at boot.

For example, if resetting the Steam settings when you update or reinstall the client, disable the client in Task Manager. Ensure that it doesn’t automatically open when you restart your PC. Task Manager will also show you if the application startup behavior has significantly impacted system startup.

Dave leclair

Dave LeClair is an experienced News Editor at Automaticable. He has written for publications like MakeUseOf, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and more. Dave also appears in videos for MakeUseOf and TheGamer.