How to Auto-Start an Application (Like a Browser) When Windows Boots

How to Auto-Start an App or Website

Whether you want to launch a web dashboard, display content on a digital screen, or just have your favourite app ready the moment your PC starts โ€” setting an app to auto-start with Windows is a powerful (and simple) tweak.

Hereโ€™s how to do it in a few easy steps โ€” no special software required.


๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Why Auto-Start Apps?

Auto-starting an application is ideal for:

  • Digital signage setups (e.g., display a webpage on boot)

  • POS or kiosk systems

  • Home or business automation

  • Saving time during daily startup routines


๐Ÿ› ๏ธ How to Auto-Launch an App on Windows Startup

Letโ€™s say you want Chrome to launch and open a website every time your PC starts.

โœ… Step-by-Step:

1. Create a Shortcut

  • Right-click your desktop > New > Shortcut

  • For a website, enter:
    chrome.exe https://yourwebsite.com
    (Replace with your browser and target URL. You can also use msedge.exe or firefox.exe.)

2. Move It to the Startup Folder

  • Press Win + R โ†’ type:
    shell:startup โ†’ press Enter

  • This opens the Startup folder

  • Move your shortcut into this folder

Done! The next time you start your computer, the browser will launch with your specified URL.


๐Ÿ’ก Bonus: Make It Run Fullscreen (Kiosk Style)

If you want the website to open in full-screen (ideal for signage or displays):

For Chrome, use this in your shortcut:

arduino
chrome.exe --start-fullscreen https://yourwebsite.com

For Edge:

arduino
msedge.exe --kiosk https://yourwebsite.com

Pro Tip: You can also combine this with your existing scheduled power-on setup
๐Ÿ‘‰ Guide: Automatically Turn On and Shut Down Your PC


๐Ÿ” Optional: Disable User Prompts or Lock the PC

For public displays, you may want to:

  • Auto-login (use netplwiz to skip password prompts)

  • Disable sleep/screensaver

  • Set the display to stay on

Need help setting this up for a commercial environment?
Contact Us โ€” we can pre-configure your device.