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.
Hereโs how to do it in a few easy steps โ no special software required.
๐ฅ๏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
๐ ๏ธ How to Auto-Launch an App on Windows Startup
Letโs say you want Chrome to launch and open a website every time your PC starts.
โ 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 usemsedge.exe
orfirefox.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.
๐ก 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:
For Edge:
Pro Tip: You can also combine this with your existing scheduled power-on setup
๐ Guide: Automatically Turn On and Shut Down Your PC
๐ 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.