How can I launch my application automatically on system reboot?

Question

How can I launch my application automatically on system reboot?

Rohan Pande 445

Is there an API or method that I can use to make sure my application launches automatically when the system restarts? I would appreciate any help or guidance on this matter.

Answer accepted by question author

3 additional answers

Your answer

Answer 1

guilherme rodrigues 395

Hi, Rohan!

The approach varies depending on the operating system your application is targeting.

Windows

For Windows, you can use the Windows Registry or the Startup folder to launch your application automatically:

Startup Folder Method:
- You can place a shortcut to your application in the Startup folder. Press Win+R, type shell:startup, and press Enter to open the Startup folder. Drop your application shortcut here.
Windows Registry Method:
- You can add a new key to the registry to start your application. You need to modify HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run via a script or manually using the Registry Editor (regedit). Add a new String Value with the path to your application executable.

Linux

For Linux systems, depending on the distribution, you can use systemd, init.d, or cron @reboot:

systemd (most common for newer distributions):
- Create a .service file in /etc/systemd/system with the specifications for your application. Example of a systemd service file:

iniCopy code
[Unit]

Enable the service to start at boot: sudo systemctl enable service-name.service

cron @reboot (universal but less robust):
- Edit the crontab with crontab -e and add the following line:
```
    @reboot /path/to/application
```

Each method has its own merits and depends on your specific needs and the system configurations. If you need more detailed steps or have a specific setup in mind, feel free to ask! Linux

For Linux systems, depending on the distribution, you can use systemd, init.d, or cron @reboot:

systemd (most common for newer distributions):
- Create a .service file in /etc/systemd/system with the specifications for your application. Example of a systemd service file:

[Unit]

Enable the service to start at boot: sudo systemctl enable service-name.service

cron @reboot (universal but less robust):
- Edit the crontab with crontab -e and add the following line:
```
    @reboot /path/to/application
```

Each method has its own merits and depends on your specific needs and the system configurations. If you need more detailed steps or have a specific setup in mind, feel free to ask!

Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-03T04:28:48.3133333+00:00

Thanks a lot, guilherme rodrigues. This helps!!
Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-03T08:14:50.9566667+00:00

A small question, guilherme rodrigues this is actually equivalent to 'startup folder'. This will work upon a new user session has been created? And not upon reboot of the system?

So, unless a user session is created, application can't be running upon reboot of system?
RLWA32 51,456 Reputation points

2024-05-03T10:04:38.9933333+00:00

@Rohan Pande, If you want to use the registry Run key to start your application then you have two choices. If you use HKCU then the application will only start when that user signs-on. If you use HKLM then your application will start for any user that signs-on. Since HKCU is read/write for the signed-on user the user can delete your entry from its Run key. If you use HKLM then Administrator privilege is required to configure the Run key but non-administrators cannot delete the entry.

So, unless a user session is created, application can't be running upon reboot of system?

That is correct. If you want your application to run when the system boots (before a user signs-on and an interactive session is created) you can use a scheduled task or a Windows service.
Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-06T04:37:44.19+00:00

Thanks @RLWA32 . This helps. But I have another small doubt regarding this:

My observation is that when I made my application as said above by guilherme rodrigues, it started after the user session started.

I also looked at the properties of the exe. I found out that inside the 'Compability' section found out that there is a check box for 'Register the program for restart'. Is this Windows Error Reporting (WER) framework? I am not sure.

Observation is that if I mark this check box and restart my system my application would be already running.

Can this be set via programmatically way?
RLWA32 51,456 Reputation points

2024-05-06T07:57:31.68+00:00

By default when Windows 10/11 is booted it will automatically sign-in the last interactive user account and then lock the session. What you interpret as an initial sign-in is probably Windows unlocking the already existing interactive session that contains the running startup application.

My understanding is that the compatibility checkbox is a WER feature.

If an application was started when the system booted and before a user signs-in to create an interactive session it would be running in non-interactive session 0 and not visible on the screen.
Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-06T08:40:03.21+00:00

My observation wasn't completely correct. Apologies for that. This works only if the application was running and if the user rebooted the system/ restarted the user session it restarts the application.

How can I set this checkbox programmatically? If it's a WER feature, should we call 'RegisterApplicationRestart'? @RLWA32 Can you help me here?
Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-06T08:42:31.91+00:00

Even I found a blog saything that this checkbox is related to WER.
Reference: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/what-does-register-this-program-for-restart-do
RLWA32 51,456 Reputation points

2024-05-06T08:55:12.7933333+00:00
So which objective do you want to achieve? Your concerns and questions are ambiguous.

Start at boot before any user sign-in

Start in user interactive session upon sign-in
Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-06T09:05:35.12+00:00

I thought it is possible to start my application upon reboot of system. Without any user session. But as you said, in these scenario Windows Services is the only way. And an Interactive application would not be possible here.

What we could achieve nearly to this is making my application in the list of startup apps. But this is something user might want it or might not want it.

So, 1st option is not possible. Was thinking of second option.

So, I was considering an scenario where user might was already running the application and if he had restarted the system can we bring back the application. It seems like this selecting this check box behaves similar to what I am thinking. So was asking can we select this checkbox programmatically?
RLWA32 51,456 Reputation points

2024-05-06T09:40:47.8833333+00:00

It seems like this selecting this check box behaves similar to what I am thinking.

You don't need the compatibility setting. The presence of the shortcut in the user's startup folder (or an entry in the registry Run key) is sufficient to start your application when a user's interactive session is created.
Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-06T10:02:20.56+00:00

But can you also tell me how I can make this checkbox also programmatically?
RLWA32 51,456 Reputation points

2024-05-06T10:23:13.5866667+00:00

But can you also tell me how I can make this checkbox also programmatically?

What for? If you want to register with WER for restart use the existing Windows API for that.
Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-06-28T04:54:04.57+00:00
Hi @RLWA32 ,

Have a doubt in this topic back so asking it here again.

My application has the capability to run it in both ways (interactive & non-interactive). While running the application we are checking whether the machine has GUI capabilities or not as shown below:

bool Func () noexcept { HDESK thread_desktop; uint32_t rc; thread_desktop = ::GetThreadDesktop (::GetCurrentThreadId ()); if (!thread_desktop) return false; // Expected size of buffer (rc here) is 4 bytes. So, // use uint32_t buffer type instead of Bool. if (::GetUserObjectInformationA (thread_desktop, UOI_IO, &rc, sizeof (rc), nullptr) == 0) return false; if (rc != 1) return false; return true; }

Regarding registering for WER, we are only registering when the application was already running and if the system was restarted or user logged off the application should be back running once logged in.

HRESULT hresult; hresult = ::RegisterApplicationRestart (nullptr, RESTART_NO_PATCH | RESTART_NO_CRASH | RESTART_NO_HANG);

So, lets say application was running & system restarted WER starts the application but the API GetUserObjectInformationA which has an out parameter (rc) is returning false. Is this expected? Because I am running the application on machine which has GUI capabilities. Can you help?
RLWA32 51,456 Reputation points

2024-06-28T09:54:36.1+00:00

What you are seeing is a consequence of how the system starts. As stated in Desktops "The Winlogon desktop is active while a user logs on. The system switches to the default desktop when the shell indicates that it is ready to display something, or after thirty seconds, whichever comes first."Consequently, although your thread is probably connected to WinSta0\Default at the time that your code calls GetUserObjectInformation it is not the input desktop.

You need to better define what you mean by "GUI capabilities" and interactive vs. non-interactive. And this should probably be the subject of a new question.

Answer 2

RLWA32 51,456

Have you looked into RegisterApplicationRestart function

Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-03T04:31:54.9766667+00:00

I have tried this. Although the name looks like what I want to achieve, it worked only in the scenario if application went into unhandled exception. And we didn't have any exception handler set for our application.

Answer 3

Xiaopo Yang - MSFT 12,736 Microsoft External Staff

Hello @Rohan Pande,

As @guilherme rodrigues answered, you can add a new key to the registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run to start your application. If you want to do it and enable/disable programmatically, use Registry API. For more information, see https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66903672/how-to-enable-disable-windows-startup-items-programmatically

Rohan Pande 445 Reputation points

2024-05-03T04:32:09.8966667+00:00

Thanks a lot!!

Answer 4

RLWA32 51,456

Since it appears that your intent is to start your application every time the system starts or a user logs in you may also use a scheduled task for these purposes. A scheduled task that runs when the system boots will start the application in non-interactive session 0. A scheduled task that runs at user logon will start the application in the user's interactive session.

Share via

How can I launch my application automatically on system reboot?

3 additional answers

Your answer