How to Stop Spotify from Starting Automatically on Windows 11
- 2 ways to do it
- Needs administrator rights
- Includes a restart or sign-out
When Spotify launches automatically on Windows 11, the app opens in the background as soon as you sign in. That adds a few seconds to your startup time and uses memory before you have asked for any music. You can stop it in under a minute, either from Spotify’s own settings or from Task Manager, the built-in Windows tool that controls which apps run at startup.
Turning off background startup makes the PC feel quicker after boot and stops Spotify from opening a window you did not ask for. Neither method uninstalls anything. Spotify still works normally when you open it yourself.
Open Spotify, go to Edit Preferences, click Show Advanced Settings at the bottom, and change “Open Spotify automatically after you log into the computer” to No. If that setting is missing, open Task Manager, select the Startup tab, right-click Spotify, and choose Disable. Neither method uninstalls Spotify, and the change applies at your next sign-in.
Method 1Change Spotify Settings
The first method uses Spotify’s own preferences. It is the cleanest fix because you turn off the behavior at its source. Open the desktop app, go to Preferences, and change the startup setting so Spotify stays closed until you open it yourself. This works the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro, and you do not need to restart the PC.
- Open Spotify from your Start menu or desktop icon. The main Spotify window should appear. Use the desktop app for this method, because the web player has no startup setting.
- Click the three dots (…) in the top-left corner. A menu with File, Edit, View, Playback and Help should drop down.
- Go to Edit Preferences. The Settings page should open inside the Spotify window. If you cannot find Preferences, your Spotify version may be older or newer than the one shown here. Look for a Settings entry under your profile name instead.
Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page. The advanced options are hidden by default, so you will see a Show Advanced Settings button down there. Do not worry if the page looks short at first. The button sits below the last visible section.
Next to “Open Spotify automatically after you log into the computer”, open the drop-down and change it to No. The other choices are Yes and Minimized. Minimized still starts Spotify in the background, so it does not fix the problem. The change saves immediately, with no Save button.
Method 2Use Task Manager
Use Task Manager if the setting inside Spotify is missing, does not stick, or Spotify keeps launching anyway. Task Manager is a built-in Windows utility with a list of every app that starts at sign-in, and you can switch any of them off from there. Open it, go to the startup list, find Spotify, and turn off its permission to run when Windows boots. You do not need administrator rights, and your Spotify account and settings are untouched.
- Click the Start button and type “Task Manager.” The best match should appear at the top of the results. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager directly.
- Select the Task Manager app from the list. A window with your running processes should open.
With Task Manager open, select the Startup tab. On Windows 11 it may be labelled Startup apps and sit in the left-hand sidebar. If you only see a small window with a list of apps and no tabs, click More details at the bottom to expand it. The Startup tab should now be available, showing each app with its Status and Startup impact.
Find Spotify in the list. You can click the Name column header to sort alphabetically if the list is long. Right-click Spotify and select Disable. The Status column for Spotify should change from Enabled to Disabled.
The change takes effect the next time you sign in, so you do not need to restart right away. If a restart or sign-out shows Spotify still opening, check the Startup tab again. To undo this, right-click Spotify in the same list and select Enable. You can also manage startup apps in Settings Apps Startup, where each app has an on/off switch.
Summary
This guide covered two ways to stop Spotify from launching automatically on your PC: the startup setting in Spotify’s Preferences, and the Startup tab in Task Manager. The first is usually enough. Use the second if the in-app option is missing or ignored. Either way, you can reverse the change at any time.
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Frequently asked questions
How to stop Spotify from auto opening on PC?
Open Spotify on your PC and go to Preferences, then Startup and window behavior. Set Open Spotify automatically when you log in to No. You can also turn off startup in Task Manager: open the Startup apps tab and disable Spotify. Neither change uninstalls the app.
Can I uninstall Spotify?
Yes. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Installed apps, find Spotify, and select Uninstall. You can also use Control Panel's Uninstall a program list. Your playlists stay in your Spotify account, so you can sign back in to get them after reinstalling. Downloaded offline songs are removed with the app.
How do I stop my Android from auto-starting music?
This site covers Windows, so these steps don't apply to Android. On Android, music usually starts on its own because Spotify's Autoplay is on or a Bluetooth device or car connects. Turn off Autoplay in Spotify's Settings under Playback, then review the connected devices list in your phone's Settings.
Is there a way to make Spotify turn off automatically?
Yes. Stop Spotify from opening at sign-in by setting Preferences, then Startup and window behavior, to No. In Windows 11, open Settings, go to Apps, then Startup, and switch Spotify off. Either change keeps the app installed and working when you open it yourself.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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