How to Stop Google Chrome from Opening on Startup

There are few things more frustrating than turning on your computer, eager to get to work, only to watch Google Chrome automatically launch itself and attempt to load the dozen heavy tabs you had open the night before. Not only is this annoying, but it significantly slows down your computer’s boot time, as your processor is forced to load a massive web browser before it has finished loading the core operating system.

If Google Chrome is launching itself every time you turn on your Windows or Mac computer, you can easily disable this behaviour. The fix requires checking both Chrome’s internal settings and your operating system’s startup management tools.

Step 1: Disable “Continue Running Background Apps” in Chrome

The first step is to tell Chrome itself to stop trying to run in the background after you close it.

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the window to open the main menu.
3. Select Settings from the drop-down list.
4. In the left-hand sidebar of the Settings menu, click on System.
5. Look for the toggle switch labelled Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
6. Turn this toggle Off (the switch will turn grey).

This ensures that when you click the “X” to close Chrome, the software actually shuts down completely, rather than lurking in your system memory.

Step 2: Remove Chrome from Windows Startup (Windows Users)

If you have disabled the background setting but Chrome is still launching on boot, Windows is likely forcing it to open. You must remove Chrome from the Windows Startup list.

1. Right-click anywhere on the empty space of your Windows Taskbar (at the bottom of your screen) and select Task Manager. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard.
2. If the Task Manager opens as a small, simple window, click More details at the bottom to expand it.
3. Click on the Startup tab at the top of the window. (In Windows 11, the Startup tab is an icon on the left sidebar that looks like a speedometer).
4. You will see a list of every application that tries to launch when your computer boots. Scroll down until you find Google Chrome.
5. Click on Google Chrome to highlight it.
6. Click the Disable button in the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window.

The “Status” column next to Chrome will change from “Enabled” to “Disabled”. The next time you restart your PC, Chrome will wait for you to open it manually.

Step 3: Remove Chrome from Login Items (Mac Users)

If you are using an Apple Mac, macOS handles startup programs slightly differently via the “Login Items” menu.

1. Click the Apple Logo in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings… (or System Preferences… on older macOS versions).
3. Click on General in the left sidebar, then click on Login Items on the right. (On older versions, click “Users & Groups,” select your profile, and then click the “Login Items” tab).
4. You will see a list of applications programmed to “Open at Login”.
5. If Google Chrome is on this list, click on it once to highlight it.
6. Click the small Minus (-) button at the bottom of the list to remove it.

Additionally, when you are restarting or shutting down your Mac, a small confirmation box appears. Ensure you uncheck the box that says “Reopen windows when logging back in.” If you leave this checked, your Mac will automatically relaunch Chrome (and any other apps you left open) regardless of your Login Items settings.