How to run a C# application at Windows startup?

Question

I made an application that launches during startup, with the next code below.
The process runs on the process manager tool after the restart, but I can't see the application on the screen. When I open the same .exe file from the startup registry value the program runs perfect.

// The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications
RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);

// Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup
rkApp.SetValue("MyApp", Application.ExecutablePath.ToString());

What can I do to fix it up?

Answer 1

You could try copying a shortcut to your application into the startup folder instead of adding things to the registry. You can get the path with Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup. This is available in all .net frameworks since 1.1.

Alternatively, maybe this site will be helpful to you, it lists a lot of the different ways you can get an application to auto-start.

Answer 2

If you could not set your application autostart you can try to paste this code to manifest

<requestedExecutionLevel  level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false" />

or delete manifest I had found it in my application

Answer 3

for WPF: (where lblInfo is a label, chkRun is a checkBox)

this.Topmost is just to keep my app on the top of other windows, you will also need to add a using statement " using Microsoft.Win32; ", StartupWithWindows is my application's name

public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {
        // The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications
        RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);

        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            if (this.IsFocused)
            {
                this.Topmost = true;
            }
            else
            {
                this.Topmost = false;
            }

            // Check to see the current state (running at startup or not)
            if (rkApp.GetValue("StartupWithWindows") == null)
            {
                // The value doesn't exist, the application is not set to run at startup, Check box
                chkRun.IsChecked = false;
                lblInfo.Content = "The application doesn't run at startup";
            }
            else
            {
                // The value exists, the application is set to run at startup
                chkRun.IsChecked = true;
                lblInfo.Content = "The application runs at startup";
            }
            //Run at startup
            //rkApp.SetValue("StartupWithWindows",System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);

            // Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn't start
            //rkApp.DeleteValue("StartupWithWindows", false);

        }

        private void btnConfirm_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            if ((bool)chkRun.IsChecked)
            {
                // Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup
                rkApp.SetValue("StartupWithWindows", System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);
                lblInfo.Content = "The application will run at startup";
            }
            else
            {
                // Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn't start
                rkApp.DeleteValue("StartupWithWindows", false);
                lblInfo.Content = "The application will not run at startup";
            }
        }

    }

Answer 4

I think there is a specific Win32 API call which takes the application path and puts it in the registry automatically for you in the proper location, I've used it in the past but I don't remember the function name anymore.

Answer 5

Code is here(win form app):

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Microsoft.Win32;

namespace RunAtStartup
{
    public partial class frmStartup : Form
    {
        // The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications
        RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);

        public frmStartup()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            // Check to see the current state (running at startup or not)
            if (rkApp.GetValue("MyApp") == null)
            {
                // The value doesn't exist, the application is not set to run at startup
                chkRun.Checked = false;
            }
            else
            {
                // The value exists, the application is set to run at startup
                chkRun.Checked = true;
            }
        }

        private void btnOk_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (chkRun.Checked)
            {
                // Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup
                rkApp.SetValue("MyApp", Application.ExecutablePath);
            }
            else
            {
                // Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn't start
                rkApp.DeleteValue("MyApp", false);
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 6

OK here are my 2 cents: try passing path with each backslash as double backslash. I have found sometimes calling WIN API requires that.