How to Stop Steam from Opening on Startup

Steam is designed to provide a seamless gaming experience, and one of the ways it does this is by opening automatically on startup. This feature is enabled by default when you install Steam on your computer. The primary reason for this is convenience. When Steam starts with your system, it can immediately begin downloading any available updates for your games. This ensures that your games are always up-to-date, and you won’t have to wait for updates to install when you’re ready to play.

Additionally, having Steam open automatically means that you can jump straight into your favorite games as soon as your computer boots up. This is particularly beneficial for those who use their computers primarily for gaming.

However, there’s a downside to this feature. Steam can use a significant amount of your system’s resources. This can slow down your computer’s startup time, particularly if you’re running an older machine or if you have many programs set to launch on startup. It can also be unnecessary if you’re not planning to play a game immediately or if you use your computer for tasks other than gaming.

That’s why some users prefer to stop Steam from opening on startup, giving them more control over their computer’s resources and startup process.

If you’re a Mac user and you want to stop Steam from automatically launching when you boot up your computer, you can easily change this setting within the Steam app itself. Here’s a step-by-step guide on “How to Stop Steam from Opening on Startup on Mac”:

1. Open the Steam application: You’ll find it in your Applications folder, or you can search for it using Spotlight (Command + Space).
2. Navigate to the Steam menu: Once the Steam app is open, look at the top left corner of your screen for the menu bar. Click on “Steam” to open the dropdown menu.
3. Open Preferences: In the dropdown menu, click on “Preferences”. This will open a new window with various settings for your Steam app.
4. Go to the Interface tab: In the Preferences window, you’ll see several tabs. Click on the one labeled “Interface”.
5. Change the startup setting: In the Interface tab, you’ll see a checkbox next to “Start Steam when my computer starts”. If this box is checked, Steam is set to open on startup. Click on the box to uncheck it and disable Steam from launching at startup.
6. Close the Preferences window: You can now close the Preferences window. The change you made will be saved automatically.

By following these steps, you’ve successfully stopped Steam from opening on startup on your Mac. The next time you restart or turn on your computer, Steam will stay closed unless you choose to open it.

If you’re using Windows 11 and want to prevent Steam from launching automatically every time you start your computer, you can adjust this setting directly in the Steam client. Here’s a step-by-step guide on “How to Stop Steam from Opening on Startup on Windows 11”:

1. Open the Steam client: You can do this by clicking on the Steam icon on your desktop or searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Access the Steam menu: Once the Steam client is open, look at the upper left corner of the window. Click on “Steam” to open a dropdown menu.
3. Open the Settings window: In the dropdown menu, click on “Settings”. This will open a new window where you can adjust various settings for your Steam client.
4. Navigate to the Interface tab: In the Settings window, you’ll see a list of tabs on the left side. Click on the one labeled “Interface”.
5. Change the startup setting: In the Interface tab, you’ll find a checkbox next to “Run Steam when my computer starts”. If this box is checked, Steam is set to open on startup. Click on the box to uncheck it and disable Steam from launching at startup.
6. Save your changes: Click on “OK” at the bottom of the Settings window to save your changes and close the window.

By following these steps, you’ve successfully stopped Steam from opening on startup on your Windows 11 computer. The next time you boot up your PC, Steam will remain closed until you decide to open it.

In addition to understanding “How to Stop Steam from Opening on Startup”, it’s also useful for Mac users to know how to manage other login items and launch agents. These are applications and processes that are set to start up automatically when you boot your computer. Here’s how you can manage them:

Managing Login Items:

1. Open System Preferences: You can do this by clicking on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and selecting “System Preferences”.
2. Click on ‘Users & Groups’: In the System Preferences window, find and click on the “Users & Groups” icon.
3. Select your user account: On the left side of the “Users & Groups” window, click on your user account.
4. Click on ‘Login Items’: You’ll see a “Login Items” tab on the right side of the window. Click on it to see a list of applications that are set to open when you log in to your Mac.
5. Manage your login items: To stop an application from opening on startup, click on its name in the list and then click on the “-” button below the list. To add an application to your login items, click on the “+” button and select the application from your Applications folder.

Managing Launch Agents:

Launch agents are small programs that run in the background on your Mac, often to check for updates or perform other tasks for applications. You can manage them using a free application like Lingon X, or manually by navigating to the LaunchAgents folders in your Library folders. Be careful when managing launch agents, as some of them are necessary for your Mac’s operation.

By managing your login items and launch agents, you can have more control over what runs on your Mac when it starts up, potentially speeding up your boot time and improving your Mac’s performance.

If you’ve followed the steps on “How to Stop Steam from Opening on Startup” but are still experiencing issues, don’t worry. There are a few additional steps you can take to resolve this problem.

1. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve many issues. After changing the settings in Steam, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
2. Check Your System’s Startup Programs: If Steam continues to open on startup, it might be listed as a startup program in your system settings. On a Mac, check the “Login Items” tab in “Users & Groups” in System Preferences. On Windows, check the “Startup” tab in the Task Manager.
3. Reinstall Steam: If all else fails, you might need to uninstall and reinstall Steam. This can resolve any issues that might have occurred during the initial installation. Remember to back up any important data (like game saves) before doing this.
4. Contact Steam Support: If you’re still having trouble, it might be time to reach out to Steam Support. They can provide assistance tailored to your specific situation.

Remember, it’s important to keep your computer’s performance in mind. If Steam opening on startup is slowing down your computer or causing other issues, taking these steps can help you maintain a smooth and efficient computing experience.