# How do I keep Zoom from starting when I log into my work PC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2021, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302 "2021-07-12T13:24:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/1 "2021-07-12T13:24:42Z")
The last couple of time I’ve connected to my work PC, Zoom has started up. How do I make it not start when I log in? I have gone to Task Manager, and I’ve selected the Startup tab. Zoom does not appear in the program list, so there’s nothing to disable. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/2 "2021-07-12T13:30:20Z")
Check your Zoom settings; I believe under ‘General’ there’s an option to start Zoom on start up. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/3 "2021-07-12T13:34:19Z")
If you can’t find the setting in the Zoom front end, you can also go to Control Panel \> More Details \> Startup tab, find Zoom, right click, and select Disable. Assuming Windows 10, process is slightly different on other versions ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/4 "2021-07-12T13:35:42Z")
OK, I’m trying to sign in. (I forgot my password.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/5 "2021-07-12T13:41:43Z")
I open Control Panel, and I get ‘All Control Panel Items’. There is no More Details option. I looked in System, but I can’t do anything there. Zoom seems to be asking me to create an account, rather than recover my password. I think I don’t actually have an account, since I don’t create meetings. I just attend them. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/6 "2021-07-12T13:43:30Z")
Right click on your clock. Choose “Taskmaster” Go to the “Startup” tab. Click “Name” to sort the list by name Find Zoom and click on it. Click the “Disable” button at the bottom right. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/7 "2021-07-12T13:45:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Choose “Taskmaster” There is no Taskmaster. When I look for it in the Search box, it brings up a wiki link to a comedic game show. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/8 "2021-07-12T13:48:16Z")
Actually, that’s a really good show. But aside from that, you may be able to change the startup settings in Zoom without logging into it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/9 "2021-07-12T13:50:03Z")
lol I mean “Task Manager” I just watched an episode of Taskmaster NZ yesterday so it’s on my brain 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/10 "2021-07-12T13:54:25Z")
That sounds like the first thing I tried. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I have gone to Task Manager, and I’ve selected the Startup tab. Zoom does not appear in the program list, so there’s nothing to disable. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > But aside from that, you may be able to change the startup settings in Zoom without logging into it. When I start Zoom my options are: Join Meeting, Sign In, Minimize (-), and Close (X). No tabs, nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/11 "2021-07-12T13:58:48Z")
My bad on the Task Manager thing. When Zoom is open, look for the Zoom icon in your task tray (to the left of the clock, or perhaps under the arrow to the left of the clock). Right click it and choose Settings. Under “General” un-check “Start Zoom when I start Windows” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/12 "2021-07-12T14:00:54Z")
Open Zoom. Right-click on the icon in the task bar. Options: Quit Zoom, Zoom Meetings, Pin to Task Bar, Close Window. Wait. Fount it elsewhere… Stand by… ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/13 "2021-07-12T14:01:52Z")
Nope not the tab in the big long taskbar. The tiny square icon in the task tray. It might be under an arrow. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/14 "2021-07-12T14:04:03Z")
Yes, I found it when I clicked on the carrot. ‘Start Zoom when I start Windows’ is not checked, so it shouldn’t start when I log in. But it has the last couple of times anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/15 "2021-07-12T14:10:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I open Control Panel, and I get ‘All Control Panel Items’. There is no More Details option. I looked in System, but I can’t do anything there. Sorry, I’m an idiot - in my defense I hadn’t had my morning coffee yet. That should say “open TASK MANAGER” not control panel… my bad ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/16 "2021-07-12T14:11:33Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Sorry, I’m an idiot - in my defense Hey, I logged on before coffee. And I’m only halfway through my second cup now. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/17 "2021-07-12T14:12:14Z")
Seeing the posts you made after - did Zoom start up by itself this time? This is your work computer. Are you by chance remotely connecting to your work environment from your local machine? If so you may have Zoom on the actual computer you use to connect, as well as on the virtual machine you connect to. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/18 "2021-07-12T14:15:12Z")
It started when I logged in this morning, and on Friday. This is my work computer, and I am connecting via OpenVPN and Microsoft Remote Desktop. Since we only have a license for a single user for a program (not Zoom) I need, that program cannot be on the server and I have to connect directly to my work PC. Zoom starts on my work PC and the icon appears on the task bar. It doesn’t start on the Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/19 "2021-07-12T14:25:57Z")
Come to think of it, I had to have someone turn on my computer last week. We’re in a new building, and there have been power fluctuations and a couple of Internet outages. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302/20 "2021-07-12T14:31:18Z")
Hmm, interesting. One theory was, many offices with virtual machines have partitioned servers you can connect to for load balancing. So each time you start up your virtual machine, it runs on one of multiple servers. In those cases, a change to your registry (such as telling a program not to start up automatically) may affect your Windows user account on one server but not another. So you may have to make the change multiple times before it sticks. But in your case you are remoting into a single physical machine, so that’s not the cause. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-keep-zoom-from-starting-when-i-log-into-my-work-pc/946302.md?page=2)