> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.eclean.gg/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Why eclean does not appear in the Startup folder

eclean can start automatically when you sign in to Windows. That behavior is controlled by **Launch at startup** in eclean Settings, but it is not implemented as a shortcut in the Windows Startup folder.

That means eclean can launch at sign-in even when you do not see it in `shell:startup`, and even when it does not appear where older startup-folder shortcuts or classic startup registry entries appear.

| In eclean, "startup" means Windows sign-in for the current user. eclean is not meant to run before anyone signs in to Windows.

### How to turn eclean startup on or off

1. **Open Settings:** Go to **Settings > App Settings**.
2. **Find Launch at startup:** Look for the setting named **Launch at startup**.
3. **Change the toggle:** Turn it on if you want eclean to start when you sign in. Turn it off if you do not.
4. **Wait for the setting to save:** eclean updates its Windows startup registration when the setting changes.
5. **Sign out or restart to test it:** Sign back in to Windows and check whether eclean starts.

### Where to look if you want to inspect it

Do not start with `shell:startup`. eclean's current startup registration is a Windows Scheduled Task.

In eclean, the **Launch at startup** setting includes a **Scheduled Tasks** helper action. In Windows Task Scheduler, the expected task path is:

```text
\eclean\LaunchAtStartup
```

If that scheduled task exists and is enabled, eclean is registered to start when the configured Windows user signs in.

### Why it may start hidden

eclean starts with a special autostart launch argument. When eclean detects that it was opened from the autostart task, it checks the **Minimize to tray** setting.

If **Minimize to tray** is enabled, eclean can keep the main window hidden at startup and continue from the tray. If you expected a full window to open, check the tray first or turn off **Minimize to tray** in Settings.

### What to check if eclean does not start

1. **Check the eclean setting:** Confirm **Settings > App Settings > Launch at startup** is on.
2. **Open the helper action:** Use the **Scheduled Tasks** helper next to the setting and search for eclean.
3. **Look for the task path:** Confirm `\eclean\LaunchAtStartup` exists and is enabled.
4. **Check the tray:** If **Minimize to tray** is on, eclean may have started without showing the main window.
5. **Avoid duplicate startup methods:** Do not add a second manual shortcut unless support asks you to. Duplicate entries can start more than one launch path and make troubleshooting harder.

### Technical deep dive

On Windows, eclean registers autostart by creating a Task Scheduler task instead of placing a shortcut in the Startup folder. The task is created under the `\eclean` task folder with the name `LaunchAtStartup`.

The task uses a logon trigger for the current Windows user. Its action launches the eclean executable with this argument:

```text
--autostart
```

The task is registered with an interactive-token logon type. eclean also sets the working directory to the executable's parent directory, allows the task to start when available, and does not block it just because the device is on battery.

When **Launch at startup** is enabled, eclean creates or recreates the scheduled task. When the setting is disabled, eclean deletes the `LaunchAtStartup` task from the eclean task folder. On the first run, eclean enables autostart by default. After setup, eclean inspects the registered scheduled task and reflects enabled or disabled Task Scheduler state back into the saved app setting.

The supported current autostart path is the scheduled task, so a missing `shell:startup` shortcut or missing classic Run entry does not mean the eclean setting is broken.