How to stop Spotify from running only in the background on your PC

If you love listening to music while using your computer, Spotify is almost certainly among your favorite apps. And if you're like me, you don't mind the app opening automatically as soon as you turn on your computer. But what if you find this feature annoying? In that case, you'll want to know. All the ways to stop Spotify from starting on its own in the background on your PC.

Spotify keeps starting in the background? All the ways to fix it

Spotify's desktop version is much more friendly to freemium users than the mobile version. For example, It allows you to change songs as many times as you want, and the number of ads is much lower.These and other advantages make Spotify the favorite app for those who enjoy listening to music while using their computer.

Now, whether you're using the free or paid version, you might find it very annoying that Spotify launches itself in the background. As soon as you turn on your computer, you notice the app launching without you asking. It's not just about feeling like you're losing control: what's most annoying is that The app sits on the taskbar and naturally starts consuming system resources..

Do you want to prevent Spotify from launching in the background on your PC? Maybe you only use the app occasionally, or maybe You have a modest computer and want it to run faster.In any case, there are several effective ways to prevent the music app from opening automatically as soon as you turn on your computer.

Disable Spotify autostart

There's a difference between preventing Spotify from launching in the background and disabling the app's autostart. The latter option gives Spotify, and many other modern apps, permission to launch automatically when the operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) starts. Typically, Autostart is enabled by default during app installation or after an app update., and without the user noticing.

Is this the problem you're having with Spotify? If so, disable automatic application startup It's very simple. Just go to Spotify's settings and adjust its behavior when Windows starts. Follow these steps:

1. Open the app Spotify for Windows.
2. Click on your username (top right corner) and select "Preferences".
3. Scroll down to the section «Start and Windows Behavior«.
4. Look for the option «Open Spotify automatically when you start your computer» and select «No».

This simple tweak prevents Spotify from opening on startup, but does not guarantee that it is not executed behind the scenesIf you want to prevent Spotify from launching in the background on your PC, try the following solutions.

Prevent Spotify from starting on its own from Task Manager (Windows)

What if Spotify continues to run in the background even after disabling auto-start? This behavior is less common, but much more subtle and hidden. The app starts in a low profile, without showing its main window, and remains in the system tray.This can affect your computer's performance by consuming RAM and generating unnecessary network traffic.

To stop Spotify from starting only in the background on your Windows PC, you need to go to Task Manager. This Windows service allows you to see which programs run at startup and which ones are active. Additionally, from there you can disable its automatic startup and pause its activity to free up resources. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Task ManagerYou can do this with the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc or by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting Task Manager from the pop-up menu.
2. First, go to Processes in the menu on the left. In the list of active processes, look for Spotify.
3. If you find it, right click on it and click on Finish homework.
4. Then go to Boot applications in the left menu. In the list of applications that run when Windows starts, look for Spotify.
5. If you find it, right click on it and select Disabled.

By doing this, you remove any self-granted permissions from the music app to run in the background. It is the most effective way to prevent Spotify from launching on its own and consuming system resources unnecessarily. But there's another way to ensure Spotify doesn't take undue responsibility.

From the Windows Settings menu

One last way to prevent Spotify from launching only in the background on your Windows PC is through System Preferences. Specifically, go to the Applications section, where you can see the complete list of applications installed on your computer. All the apps also appear there. apps that run after starting Windows, among which Spotify is surely included.

1. Click Start and select the app Configuration.
2. In the left side menu, click on Applications.
3. Now select the option Home to see the apps that are allowed to run when you turn on your computer.
4. Find Spotify and turn off the switch.

Benefits of preventing Spotify from starting only in the background

There you have it! You can apply several of the above options to prevent Spotify from launching on its own in the background. In addition to regain control and be able to decide when and how to use the app, you will also get benefits such as:

• Higher boot speed, since the team will not have to carry unnecessary processes.
• Lower resource consumption, because RAM and CPU are freed up for other tasks.
• Less network traffic, useful if you are running tasks online.

The idea is that you can continue enjoying the benefits of Spotify for desktop while minimizing the features you don't need. The app is perfect for accessing a vast catalog of songs and audio content—you know that well. Just prevent Spotify from launching in the background, and that's it: you will have the best possible user experience.