Spotify Opens on Startup No Matter What

[justawhiteguy]

Issue: Spotify opens on startup even though the Advanced Preferences has "Open Spotify automatically after you log into the computer" set to "No".

OS: Windows 7 Professional SP1

Spotify Version: 1.0.58.573.g57c9cd87

Just as a note, this started occurring only after Spotify automatically upgraded.

Attempts at Workaround:

1. Completely uninstall (deleted entire AppData\Roaming\Spotify directory) and reinstall
2. Downgrade to previous version (1.0.57.474)
3. Disabled Spotify in MSCONFIG
4. Change spotify.exe to spotify1.exe (supported as a solution elsewhere in this forum)

The closest attempt at this being resolved was through #3. However, there were weird results.

First I disabled Spotify.exe from opening on startup. (SpotifyWebHelper.exe was already disabled) 

After restart, Spotify did not open on startup (success! but not really...). MSCONFIG still shows that Spotify.exe is disabled, but SpotifyWebHelper.exe is no longer appearing...

I then opened Spotify, went back to MSCONFIG and now I have two instances of Spotify.exe in Startup, one that I had originally disabled and a new one that is enabled after starting Spotify.

There are a couple issues here... the first is obvious, if I say No I don't want Spotify opening when I login from the "Advanced Settings", then that should be it - Spotify shouldn't be opening when I login. The second, the fact that I had to change the Windows configuration to prevent Spotify from starting, then after reopening Spotify it adds a new startup configuration so that it can open on startup is a lot more concerning.

Are there any other potential workarounds at this time that I haven't tried? Since I have seen recently a common thread of users complaining in this forum about Spotify opening on startup even though the Advanced Settings has it set to No, I hope there is something in the works from the dev team as this is an annoying bug - and seems to be a potentially scary bug as it continues to override the startup configurations.

[Dogcow]

+1. This is happening to me on 2 machines. Spotify please fix!!!!!!

[traxmark]

This worked for me after messing with it.  Open Advanced settings, and check "Yes" in the "open Spotify automatically after you log into the computer". Then close Spotify with the box checked "Yes" and restart your computer.  When Spotify automatically opens up again upon restart, go back in and check "No".  Close Spotify and restart the computer again.and see if that works.  It worked for me and has been working since.  

[kiaorahone]

I am so sick of spotify and its shortcomings. You harass us with ads. The app is the slowest i have experienced by far to start up and use.

And now with the latest evrytime i start my computer spotify starts up evn though i have requested it doesnt.

So i decide delete spotify and i cant even do that by the normal methods. Spotify get it sorted

[fresh-ear]

This should NOT require a workaround! The settiing in advanced preferences should DO what it says! Spotify, FIX this!

[wahnsinn]

Some of the workarounds posted here are oddly and unnecessarily complicated.

Literally, the only thing you need to do is to disable "Allow Spotify to be opened from web". That's the culprit. (See attached screenshot).

I know this, because I use Spotify VERY rarely and that's the only setting I touched (enabled) in recent months.

And while it lets me start the app from web links, it now also insists on running at Windows startup. So I disabled that option again and -- fixed.

It's very sad to see though, that Spotify has done nothing about this for what appears to be YEARS...

[fresh-ear]

That would be fine except I WANT "Open from the web" enabled. There are several ways I use Spotify from online links

[Arie_TDR]

GRAZI !!!

[Charliza]

I just solved this same problem.  I had tried uninstalling the program on my Windows10 to no avail.  What worked was setting "Open Spotify automatically after you log into the computer" and "Allow Spotify to be opened from the web" to No (the second is a button, not Yes/No).
I shut down then started up my computer, and spotify didn't open until I opened it.
I still don't understand why it didn't actually uninstall, though.

[wahnsinn]

---

@fresh-ear wrote:
That would be fine except I WANT "Open from the web" enabled. There are several ways I use Spotify from online links

---

Yeah, we all do. That's why there's a problem. If nobody wanted to open from web, then nobody would encounter the buggy autostarting issue either.

[blowin-steam]

why do we need spotify to be running on our home pc to use spotify in a web browser anyway? spotify servers store all our tracks/playlists, not the app on our home pc, which usually when you are not at home is switched off anyway, who leaves their pc on 24/7 when you are away from home? makes no sense at all. not something i use anyway, so switching that off is no prob for me, but its ridiculous that the button we are told to press doesn't work, classic spotify! they are rubbish

[fresh-ear]

It's because I use online services like last.fm and I'd rather have the quality of Spotify over YouTube vids. But Spotify insist on pushing us away. "Oh please DON'T use our product" they seem to be saying.

[boboman13]

I'm running mac osx 10.13 and everytime I set the spotify settings to not open automatically, after quitting the application and reopening it, it reverts to the most recent setting - either minimized or yes. This is INSANELY annoying. Stop slowing my system startup, spotify.

[boboman13]

Tried the most recent update to spotify, v 1.0.67.582.g19436fa3

Still doesn't work.

Read through this whole thread, tried the workarounds. None worked for me. Although they SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY IF SPOTIFY MADE SOFTWARE THAT WORKS. This is an affront to paying customers.

[kuhgene]

Also having this issue,

Spotify: 1.0.67.582.g19436fa3

Windows 10 Pro, v1709, Build 16299.64

This is very annoying, please fix.

[prophet_ow]

Been having this issue since creators update. One of the most annoying bugs I've ever encountered in a windows program. The fact you've let this go on for over 5 months is impressive. Please fix.

Spotify 1.0.68.407.g6864aaaf

[boboman13]

COME ON SPOTIFY.

Send me the source code and I'll fix the bug myself, free of charge.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

[user-removed]

I have tried deleting the WebHelper.exe, and I don't have any entries in any startup folder mentioned in this thread.  It still starts up automatically no matter what prefference setting I set.  Windows 10 Home version 10.0.16299 Build 16299, Spotify 1.0.69.336.g7edcc575

[user-removed]

This post was removed. I wonder if it was the workaround I needed.

[user-removed · Accepted solution]

I had to uninstall the program and reinstall it, if anyone else is still having this issue.

[paperplane03]

it helped thanks