CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#registrystartup
Oded .S
Oded .S

Reputation: 1091

How to run a C# application at Windows startup?

I made an application that launches during startup, with the next code below.
The process runs on the process manager tool after the restart, but I can't see the application on the screen. When I open the same .exe file from the startup registry value the program runs perfect.

// The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications
RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);

// Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup
rkApp.SetValue("MyApp", Application.ExecutablePath.ToString());

What can I do to fix it up?

Upvotes: 72

Views: 145276

Answers (12)

mamal
mamal

Reputation: 1976

its very simple

add two part in code :

1- add namespace:

using Microsoft.Win32;

2-add application to registery :

RegistryKey key=Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);
key.SetValue("your_app_name", Application.ExecutablePath);

if you want delete app from registery:

key.DeleteValue("your_app_name",false);

Upvotes: 5

Adrew
Adrew

Reputation: 707

Code is here (Win form app):

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Microsoft.Win32;

namespace RunAtStartup
{
    public partial class frmStartup : Form
    {
        // The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications
        RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);

        public frmStartup()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            // Check to see the current state (running at startup or not)
            if (rkApp.GetValue("MyApp") == null)
            {
                // The value doesn't exist, the application is not set to run at startup
                chkRun.Checked = false;
            }
            else
            {
                // The value exists, the application is set to run at startup
                chkRun.Checked = true;
            }
        }

        private void btnOk_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (chkRun.Checked)
            {
                // Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup
                rkApp.SetValue("MyApp", Application.ExecutablePath);
            }
            else
            {
                // Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn't start
                rkApp.DeleteValue("MyApp", false);
            }
        }
    }
}

Upvotes: 69

Anuraj
Anuraj

Reputation: 19598

Try this code:

private void RegisterInStartup(bool isChecked)
{
    RegistryKey registryKey = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey
            ("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);
    if (isChecked)
    {
        registryKey.SetValue("ApplicationName", Application.ExecutablePath);
    }
    else
    {
        registryKey.DeleteValue("ApplicationName");
    }
}

Source (dead): http://www.dotnetthoughts.net/2010/09/26/run-the-application-at-windows-startup/

Archived link: https://web.archive.org/web/20110104113608/http://www.dotnetthoughts.net/2010/09/26/run-the-application-at-windows-startup/

Upvotes: 45

William Wild
William Wild

Reputation: 1

If you could not set your application autostart you can try to paste this code to manifest

<requestedExecutionLevel  level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false" />

or delete manifest I had found it in my application

Upvotes: 0

pianocomposer
pianocomposer

Reputation: 128

I did not find any of the above code worked. Maybe that's because my app is running .NET 3.5. I don't know. The following code worked perfectly for me. I got this from a senior level .NET app developer on my team. 

Write(Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine, @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\", "WordWatcher", "\"" + Application.ExecutablePath.ToString() + "\"");

public bool Write(RegistryKey baseKey, string keyPath, string KeyName, object Value)
{
    try
    {
        // Setting 
        RegistryKey rk = baseKey;
        // I have to use CreateSubKey 
        // (create or open it if already exits), 
        // 'cause OpenSubKey open a subKey as read-only 
        RegistryKey sk1 = rk.CreateSubKey(keyPath);
        // Save the value 
        sk1.SetValue(KeyName.ToUpper(), Value);

        return true;
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        // an error! 
        MessageBox.Show(e.Message, "Writing registry " + KeyName.ToUpper());
        return false;
    }
}

Upvotes: 1

shakram02
shakram02

Reputation: 11826

for WPF: (where lblInfo is a label, chkRun is a checkBox)

this.Topmost is just to keep my app on the top of other windows, you will also need to add a using statement " using Microsoft.Win32; ", StartupWithWindows is my application's name

public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {
        // The path to the key where Windows looks for startup applications
        RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);

        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            if (this.IsFocused)
            {
                this.Topmost = true;
            }
            else
            {
                this.Topmost = false;
            }

            // Check to see the current state (running at startup or not)
            if (rkApp.GetValue("StartupWithWindows") == null)
            {
                // The value doesn't exist, the application is not set to run at startup, Check box
                chkRun.IsChecked = false;
                lblInfo.Content = "The application doesn't run at startup";
            }
            else
            {
                // The value exists, the application is set to run at startup
                chkRun.IsChecked = true;
                lblInfo.Content = "The application runs at startup";
            }
            //Run at startup
            //rkApp.SetValue("StartupWithWindows",System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);

            // Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn't start
            //rkApp.DeleteValue("StartupWithWindows", false);

        }

        private void btnConfirm_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            if ((bool)chkRun.IsChecked)
            {
                // Add the value in the registry so that the application runs at startup
                rkApp.SetValue("StartupWithWindows", System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);
                lblInfo.Content = "The application will run at startup";
            }
            else
            {
                // Remove the value from the registry so that the application doesn't start
                rkApp.DeleteValue("StartupWithWindows", false);
                lblInfo.Content = "The application will not run at startup";
            }
        }

    }

Upvotes: 0

Rashid Malik
Rashid Malik

Reputation: 141

public class StartUpManager
{
    public static void AddApplicationToCurrentUserStartup()
    {
        using (RegistryKey key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true))
        {
            key.SetValue("My ApplicationStartUpDemo", "\"" + System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location + "\"");
        }
    }

    public static void AddApplicationToAllUserStartup()
    {
        using (RegistryKey key =     Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true))
        {
            key.SetValue("My ApplicationStartUpDemo", "\"" + System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location + "\"");
        }
    }

    public static void RemoveApplicationFromCurrentUserStartup()
    {
         using (RegistryKey key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true))
         {
             key.DeleteValue("My ApplicationStartUpDemo", false);
         }
    }

    public static void RemoveApplicationFromAllUserStartup()
    {
        using (RegistryKey key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true))
        {
            key.DeleteValue("My ApplicationStartUpDemo", false);
        }
    }

    public static bool IsUserAdministrator()
    {
        //bool value to hold our return value
        bool isAdmin;
        try
        {
            //get the currently logged in user
            WindowsIdentity user = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent();
            WindowsPrincipal principal = new WindowsPrincipal(user);
            isAdmin = principal.IsInRole(WindowsBuiltInRole.Administrator);
        }
        catch (UnauthorizedAccessException ex)
        {
            isAdmin = false;
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            isAdmin = false;
        }
        return isAdmin;
    }
}

you can check whole article here

Upvotes: 14

Jake Soenneker
Jake Soenneker

Reputation: 179

An open source application called "Startup Creator" configures Windows Startup by creating a script while giving an easy to use interface. Utilizing powerful VBScript, it allows applications or services to start up at timed delay intervals, always in the same order. These scripts are automatically placed in your startup folder, and can be opened back up to allow modifications in the future.

http://startupcreator.codeplex.com/

Upvotes: 0

srcnaks
srcnaks

Reputation: 243

first I tried the code below and it was not working

RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);
rkApp.SetValue("MyAPP", Application.ExecutablePath.ToString());

Then, I changed CurrentUser with LocalMachine and it works

RegistryKey rkApp = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run", true);
rkApp.SetValue("MyAPP", Application.ExecutablePath.ToString());

Upvotes: 1

Davide Piras
Davide Piras

Reputation: 44595

I think there is a specific Win32 API call which takes the application path and puts it in the registry automatically for you in the proper location, I've used it in the past but I don't remember the function name anymore.

Upvotes: -1

Aliostad
Aliostad

Reputation: 81660

OK here are my 2 cents: try passing path with each backslash as double backslash. I have found sometimes calling WIN API requires that.

Upvotes: -1

Phil Gan
Phil Gan

Reputation: 2863

You could try copying a shortcut to your application into the startup folder instead of adding things to the registry. You can get the path with Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup. This is available in all .net frameworks since 1.1.

Alternatively, maybe this site will be helpful to you, it lists a lot of the different ways you can get an application to auto-start.

Upvotes: 18

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