How do I stop Zoom from starting automatically?

Zoom has become an essential tool for remote work, learning, and socializing during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some Zoom users may find the application automatically launches at startup or upon login without their permission. Fortunately, stopping Zoom from starting up automatically is an easy process on both Windows and Mac devices.

Why Does Zoom Start Automatically?

There are a couple reasons why Zoom may be starting up automatically on your computer:

• You enabled the “Open Zoom when I start Windows” option in the Zoom desktop app settings.
• The Zoom app was added to your Windows startup folder or Mac login items list.
• You have upcoming Zoom meetings scheduled and enabled Zoom to start when those meetings begin.

Enabling Zoom to launch at startup can be convenient if you use the tool frequently. However, it may also be annoying and unnecessary if you only use Zoom occasionally. The good news is you can easily disable automatic launching by adjusting your Zoom and operating system preferences.

How to Stop Zoom from Starting Automatically on Windows

Here are the steps to prevent Zoom from starting up automatically when you start Windows:

1. Open the Zoom desktop app on your Windows PC.
2. Click on the gear icon to open Settings.
3. Go to the General tab.
4. Uncheck the box next to “Open Zoom when I start Windows.”
5. Click OK to save the change.

This will stop Zoom from starting up when you boot your Windows computer. However, Zoom may still launch automatically if it’s listed in your Windows startup folder. To check this:

6. Open the Start menu and search for “Task Manager.”
7. Click on the Startup tab in Task Manager.
8. Look for any Zoom entries, right click on them, and select Disable.

After following these steps, Zoom should no longer start automatically when starting Windows.

How to Stop Zoom from Starting Automatically on Mac

Follow these instructions to stop Zoom from launching at login on Mac:

1. Open the Zoom desktop app on your Mac.
2. Click on the Zoom menu bar item and select Preferences.
3. Go to the General tab.
4. Uncheck “Open Zoom when you start your computer.”
5. Click OK to save the changes.

This prevents Zoom from starting up when you log into your Mac. However, Zoom may still open automatically if it’s in your Login Items list. To check for this:

6. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
7. Select your user account and click on Login Items.
8. Look for any Zoom entries, select them, and click the – button to remove.

Now Zoom should stay closed when starting your Mac until you manually launch the app.

How to Stop Upcoming Meetings from Opening Zoom

If you have Zoom meetings scheduled in the near future, Zoom may automatically open shortly before those meetings start. Here’s how to disable this auto-launching behavior:

1. Open Zoom and click Settings.
2. Go to the Meetings tab.
3. Uncheck “Start Zoom when a meeting is scheduled to start.”
4. Click OK to save the setting.

This will prevent Zoom from starting up when you have upcoming meetings. You’ll need to manually open Zoom prior to each meeting instead.

Alternatively, you can leave auto-launch enabled but make Zoom minimize to the taskbar when a meeting starts. That way it won’t take over your screen until you’re ready to join.

Other Ways to Control Zoom Launching

In addition to the steps above, there are a few other options for controlling when Zoom starts up:

• Use Zoom only when needed – Don’t set Zoom to open at login or schedule recurring meetings. Instead, manually launch Zoom only when you need to use it.
• Quit Zoom completely after calls – Remember to fully quit the Zoom app after your meetings end so it won’t stay running in the background.
• Create a Zoom desktop shortcut – For quick access, make a shortcut to open Zoom instead of having it start automatically.

Conclusion

Having Zoom automatically start up on your computer can be convenient but also unintrusive. Luckily, it’s easy to disable Zoom from launching at login or startup on both Windows and Mac with just a few settings adjustments. You can also prevent upcoming meetings from automatically opening the app. Just be sure to fully quit Zoom after use and launch it manually when needed for greater control.