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To have Chrome open when you sign in to your computer, add Chrome to your operating system’s startup list. On Windows 10 and Windows 11, use Settings > Apps > Startup. On a Mac, add Google Chrome to Login Items. On Ubuntu, add a command in Startup Applications. Chrome’s own “On startup” setting does something different: it controls which pages appear after Chrome has already opened.
Two settings control two different things
People searching for this usually want one of two outcomes, and they are controlled in different places:
- Chrome launches at sign-in. This is an operating-system setting. Use the steps below for your platform.
- Chrome shows particular pages when it starts. This is Chrome’s own “On startup” setting. It has no effect on whether Chrome launches at all. Google defines the startup page as “the one that shows when you first launch Chrome on your device” (Google Chrome Help, “Set your homepage and startup page”).
Windows 10 and Windows 11
Microsoft documents a startup-app list in Windows 10 and 11. Apps turned on there start automatically when you sign in (Microsoft Support, “Configure Startup applications in Windows”).
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Find Google Chrome in the list and switch it On.
- Sign out and sign back in, or restart, and confirm that Chrome opens.
If Chrome is not in the Startup list
Chrome does not always appear in that list. In that case, Microsoft’s documented fallback is a shortcut in a Startup folder:
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- Locate Chrome in the installed-apps list and create a shortcut to it.
- Press Windows key + R to open Run, enter
shell:startup, and press Enter. - Drag the shortcut into the folder that opens.
The folder opened by shell:startup applies only to your user account. To place a shortcut in the folder that applies to every user on the device, Microsoft documents shell:common startup.
Checking and disabling startup items
Microsoft notes that Task Manager’s Startup apps tab shows the startup applications registered on the device. You can enable or disable an entry there, and the tab shows each item’s startup impact. The basic method above does not require editing the Windows registry, and Microsoft cautions that registry changes can have unintended consequences.
macOS
On a Mac, Chrome launches at login when it is listed under Login Items. Apple’s current path is as follows:
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- Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select General > Login Items & Extensions.
- Under Open at Login, use the add control, select Google Chrome, and add it.
Apple describes Login Items as items that open automatically each time you log in (Apple Support, “Open items automatically when you log in on Mac”). Apple’s page also notes that if an app keeps opening even though it is not listed as a login item, another piece of software may be responsible. In that case, check other apps’ settings rather than assuming Chrome is the cause.
Ubuntu Linux
Ubuntu Help describes a general method for running a command at login. Open Startup Applications, click Add, and enter the command to run. The Ubuntu Help page uses Firefox as its example and says applications are typically located in /usr/bin (Ubuntu Help, “Startup Applications”).
That page does not give a Chrome-specific command. Enter the command your own installation uses to start Chrome, and confirm the executable name on your system before saving the entry. Steps on other Linux desktop environments may differ from Ubuntu’s, and this article does not cover them.
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Control which pages Chrome shows after it opens
If Chrome already opens at sign-in and you want to change what appears, open Chrome’s Settings and select On startup. Google lists three choices (Google Chrome Help, “Set your homepage and startup page”):
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- Open the New Tab page.
- Continue where you left off, which restores the tabs from your last session.
- Open a specific page or set of pages.
None of these choices affects whether Chrome itself starts when you sign in.
Launch an installed Chrome web app at sign-in
An installed Chrome web app has its own launch option, which is separate from launching the Chrome browser. Google documents this for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Google Chrome Help, “Use web apps”):
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- In Chrome, enter
chrome://appsin the address bar. - Right-click the web app you want to start automatically.
- Select Launch at startup.
To stop the web app from launching, return to the same menu and deselect Launch at startup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Platform comparison
| Platform | Where to set it | What you do | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 and 11 | Start > Settings > Apps > Startup | Switch Google Chrome to On | If Chrome is missing, add a shortcut to the folder opened by shell:startup (current user) or shell:common startup (all users) |
| macOS | System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions | Add Google Chrome under Open at Login | Apple’s page describes Login Items as items that open at each login |
| Ubuntu Linux | Startup Applications | Click Add and enter the command that starts Chrome | Ubuntu’s documented example is Firefox; the Chrome command is not given on that page |
| Chrome browser pages | Chrome Settings > On startup | Choose New Tab page, continue where you left off, or specific pages | Controls what appears after Chrome opens, not whether it launches |
| Installed Chrome web app | chrome://apps | Right-click the app and select Launch at startup | Applies to the web app, not the Chrome browser |
Platform labels and menu locations can change with operating-system updates. The steps above reflect Microsoft, Apple, Ubuntu, and Google documentation as of October 2026.
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