Autostart

This module manages which programs start with your session. You can add programs or scripts that run automatically when you log in or out.

[!NOTE] All changes in this module are applied immediately.

It looks in $HOME/.config/autostart/ for applications and login scripts, $HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/env for pre-startup scripts and $HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/shutdown for logout scripts, and displays what it finds, grouped into Applications, Login Scripts, Pre-startup Scripts and Logout Scripts.

Login scripts are .desktop files with an X-KDE-AutostartScript=true key. Pre-startup scripts run earlier and can be used to set environment variables.

See also Desktop Session and Background Services for how to configure startup.

Some applications handle autostart on their own. You might turn it on or off in their settings, or need to quit them with File > Quit, because otherwise they keep running in the system tray and restart on your next login.

#Managing items

Each entry shows the icon and name of the program or script. Hover over it to reveal these buttons:

• See properties: Changes the properties of a program or login script. The default command comes from the Exec key of its .desktop file. A logout script's command is its path and can't be changed.
• Remove entry: Immediately removes the .desktop file for the program, or the script or symbolic link.

If a script isn't executable, the module says so and offers Make Executable.

#Adding items

Add New at the top lets you choose the type of item:

• Application…: Opens the application chooser. After you choose one, its properties appear. Its .desktop file is copied to your autostart folder.
• Login Script…: Asks for the location of the script. It gets a .desktop file in your autostart folder and runs when the session starts.
• Logout Script…: Asks for the location of the script. It's copied or symlinked into $HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/shutdown and runs after you've logged out.

#Status and logs

On systems using systemd, selecting an application shows details of its systemd unit: its Name, its Status, when it was Last activated and its logs from the journal, with Start and Stop buttons. If it hasn't been started yet, details become available after a restart.

#Turning off items from your distribution

To turn off an autostart item, copy its .desktop file to your personal autostart folder. Anything of the same name in $HOME/.config/autostart overrides the .desktop file in the default package. Add this line to the copy:

Hidden=true