# Autostart

&Anne-Marie.Mahfouf;
2018-03-25
&plasma; 5.12
KDE
System Settings
autostart
desktop file
script file

## Autostart Manager

This module is a configuration tool for managing what programs start up with your personal &plasma;. It allows you to add programs or scripts so they automatically start during the startup or shutdown of your &plasma; session and to manage them.

Please note that in this module all changes are immediately applied.

The program scans `$HOME/.config/autostart/`, `$HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/env` and `$HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/shutdown` folders to check what programs and scripts are already there and displays them. It allows you to manage them easily.

The autostart feature has a bug, currently it is not possible to run a script after the startup of your &plasma; session.

Note that you can change the location of your `Autostart` folder in Applications Locations in the Personalization category of the &systemsettings; and set a different folder than `$HOME/.config/autostart`.

Please read also Desktop Session and Background Services for information how to configure the startup behavior of your &plasma; session.

Some &kde; applications handle the autostart behavior on their own, &eg; you can enable or disable autostart of an application in the settings dialog (&kalarm;) or you have to use File Quit (&konversation;, &kopete;), otherwise the application is still running in the systemtray and will be restarted on next login.

### Migration from &kde; Workspaces 4

To migrate your personal autostart setting from &kde; Workspaces 4:

- Copy desktop files from `$HOME/.kde/Autostart` to `$HOME/.config/autostart`
- Copy pre startup script files from `$HOME/.kde/Autostart` to `$HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/env`
- Copy shutdown script files from `$HOME/.kde/Autostart` to `$HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/shutdown`

### Files display

The main part of the module displays the programs that are loaded when &plasma; starts and scripts that are run when &plasma; starts, shutdowns or before &plasma; starts.

Name

  You cannot amend this column. It states the name of the program or script you want to start with &plasma;. The name is extracted from the Desktop file from the Name key for a program and is the filename for a script.

Command

  This column lists the commands that are run to start the program. Commands for a program can be modified through the Properties button or by double clicking the program row. The command is extracted from the Desktop file from the Exec key.

  For a script the command is the path to the script and can not be modified.

Status

  This setting is only available for programs through Desktop files. You can keep a program in the `Autostart` folder but disable it from being run at &plasma; start. Unchecking the status Enabled the program will not run on start.

  Unchecking the status Enabled sets the Desktop file Hidden property to true in the `Autostart` folder.

Run On

  Programs (Desktop files) can only be run on startup. Scripts can be run on Startup, Shutdown or Before session startup. This column allows you to change when your script is run. Startup is when &plasma; starts, shutdown is when you log out of &plasma; and before session startup is before &plasma; starts.

  Scripts and desktop files set to run on Startup are copied or symlinked in `$HOME/.config/autostart` and will be run during &plasma; startup.

  Scripts set on to be ran on Shutdown are copied or symlinked in the `$HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/shutdown` directory and will be automatically run during &plasma; shutdown after the user has logged out.

  Scripts set to run at Pre-&kde; Startup are copied or symlinked in `$HOME/.config/plasma-workspace/env` and are sourced during &plasma; startup (the `startkde` script will look for scripts here).

  Only scripts with the `.sh` extension can be read by &plasma; for Before session startup and Shutdown modes.

### Actions

On the right you have some buttons to change the way Autostart is configure. You can add programs or scripts, remove them or change their properties.

Add Program

  Clicking this button displays the standard &plasma; Choose Application dialog and allows you to choose which program you want to start. After choosing the program, clicking OK brings you the properties for this program.

  This will copy the program Desktop file in your `Autostart` folder.

Add Script

  This button opens a dialog which asks you for the location of the script you want to add. If you keep Create as symlink checked (default) then the script will be added as a symlink. If you uncheck this option then the script will be copied in the corresponding local folder.

Remove

  Remove will immediately remove the Desktop file for the program or the script or symbolic link in the `Autostart` folder.

Properties

  This button (only enabled for programs &ie; Desktop files) allows you to change the properties of the program or script. You have general properties, permissions properties, a preview when applicable and properties related to the application for programs.

Advanced

  This button only applies to programs (&ie; Desktop files). A dialog asks you if you only want the program to autostart only in &plasma; (and not in other desktop environments you might run). By default, the program will autostart in all desktop environments you might run. Checking Autostart only in Plasma will autostart the program only if you start the &plasma; desktop environment.

  This sets the value Plasma to the OnlyShowIn key of the program Desktop file.