![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/startupapps-icon-250x250.webp\"){kind=icon}
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Ubuntu 26.04 does no longer have the “Startup Applications” utility! Here are alternative ways to add startup programs, scripts, or commands that run automatically at login.<\/p>\n
As you may know, the default Gnome Desktop (since v49) added the feature to enable auto-start applications by using toggle options in Settings -> Apps<\/i>.<\/p>\n
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It’s great for beginners, but, what if you want to auto-start app with custom options, or auto-run custom commands\/scripts at login?<\/b><\/p>\n Autostart apps via Ubuntu Settings<\/p><\/div>\n Here I’m going to show you 2 alternatives to do the job in Ubuntu 26.04:<\/p>\n As you may know, all the app icons you see in Gnome app grid, dock, or other app launchers in most popular Linux distributions are handled by Similarly, auto-start apps are handled by the And, when you turn on “Autostart” toggle switch for an application in Settings (Gnome Control Center), it will automatically create a file under If you want to auto-run custom commands, scripts, or apps with custom options at login, then just create 1. Create the directory.<\/b> The 2. Create & edit custom Tips:<\/b> Ubuntu (Gnome indeed) does not have “New Document” context menu option, see this tutorial<\/a> to enable it.<\/p>\n When file opens, write following content and edit accordingly:<\/p>\n In the case, it will auto-launch Firefox in private mode and open Google.com automatically, with 30 seconds delay after login.<\/p>\n According what you want to run, you need to replace the command for “Exec<\/b>“, and edit the ‘Name’ and ‘Comment’ as you want. For example, use:<\/p>\n Tips:<\/b><\/p>\n After created and edited the file, just save it,\u00a0and verify if it works by logging out and back in.<\/p>\n To make things simple, there are few third-party graphical tools can do the job managing startup apps and scripts.<\/p>\n As far as I know, the free open-source Ignition<\/a> tool is a good choice which provides a simple and modern user interface to add, remove, and modify startup entries.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/g49-autostartup.webp\")
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.desktop<\/code> configuration file.<\/li>\nOption 1: Use .desktop configuration file<\/h3>\n
.desktop<\/code> files under \/usr\/share\/applications<\/code>, .local\/share\/applications<\/code>, etc directories.<\/p>\n.desktop<\/code> files under either \/etc\/xdg\/autostart<\/code> or .config\/autostart<\/code> directories.<\/p>\n.config\/autostart<\/code> linked to the .desktop<\/code> file for that app icon.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n.desktop<\/code> files in that directory with following steps.<\/p>\n~\/.config\/autostart<\/code> directory does not exist out-of-the-box. You may either open “Files” and press Ctrl+H to view hidden files\/folders, then navigate to .config<\/code> and create autostart<\/b> subfolder, or open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T<\/b>) and run command below to create:<\/p>\nmkdir -p ~\/.config\/autostart<\/pre>\n
<\/p>\n.desktop<\/code> file.<\/b> Next, go to that “autostart” folder and create a document then rename to xxx.desktop<\/code> , “firefox-private.desktop” for example, and click edit via\u00a0text editor:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n[Desktop Entry]\r\nType=Application\r\nExec=sh -c \"sleep 30; firefox --private-window https:\/\/www.google.com\"\r\nHidden=false\r\nName=Firefox Private Mode\r\nComment=Open google.com automatically in Firefox private window.<\/pre>\n
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Exec=\/home\/ji\/Documents\/myscript<\/code> to run my script under user Documents<\/i> directory.<\/li>\nExec=sh -c \"$HOME\/Documents\/myscript\"<\/code> to run the same script, but here “sh -c” command interpreter is required so it knows what is $HOME<\/code>.<\/li>\nExec=update-manager --install-all<\/code> to auto-launch Software Updater and install all available updates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
sleep<\/code> in command to add time delay in seconds.<\/li>\n.desktop<\/code> file, just like it’s deleted.<\/li>\nTerminal=true<\/code> if the command need to run in a terminal.<\/li>\nOption 2: Use a third-party graphical application<\/h3>\n