To stop Microsoft Teams from starting automatically, open the app and go to Settings. In Windows 11, deselect "Auto-start Teams" under General settings. In Windows 10, uncheck "Auto-start application." You can also remove Teams from startup apps in Task Manager or uninstall it entirely.
The desktop application for Microsoft Teams significantly enhances user experience compared to its web-based counterpart. However, there is one aspect of having the application installed on your system that may prove to be a detriment to the overall experience if not addressed properly.
The issue in question is the default setting whereby Microsoft Teams automatically launches upon Windows startup. The presence of unnecessary applications initiating on their own not only poses a considerable inconvenience but also has the potential to substantially impede system performance during the initial moments of system startup.
It gets even more annoying with Windows 11. Microsoft Teams and Windows 11 share a distinct relationship compared to their interaction in Windows 10. Microsoft Teams is more deeply integrated into Windows 11, with the introduction of the Chat feature as part of the native experience.
Some users, who were previously unfamiliar with Teams, now find an unfamiliar icon on their taskbar and an application persistently running in the system tray. Thankfully, you have the option to bypass Teams or Chat in Windows 11 if you prefer not to engage with it.
Windows 11 comes pre-installed with its version of Microsoft Teams which is different from the Teams app you may have downloaded for work or school from the Microsoft Teams website.
Sakshi Garg
How to Stop Microsoft Teams from Starting Automatically on Windows 11
If you don’t usually use Chat or Microsoft Teams and the app loading each time at startup is bothering you, you can stop that behavior. Open the Microsoft Teams Windows 11 app. Search for Microsoft Teams from the search option.
If you have Microsoft Teams Work or School app on your PC as well, you need to differentiate between the two. The Microsoft Teams Personal app is the one with a white background against the letter T in the app icon, as opposed to the other app that has a purple background.
Or you can open the app right from the Chat flyout window. Click the ‘Chat’ option from the Taskbar.
Then, click ‘Open Microsoft Teams’ at the bottom of the flyout window.
From the Microsoft Teams app window, go to the ‘Settings and more’ option (three-dot menu) on the Title Bar. Then select ‘Settings’ from the menu.
From the ‘General’ settings, deselect the option for ‘Auto-start Teams’.
Now, Teams won’t start on its own every time you start up your PC. It will only run when you either open the app or run Chat from the taskbar.
Hiding Teams Chat Completely in Windows 11
If you aren’t satisfied with just stopping Teams from starting on its own, you can also hide Chat away from your view.
Go to the ‘Chat’ icon from the taskbar and right-click it. Then, click the ‘Hide from Taskbar’ option that appears.
Chat will be hidden from the taskbar but still present on your system and you can enable it again at any time.
To add Chat back to the taskbar, right-click on empty space anywhere on the taskbar and click the ‘Taskbar settings’ option.
Taskbar Personalization settings will open. Turn on the toggle for ‘Chat’ under the Taskbar Items section.
Uninstalling Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams Personal app comes pre-installed on Windows 11. But if you don’t want it, you can uninstall it instead of using the above methods to make it go away completely.
Open the Settings app on Windows 11. You can use the keyboard shortcut Windows + i to open the app.
From the navigation menu on the left, go to ‘Apps’.
Then, select the option for ‘Apps and Features’.
From the App list, search for ‘Microsoft Teams’. Click the three-dot menu towards the right of the app (the one with the white tile).
Click ‘Uninstall’ from the menu. Then, click ‘Uninstall’ in the confirmation prompt that appears to successfully uninstall Microsoft Teams.
Whether you just don’t want the app to unnecessarily open even when you’re not using it, or you just don’t want the app in your view or on your system at all, you can manage it all in Windows 11.
How to Stop Microsoft Teams from Starting Automatically on windows 10
Open the Microsoft Teams application and navigate to its Settings. Click the 'Profile icon' located on the right side of the Title Bar, and choose 'Settings' from the available options.
Once the Settings screen appears, ensure that 'General' is selected from the options on the left side of the screen. Proceed to uncheck the box for 'Auto-start application'.
Removing Microsoft Teams from Startup Apps in Windows 10
If Microsoft Teams is installed as a component of the Office 365 suite on your system, and you don't frequently use it but are hesitant to uninstall it, there is an alternative way to halt the auto-starting process without logging into the application.
Access your PC's Settings and click on 'Apps' to open the settings for managing the various applications installed on your system.
Then, choose 'Startup' from the options on the left. Alternatively, you can type "startup" in the search box on the taskbar and click on the 'Startup Apps' shortcut.
Now, locate Microsoft Teams in the list of apps and toggle off the application.
You can also disable Microsoft Teams from startup apps using the Task Manager. To open the Task Manager, right-click on an empty space on the taskbar, and select 'Task Manager' from the context menu.
Navigate to the 'Startup' tab in the Task Manager, find Microsoft Teams in the list of apps, and click on it. Next, click the 'Disable' button in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Conclusion
Managing the automatic startup of Microsoft Teams can greatly improve your overall user experience and system performance, regardless of whether you're using Windows 10 or Windows 11.
This guide provides multiple methods to prevent Microsoft Teams from starting automatically, as well as options to hide or uninstall the application based on your preferences.
By tailoring the behavior of Microsoft Teams according to your usage patterns, you can maintain a more streamlined and efficient computing environment, ensuring that your system only runs the applications you need when you need them.
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