anthropics / anthropics/claude-code
Claude Desktop (Windows, packaged/MSIX): "Launch at login" toggle does not persist
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 145k
- Forks
- 23.1k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
**Product**: Claude Desktop for Windows, packaged install (`Claude_1.24012.9.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc`)
**Steps to reproduce**:
1. Open Settings → enable "Launch Claude at login" (auto-start)
2. Close Settings
3. Reopen Settings → toggle shows OFF again
**Technical findings**:
- The `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Claude` value (pointing directly at the versioned `app\Claude.exe` path) disappears shortly after being set — enabling the toggle does not leave a persistent registration.
- The AppX manifest declares a `windows.startupTask` extension (`TaskId="ClaudeStartup"`, default `Enabled="false"`), but no corresponding `StartupApproved\StartupList` entry is ever created, suggesting the app isn't actually using the packaged StartupTask API and instead writes/removes a plain Run key that doesn't stick.
- Workaround: manually registering `HKCU\...\Run\Claude` = `explorer.exe shell:AppsFolder\Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc!Claude` restores auto-start reliably (version-independent, survives app updates).
**Expected behavior**: the toggle should remain ON and Claude should launch automatically at Windows sign-in.
Contributor guide
No contributing guide indexed for this repository
Research direction
Start by inspecting the packaged AppX manifest's windows.startupTask declaration and the registration behavior around HKCU\...\Run and StartupApproved\StartupList. Done means the Launch at login toggle remains enabled after reopening Settings and Claude launches automatically at Windows sign-in, including after an app update.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Domain
- desktop, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 48/100