Why Does Desktop.ini Opens On Startup? | Fast Fix Tips

Why Desktop.ini Opens On Startup: Root Causes

Windows loads apps from a few well-known places. If a stray desktop.ini lands there, or a shortcut aims at it, Notepad opens at each logon. These are the usual suspects:

• User Startup Folder: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. A copy of desktop.ini or a shortcut that targets it sits here.
• All Users Startup Folder: %PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Anything here runs for every account.
• Task Manager → Startup: an entry created by an app points to a folder or script that drags desktop.ini with it.
• Registry “Run” Keys: a value under the Run keys references desktop.ini or a folder path instead of an EXE.
• Leftover Installer Debris: a setup package dropped a shortcut with an unquoted path, so Windows tries to “open” the folder and you see its desktop.ini.

The file isn’t dangerous; it just doesn’t belong in a place that launches programs. Remove the bad entry and the pop-up ends.

Quick Map Of Triggers And Fixes

Does Desktop.ini Open At Startup In Windows 10/11?

No. A clean system never opens that file by itself. If you’re seeing it, something put the file or a link to it in a startup location. That’s why the fastest cure is to review those spots first.

What Desktop.ini Actually Is

desktop.ini is a tiny text file Windows uses to remember folder view choices and icons. You might see lines like [.ShellClassInfo], IconResource=, or LocalizedResourceName=. That’s normal. Deleting the file doesn’t harm the PC, but Windows often recreates it when a folder keeps custom settings. Fixing the startup trigger is the real solution.

Step-By-Step Fix: Remove The Startup Trigger

Inspect The Startup Folders

Open each folder straight from the Run box. These commands jump right there.

Folder Paths

Win + R  →  shell:startup
Win + R  →  shell:common startup

Sort by name. If you spot desktop.ini or a shortcut that targets it, delete that entry. Do not delete the Startup folder itself. Empty the Recycle Bin and sign out to test. For the official overview of Startup locations and behavior, see Microsoft’s guide on configuring Startup applications.

Check Task Manager’s Startup Tab

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, pick Startup, then scan entries. Watch for unknown names, blank publishers, or a path that ends with desktop.ini. Right-click and choose Disable. Reboot and see if the pop-up vanishes.

Look At The Registry Run Keys

This step is for confident users. Back up the registry first. Open regedit from Run and browse to the two keys below. You’re hunting for values that reference desktop.ini or that point at a folder instead of an application.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

If a value targets desktop.ini, delete that value. Microsoft documents how these keys work in the Run and RunOnce registry keys.

Command-Line Search

Prefer the console? These quick queries surface any matches fast:

reg query HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /s | find /i "desktop.ini"
reg query HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /s | find /i "desktop.ini"

Use Microsoft Autoruns For A Full Scan

Some startup entries sit beyond the basics. Autoruns for Windows shows every auto-start location in one place. Run it as admin, type desktop.ini in the filter box, then uncheck any item that points to that file. Save the state, reboot, and confirm the pop-up is gone.

Filter Tips

• Check the Logon tab first, then Scheduled Tasks, Explorer, and Winlogon.
• If the entry lists Notepad plus a path to desktop.ini, uncheck it.
• When in doubt, disable rather than delete; you can re-enable later.

Clean Boot Test (Optional)

If the window keeps returning, run a clean boot. Disable non-Microsoft services and Startup entries, reboot, then re-enable in small groups until the issue comes back. The moment it returns, you’ve found the component to remove.

Safe Ways To Hide The File

Only the window bothers you? If the file appears inside folders but doesn’t auto-open, you can hide protected system files in File Explorer. That stops the visual clutter. There’s no need to purge desktop.ini; Windows will recreate it when folders store custom views or icons.

Why Desktop.ini Might Reappear After Updates

Updates and new apps sometimes add Startup items. If a package drops a shortcut that points to a folder path without quotes, Windows may try to open the path. That can surface the folder’s desktop.ini in Notepad. Fix the shortcut or remove it and the problem ends. When writing your own scripts, wrap paths in quotes so spaces don’t break the command.

Paths And Commands Cheat Sheet

Troubleshooting Edge Cases

Two Desktop.ini Windows Appear

That usually means both Startup folders contain a copy. Check the per-user folder first, then the common folder. Remove any desktop.ini you find in those two locations.

A Popup Mentions A USB Drive

If a Startup item points to a folder on a removable drive that isn’t attached, Windows can still try to load it. Remove the shortcut or retarget it to a valid EXE on the internal drive.

Nothing Shows In Startup, But The File Still Opens

Run Autoruns and switch to the Everything view. Look at Logon, Scheduled Tasks, Explorer, Services, and Winlogon. Uncheck only the entry tied to desktop.ini, then test again.

After A Cleanup, The File Pops Up

Some cleaning tools remove an app but leave a broken Startup entry behind. The entry then points at a folder shell instead of an EXE, and Notepad opens desktop.ini. Deleting that leftover value restores normal behavior.

How To Read The Clues In A Shortcut

If a shortcut is to blame, its properties give it away. Open the shortcut, pick Properties, and look at these fields:

• Target: should be an EXE or a valid script. If you see desktop.ini, that’s the culprit.
• Start in: folder path. If it points to a path with spaces and no quotes, fix it by wrapping the path in "…".
• Shortcut key: not related to startup, but it helps confirm the shortcut’s purpose.

Scripting Tips That Prevent Recurrence

When you write a login script or a small batch file, add these habits:

• Quote every path with spaces: "C:\Program Files\App\app.exe".
• Point Start in to a real folder, not to the folder you’re trying to open at login.
• Never call notepad.exe on desktop.ini unless you truly want that window.
• Prefer a scheduled task set to At log on if you need fine control and conditions.

Keep Startup Clean Going Forward

• Install only what you need and say no to “launch at login” prompts you don’t want.
• Review Task Manager → Startup once a month. Disable items you don’t use.
• When you add your own scripts, quote paths and test with a standard user.
• Keep protected operating system files hidden so system files don’t clutter folders.
• Save a snapshot in Autoruns before big software changes. If something odd appears, compare states and roll back the change that caused it.

Once the bad entry is gone, desktop.ini stays quiet where it belongs and your sign-in stays neat.