Run C# application on user logon (Windows Forms)

• Download source code and Visual C# project - 13.6 KB

Introduction 

Sometimes it is necessary to run a program on user logon. In this tip, I will you how to run a C# program automatically in Windows Forms.

Using the code 

First, we need to know the location of the Startup folder.  To do that, we use this code:

string startupFolder = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup);

Now, we need to create the shortcut. To do that, we need to add a reference to the Windows ScriptHost Object Model. If you use Visual C#, you can see on this pictures how to add the reference:

And then, choose the Windows Script Host Object Model in the tabpage 'COM':

Now, add this using namespace statement at the top of your code file:

using IWshRuntimeLibrary;

Then, create the shortcut: 

WshShell shell = new WshShell();
string shortcutAddress = startupFolder + @"\MyStartupShortcut.lnk";
IWshShortcut shortcut = (IWshShortcut)shell.CreateShortcut(shortcutAddress);
shortcut.Description = "A startup shortcut. If you delete this shortcut from your computer, LaunchOnStartup.exe will not launch on Windows Startup"; // set the description of the shortcut
shortcut.WorkingDirectory = Application.StartupPath; /* working directory */
shortcut.TargetPath = Application.ExecutablePath; /* path of the executable */
shortcut.Save(); // save the shortcut 

Optionally, you can set the arguments of the shortcut:

shortcut.Arguments = "/a /c";

Do that before you save the shortcut. Setting the arguments is not required; do it only if your program needs that.

But don't use a name such as "MyStartupShortcut.lnk", because there is a risk that other programs use that name, and that you overwrite that shortcut.  Create a shortcut name such as "Clock.lnk" if you've a clock application, or "TcpServer.lnk" if you've a TCP/IP application.