C# application (MSIX installation): startup task before user login?

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Hello,

i have a question regarding auto-start an application:

I have a C# WPF Application, packaged as an MSIX installation.
And i successfully setup a StartUp Task via entry in the Manifest.
That works fine - after user logs in, the app is started automatically.

But as an additional feature we would need to be able to auto-run the app BEFORE user logs in.
After Windows startup, before user login.

Is there a way to do so?
I didn't find a solution until now...

Thank you for help!

Best regards
Emanuel

What I have tried:

Creating a scheduled task for example i found to be not possible, because i can only run a regular .exe file, but no installed application.

Posted 19-Apr-22 23:12pm

Emil12345687

Updated 24-Apr-22 5:08am

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Richard MacCutchan 20-Apr-22 5:35am

User applications can only run once the user is logged in. If you want something started before login then you need to create a Windows Service.

Emil12345687 20-Apr-22 6:16am

Thank you, Richard! Okay, that sounds plausible. Could it be possible to intergrate the windows service project in my solution, or do i probably need a separately project/solution ?
The windows service should do a part of the windows application, so integrating would make possible that i could use the existing code parts/methods... But maybe it's basically better to separate the app completely from the windows service? Sorry, i have no experience creating a windows service...

Richard MacCutchan 20-Apr-22 6:26am

That is impossible to answer without full details of your application. However, this is the Quick Answers forum, so you need to study the details of Windows services at the MSDN website.

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#realJSOP · Answer 1 · 2022-04-24T05:08:00

Solution 1

You can only run UI apps after login.

One possible solution is to make the applicable part of the app a windows service, so it will run without a user being logged in, and put the UI portion in the task bar, so the user can click on it to see the UI.

Posted 24-Apr-22 5:08am

#realJSOP