How can I stop Microsoft Excel or Word from starting automatically?

When I start my computer, either Microsoft Excel or Word starts automatically with an empty page. I think it's the program I've opened last. I've removed and reïnstalled Office completely, this didn't help.

Places I've checked:

Task Manager > Startup
These folders on my computer:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
%HOMEPATH%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

These places in the registry:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Nowhere is there any trace of Excel or Word. Still, when I start my computer, Excel/Word does too. How can I stop this from happening without removing Office?

The version is Office ProPlus from Office 365.

Update: @SavGuard, pointed me to autoruns.exe from sysinternal tools. It found the following autorun entry:

ClickToRunSvc   Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service: ‪Manages resource coordination, background streaming, and system integration of Microsoft Office products and their related updates. This service is required to run during the use of any Microsoft Office program, during initial streaming installation and all subsequent updates.‬  Microsoft Corporation   c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\clicktorun\officeclicktorun.exe  2019-06-26 02:28

I've disabled this and rebooted, but this didn't fix the problem.

John Stoneman

Posted 2019-07-31T20:19:00.507

Reputation: 491

What happens, if you remove the content of the startup folders? Is there anything there that could start Excel (ex: a script or something)? – cybernetic.nomad – 2019-07-31T20:27:18.373

There's nothing there. – John Stoneman – 2019-07-31T20:28:35.663

1Pls convert to a comment. (not enough Reputation) Have u check the system with autoruns.exe from sysinternal tools? Have the emtpy sheet a name? What happend if you edit and save? It is next time empty? – SavGuard – 2019-07-31T20:53:56.447

@JohnStoneman,, which Version of Windows you are using I guess windows 10 !! – Rajesh S – 2019-08-01T06:39:03.420

@RajeshS, I'm using Windows 10 Pro, version 1903. – John Stoneman – 2019-08-01T07:27:48.027

@SavGuard, thanks for pointing me to autoruns.exe. It found the following entries for Office, but nothing for Excel specifically: \Microsoft\Office\Office Automatic Updates 2.0 Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Client Microsoft Corporation c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\clicktorun\officec2rclient.exe 2019-06-26 02:37

\Microsoft\Office\Office ClickToRun Service Monitor Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Client Microsoft Corporation c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\clicktorun\officec2rclient.exe 2019-06-26 02:37 – John Stoneman – 2019-08-01T07:32:52.937

@JohnStoneman,, try this,, Press Windows Start Button, search the msconfig.exe and RUN it, Click Startup Tab & hit Open Task Manager, you find Startup Item, select it and below find Disable button ,, hit & finish with Ok,, restart Windows,, confirm if this works, then I post it as Answer ! – Rajesh S – 2019-08-01T07:41:51.450

@Rajesh, Windows 10 doesn't use msconfig anymore to manage what starts up, it uses the Task manager. As I described in my first post, that was the first thing I checked. There is no entry for Office or Excel there. – John Stoneman – 2019-08-01T07:52:11.200

@JohnStoneman,, it uses I've tried so far, once you search it and if found RUN ! – Rajesh S – 2019-08-01T08:10:59.153

Rename excel.exe and reboot, to see if you get an informative error message. – harrymc – 2019-08-01T16:43:11.893

This does not sound like it is caused by Microsoft Office. Have you checked the setting in “Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options” that says (among onther things) “reopen my apps after restart”? See here: https://www.howtogeek.com/396884/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-reopening-your-previous-applications-after-restarting-your-pc/

– StarCat – 2019-08-02T07:27:39.263

@StarCat, yes, this worked! But still, even with this setting enabled, how can I stop Word/Excel from starting? If you post it as answer, I'll mark it as the right one. – John Stoneman – 2019-08-02T21:46:54.623

How can I stop Microsoft Excel or Word from starting automatically?

No answers