How to stop Chrome from opening on startup

Google Chrome opens on startup when a setting or launcher decides it should, which can slow boot times and clutter memory. This evergreen explainer shows how to prevent Chrome from launching automatically across common platforms, using official settings rather than third-party tools. You will find instructions for Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS, plus a concise summary of how each method works under the hood. Follow these steps to keep Chrome closed at startup unless you explicitly open it.