Chrome on Windows will let users launch the browser in the foreground at startup

Source: 9to5Google

Background

No matter how many dedicated apps you have installed on your PC, you probably spend most of your life in the browser. Google knows this—it’s the entire concept behind ChromeOS—and now it’s bringing a new setting that will allow Windows users to launch Chrome right from the start.

Currently, Google Chrome doesn’t include the ability to launch automatically on a Windows boot. Although it supports Windows’ startup apps list, enabling that toggle only activates the browser in the background; it doesn’t open a new Chrome window. Some workarounds exist using command‑line prompts, but they’re cumbersome for most users.

New Flag in Canary

As reported by Chrome Story, the latest Canary build adds a flag that “launches Chrome automatically to begin browsing instantly.” The flag is off by default. When toggled on, a permissions prompt appears:

Begin browsing instantly: Chrome can now launch when Windows starts.
[Allow]

Unlike the basic startup apps list, this option opens Chrome as a foreground window rather than keeping it active in the background.

Chrome may display an infobar the first time it opens, informing users of the new option. Clicking Allow enables it, and dismissing the infobar with the “X” button prevents it from reappearing.

“Chrome will sporadically display an infobar when opening the browser to inform users of the new option to launch it when Windows starts. Clicking ‘Allow’ enables the new option. The infobar will not reappear if dismissed via the ‘X’ button.” – Leopeva64 on X (Twitter), February 7 2026

User Feedback

While the feature can be convenient, startup apps can be annoying for many users. Google has wisely kept the flag disabled by default. However, some users have reported that Chrome occasionally prompts them about the feature outside of the flags menu, encouraging activation. Dismissing the prompt appears to close it semi‑permanently, though this behavior could change before a wider rollout.

Expected Rollout

Assuming no obstacles, the feature is expected to reach the stable channel in the coming weeks.