[GH-ISSUE #6049] GUI window on the desktop Win 10 is starting maximized instead of minimized in the system tray #12759

Closed
opened 2026-08-05 02:06:37 -04:00 by saavagebueno · 13 comments
Owner

Originally created by @DriedPlumber on GitHub (May 2, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6049

Describe the problem
Upon system startup, the NetBird client opens a GUI window (dashboard) on the desktop instead of starting minimized in the system tray. This behavior started recently and occurs every time the computer is turned on, even though the client was previously able to start silently in the background.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

Restart the computer or log out and log back in.

Wait for the operating system to load startup applications.

The NetBird GUI window appears on the screen.

Observe that it does not stay minimized in the tray as it used to.

Expected behavior
NetBird should start minimized in the system tray without opening the main dashboard window on the desktop during startup.

Are you using NetBird Cloud?
["Self-hosted"]

NetBird version
[0.70.0]

Is any other VPN software installed?
["None"]

Screenshots

Image

Additional context
The UI even states "You can always access NetBird from your system tray," yet it forces itself onto the desktop at every boot.

Have you tried these troubleshooting steps?

[x] Reviewed client troubleshooting

[x] Checked for newer NetBird versions

[x] Searched for similar issues on GitHub

[x] Restarted the NetBird client

[ ] Disabled other VPN software

[ ] Checked firewall settings

Originally created by @DriedPlumber on GitHub (May 2, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6049 Describe the problem Upon system startup, the NetBird client opens a GUI window (dashboard) on the desktop instead of starting minimized in the system tray. This behavior started recently and occurs every time the computer is turned on, even though the client was previously able to start silently in the background. To Reproduce Steps to reproduce the behavior: Restart the computer or log out and log back in. Wait for the operating system to load startup applications. The NetBird GUI window appears on the screen. Observe that it does not stay minimized in the tray as it used to. Expected behavior NetBird should start minimized in the system tray without opening the main dashboard window on the desktop during startup. Are you using NetBird Cloud? ["Self-hosted"] NetBird version [0.70.0] Is any other VPN software installed? ["None"] Screenshots <img width="416" height="242" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b3628fb4-49fd-4373-b061-16db3ac89ea9" /> Additional context The UI even states "You can always access NetBird from your system tray," yet it forces itself onto the desktop at every boot. Have you tried these troubleshooting steps? [x] Reviewed client troubleshooting [x] Checked for newer NetBird versions [x] Searched for similar issues on GitHub [x] Restarted the NetBird client [ ] Disabled other VPN software [ ] Checked firewall settings
saavagebueno added the triage-needed label 2026-08-05 02:06:37 -04:00
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 7, 2026):

Confirming this, please fix this, its annoying to close it every startup.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4394815399 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 7, 2026): Confirming this, please fix this, its annoying to close it every startup.
Author
Owner

@lixmal commented on GitHub (May 7, 2026):

Can you check if you have auto start twice anywhere? E.g. HKCU and HKLM?
The window only opens if the application is already running and is called again

<!-- gh-comment-id:4395073721 --> @lixmal commented on GitHub (May 7, 2026): Can you check if you have auto start twice anywhere? E.g. HKCU and HKLM? The window only opens if the application is already running and is called again
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 10, 2026):

Can you check if you have auto start twice anywhere? E.g. HKCU and HKLM? The window only opens if the application is already running and is called again

@lixmal Maybe this is the problem ? I have faced it approx 35 versions ago then it dissapeared. But now this problem is back and now on all my installs.
Is possible with next version make a little cleanup so I dont need to clean it on all 50 devices ?
Also keys are in HKCU and HKLM too dunno if thats the problem ?

Image
<!-- gh-comment-id:4414762488 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 10, 2026): > Can you check if you have auto start twice anywhere? E.g. HKCU and HKLM? The window only opens if the application is already running and is called again @lixmal Maybe this is the problem ? I have faced it approx 35 versions ago then it dissapeared. But now this problem is back and now on all my installs. Is possible with next version make a little cleanup so I dont need to clean it on all 50 devices ? Also keys are in HKCU and HKLM too dunno if thats the problem ? <img width="762" height="85" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e5d35472-c04c-47f9-ba4f-70a342228167" />
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 13, 2026):

@lixmal also I forgot to mention that it happens now on version 0.70.5

<!-- gh-comment-id:4438712617 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 13, 2026): @lixmal also I forgot to mention that it happens now on version 0.70.5
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 15, 2026):

Version 0.71.0 still not fixed, startup menu still have 2 netbird-ui.exe items

<!-- gh-comment-id:4461078181 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 15, 2026): Version 0.71.0 still not fixed, startup menu still have 2 netbird-ui.exe items
Author
Owner

@mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (May 16, 2026):

0.71.2 should have the fix. It will be released shortly

<!-- gh-comment-id:4467188926 --> @mlsmaycon commented on GitHub (May 16, 2026): 0.71.2 should have the fix. It will be released shortly
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 16, 2026):

0.71.2 should have the fix. It will be released shortly

Perfect. Thanks a ton 👍👍

<!-- gh-comment-id:4467249485 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 16, 2026): > 0.71.2 should have the fix. It will be released shortly Perfect. Thanks a ton 👍👍
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 19, 2026):

@mlsmaycon updated to 0.71.2 but issue not fixed. I still have 2 startup items in taskmanager.

I have found same keys for netbird-ui in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Please reopen this issue as its not solved.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4488947091 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 19, 2026): @mlsmaycon updated to 0.71.2 but issue not fixed. I still have 2 startup items in taskmanager. I have found same keys for netbird-ui in: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Please reopen this issue as its not solved.
Author
Owner

@lixmal commented on GitHub (May 19, 2026):

@Oriann What is the exact name of the keys? NetBird never wrote a netbird-ui key. Removing them manually is a valid option

<!-- gh-comment-id:4489189210 --> @lixmal commented on GitHub (May 19, 2026): @Oriann What is the exact name of the keys? NetBird never wrote a `netbird-ui` key. Removing them manually is a valid option
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 19, 2026):

@Oriann What is the exact name of the keys? NetBird never wrote a netbird-ui key. Removing them manually is a valid option

Image

The key is named Netbird sorry for misunderstanding.

EDIT: @lixmal I really dont want to remove them manually for all 50 devices. Is not possible to just implement cleanup in netbird installer ?

<!-- gh-comment-id:4489208593 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 19, 2026): > [@Oriann](https://github.com/Oriann) What is the exact name of the keys? NetBird never wrote a `netbird-ui` key. Removing them manually is a valid option <img width="687" height="33" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/324bec1a-1674-404f-8e87-71c444c4d7f8" /> The key is named Netbird sorry for misunderstanding. EDIT: @lixmal I really dont want to remove them manually for all 50 devices. Is not possible to just implement cleanup in netbird installer ?
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 21, 2026):

@lixmal is there some progress to solve this up ? Its really annoying when windows appear on every start.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4507382422 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 21, 2026): @lixmal is there some progress to solve this up ? Its really annoying when windows appear on every start.
Author
Owner

@lixmal commented on GitHub (May 21, 2026):

It should have been removed for HKCU, unless it was installed by a different user than the one running the new installer. We cannot currently modify the installer any further as there is a high risk for another round of AV false positives.

You don't have a mdm or GPO that you can use to remove the registry key?

<!-- gh-comment-id:4507420917 --> @lixmal commented on GitHub (May 21, 2026): It should have been removed for HKCU, **unless** it was installed by a different user than the one running the new installer. We cannot currently modify the installer any further as there is a high risk for [another round of AV false positives](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6024). You don't have a mdm or GPO that you can use to remove the registry key?
Author
Owner

@Oriann commented on GitHub (May 21, 2026):

It should have been removed for HKCU, unless it was installed by a different user than the one running the new installer. We cannot currently modify the installer any further as there is a high risk for another round of AV false positives.

You don't have a mdm or GPO that you can use to remove the registry key?

Then HKCU key is still there for me. I run the installer or updater same for tons of devices so there are not other users. Devices are not joined or connected with each other in one workspace or domain its all separate locations with different purpose.
So there is no way to fix it up now apart from GPO that wont work in my case ?

<!-- gh-comment-id:4507503464 --> @Oriann commented on GitHub (May 21, 2026): > It should have been removed for HKCU, **unless** it was installed by a different user than the one running the new installer. We cannot currently modify the installer any further as there is a high risk for [another round of AV false positives](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/6024). > > You don't have a mdm or GPO that you can use to remove the registry key? Then HKCU key is still there for me. I run the installer or updater same for tons of devices so there are not other users. Devices are not joined or connected with each other in one workspace or domain its all separate locations with different purpose. So there is no way to fix it up now apart from GPO that wont work in my case ?
Sign in to join this conversation.
No Label triage-needed
1 Participants
Notifications
Due Date
No due date set.
Dependencies

No dependencies set.

Reference: DYNR/netbird#12759