To stop Chrome’s “Begin browsing instantly” banner, click the X on it, or set the #startup-launch-infobar flag to Disabled and relaunch Chrome. The banner shows up even though “launch on Windows startup” is off by default, because the banner is the invitation to turn it on. There is no Chrome Enterprise policy to block it yet.
Applies to: Google Chrome on Windows 10 and 11. Not version-specific. The flag steps need a user who can open chrome://flags.
Why does the banner appear if the feature is off?
Chrome can now open automatically when you sign in to Windows. That setting ships turned off. The banner under the toolbar (“Chrome can now launch when Windows starts. Allow Chrome to open automatically?”) is Chrome asking you to turn it on. Nothing launches at startup unless someone clicks Allow or flips the setting.
How do I turn off the launch on startup banner?
Warning: chrome://flags holds experimental settings. Change only the flag named below, and use Reset all on that page if anything else starts misbehaving.
- Type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
- Search for Windows startup.
- Find Enable Launch Chrome on Startup prompt (#startup-launch-infobar).
- Change its dropdown from Default to Disabled.
- Click Relaunch.
The flag right above it, Enable launching Chrome on Windows startup (#startup-launch), controls the feature itself. Leave it alone if you only want the banner gone.
Already clicked Allow? Open Settings > On startup and turn the launch option off.
Can IT admins block it across a whole fleet?
Not cleanly, yet. A check of chrome://policy on a managed Windows PC turned up no policy for this banner or the feature behind it. On Windows, admins cannot push chrome://flags settings through Group Policy, so the flag above only works one machine at a time.
If you manage Chrome at scale, watch the Chrome Enterprise release notes for a new startup policy, and ask for one through your Chrome Enterprise support channel.
What does not stop the banner?
- Disabling Chrome in Windows startup apps. That stops Chrome from launching, not from asking.
- The BackgroundModeEnabled policy. It controls whether Chrome keeps running after you close it. It is a different feature.
- The DefaultBrowserSettingEnabled policy. It blocks the “make Chrome your default browser” prompt, not this one.
FAQ
Will the banner come back after I close it?
Early testers report it stays gone once dismissed with the X. Disabling the flag is the sure way.
Is this the same as Chrome in Windows startup apps?
No. This setting opens a normal Chrome window when you sign in. Windows startup apps can start Chrome quietly in the background.
Does this banner appear on Mac or ChromeOS?
No. Both flags are listed as Windows only.
For one PC, the flag switch takes a minute. For a fleet, there is no clean fix until Google adds a policy.
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