With autostart enabled, Clash for Windows restores your proxy the moment the system boots - ideal for a daily-driver PC.

The two switches

  • Start with Windows (General page): registers the app to run at login.
  • Silent Start (General page): start minimized to tray without popping up the main window. Best used together with autostart.

Enable both and reboot to verify: after login the cat icon should be in the tray, and the System Proxy state should match what it was before shutdown (CFW remembers it).

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Autostart not working?

  1. Task Manager → Startup tab: confirm Clash for Windows is "Enabled". Some "system optimizer" tools disable startup entries on their own.
  2. Check whether your antivirus blocked the autostart registration; whitelist CFW if so - see Antivirus Conflicts.
  3. Portable users: moving the program folder invalidates the registered path. Toggle Start with Windows off and on to re-register.

Together with TUN mode

If you rely on TUN daily, install Service Mode first (Settings page). The service grants the core its privileges as a system service, so TUN can come back automatically at boot without a UAC prompt each time. Details in TUN Mode Explained.

Tip: don't give multiple proxy clients autostart at once - they will fight over ports and the system proxy, producing a confusing "no internet after boot" state.