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).

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.