How to autostart applications on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux

The objective of this article is to show the reader how to auto-start applications after user login on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux GNOME desktop.

In this tutorial you will learn:

  • How to automatically start application after user login

How to autostart applications on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux

How to autostart applications on Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa Linux

Software Requirements and Conventions Used

Software Requirements and Linux Command Line Conventions
Category Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used
System Installed Ubuntu 20.04 or upgraded Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa
Software N/A
Other Privileged access to your Linux system as root or via the sudo command.
Conventions # – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

How to autostart applications on Ubuntu 20.04 step by step instructions



  1. First step is to make sure that gnome-session-properties command is available on the Ubuntu system. To do so make sure that the gnome-startup-applications package is installed. To do so execute:
    $ sudo apt install gnome-startup-applications
    
  2. Next, via activities menu search for startupkeyword:
    Click on the Startup Applications Preferences

    Click on the Startup Applications Preferences to begin the autostart applications configuration.

  3. Hit Add button to add new application to autostart list

    Hit Add button to add new application to the autostart list



  4. In this step you will need to enter a full path to the application’s binary executable of the application you wish to automatically start after user login. You may use the which linux command to locate the full path of the application.

    For example to locate a full path of the Firefox browser or Gnome terminal execute:

    $ which firefox
    /usr/bin/firefox
    $ which gnome-terminal
    /usr/bin/gnome-terminal
    
    Configure application autostart

    Enter any Name and Comment. Include full path to the application within a Command field and hit Add

    From now on every time you log in into your Ubuntu system the selected application will start automatically.