Ubuntu Tips: How To Launch Applications Automatically During Startup

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• Anonymous July 24, 2009, 7:04 am

  Is there a way to automate this procedure via command line rather than GUI? Thanks.

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• Gagan Brahmi July 24, 2009, 12:48 pm

  For newer version of Ubuntu the name has changed from “Startup” to “Sessions”.

  So the following will be the path:

  System -> Preferences -> Sessions

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• Chris July 24, 2009, 5:07 pm

  I have a script that disables my touch pad (it is too sensative). When I run the script it asks for the root password. I tried doing a chmod 7777 (4 of them) on the script but it still asks for the root password. Any ideas?

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• Ramesh Natarajan July 25, 2009, 12:14 am

  @Anonymous,

  What are you trying to achive by trying to set this up using command-line. Whether you use command-line or GUI, you still need to do a one-time setup of this. After the initial setup, it is automatic. So, what is the advantage of trying to set this up from command line?

  @Gagan,

  Thanks for pointing out that the “Startup” got changed to “Sessions”.

  @Chris,

  For most administrative tasks you have to give root password to make any changes. So, I’m assuming that without the root password, that particular script might not be able to disable the touch pad. What is the problem in giving the root password? Don’t you remember your root password?

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• chris July 25, 2009, 7:58 pm

  (P.S. I am using Ubuntu) The touch pad is broken. When I type the touch pad thinks it is being clicked and moves the mouse. I tried to add the script to /etc/rc.local but it does not disable the touch pad when I log in. So when I log in, I have put an icon on my desktop to run the script. The script is set to 777. So what I am trying to do is modify my GUI login to disable the touchpad.

  Thanks.

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• sarim August 10, 2009, 7:00 am

  I am using Ubuntu as well to disable the touch pad you just have to write a code

  synclient TouchpadOff=1

  make the file executable and add it in
  system>preferences>sessions>startup programs

  if you want to activate your touch pad just write in the terminal
  synclient TouchpadOff=0

  that’s it you don’t need any root password.
  have fun

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• Edward November 1, 2009, 3:48 am

  I have a very silly question: how can I add a startup program if I have broken my window manager? I was trying to install the netbook-remix stuff on Intrepid (8.10) and it all looked great except I forgot the step to add the “netbook-launcher” app to my startup programs. Now I just get a blank X-session when I log in but no menus. I can start in command line mode but then I need to know exactly which files to edit to ensure the “netbook-launcher” starts. Thanks for your help. Edward

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• David February 1, 2010, 6:10 pm

  @Edward,

  You can also add items to this list using the file ~/.xinitrc. Use gedit or nano to open the file, and then simply append to the file list. Good luck!

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• magellan January 17, 2011, 9:32 am

  Me i ask if how about the application is in need of root permission.

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• Krestyaji July 24, 2011, 3:19 am

  I confused with my problem, I can’t find startup application in my Ubuntu..
  any way to open in terminal ?

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• Imran March 27, 2012, 5:02 am

  I have configured xscreensaver as a startup program just as mentioned above with the command “xscreensaver -no-spalsh” but it doesn’t start. How to fix this ? In general where to look the log of startup program to check whats the problems it faced in starting up configured commands.

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• Srujan February 18, 2016, 5:41 am

  @Imran, You can get the solution from this link

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