Sticky Notes is one of the most straightforward and most useful tools in Windows. It is the electronic equivalent of the paper sticky notes we know intimately. If you use them frequently, you also know that sticky notes are useful only if they stick and remain visible at all times. 🙂 Unfortunately, Sticky Notes in Windows may not be sticky enough for you as they do not start automatically each time you log into Windows. If you want to learn how to make Sticky Notes stay on your desktop, here are three solutions for you:
Contents
- 1. Leave the Sticky Notes app open (all Windows versions)
- 2. Create a Sticky Notes shortcut in your Windows Startup folder (all Windows versions)
- 3. Create a task for Sticky Notes in Task Scheduler (Windows 8.1 and Windows 7)
- How important is for you to have Sticky Notes open automatically in Windows?
NOTE: We assume that you are already familiar with how to open Sticky Notes and how to work with them. If not, read:
Keep in mind that our instructions work for Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. If you do not know the version of Windows that you have, read this tutorial: What version of Windows do I have installed?.
1. Leave the Sticky Notes app open (all Windows versions)
It might sound a bit awkward, but it is as simple as that: if you want your Sticky Notes to launch during the Windows startup automatically, all you have to do is leave them open on your Desktop when you shut down the computer. When you log into Windows again, all the Sticky Notes that you had previously opened load automatically.
Sticky Notes in Windows
2. Create a Sticky Notes shortcut in your Windows Startup folder (all Windows versions)
If for any reason, the first method does not work for you, you can also "force" Sticky Notes to start automatically every time you log in to Windows. To do that, you have to create a shortcut to the Sticky Notes executable file and place it in your user account's Startup folder. Open File Explorer (in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1) or Windows Explorer (in Windows 7). Type in the address bar "shell:startup" and press ENTER.
Open shell:startup in File Explorer
With the Startup folder open, open the Start Menu (or the Start screen) and find the shortcut for Sticky Notes. Drag the Sticky Notes shortcut to the Startup folder opened in File Explorer (or Windows Explorer). The Sticky Notes icon follows the mouse cursor together with the label Link or "Create Link."
Create a shortcut for Sticky Notes in Startup
Sticky Notes will now "stay" when you shut down Windows.
3. Create a task for Sticky Notes in Task Scheduler (Windows 8.1 and Windows 7)
Another method that works only in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, involves creating a scheduled task that starts Sticky Notes when you log on. Open Task Scheduler, and then create a basic task.
In the Create Basic Task wizard, name the task and go to the Task Trigger screen. Here, select "When I log on" as the time when the task is run, and press Next.
The trigger for the scheduled task
For the action of the task, select "Start a program" and press Next.
The action for the scheduled task: start a program
In the Program/script field, type (or copy and paste) the path to the Sticky Notes executable: "C:WindowsSystem32StikyNot.exe". Press Next and finalize the Create Basic Task Wizard.
Start StikyNot.exe as the action for the scheduled task
Now Sticky Notes is set to start every time you log into Windows.
How important is for you to have Sticky Notes open automatically in Windows?
As you have seen, setting your Sticky Notes to open each time you log into your Windows computer or device is easy. If the first method we shared does not work for you, the second absolutely will. How much difference does it make for you to have Sticky Notes open automatically in Windows? Let us know with a comment below.