Startup guide

How to run ClockX at Windows startup

ClockX has a built-in startup option that makes it launch automatically every time Windows boots. No Task Scheduler or startup folder tricks needed — it takes 10 seconds to enable.

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How to enable

Enable ClockX auto-start with Windows

The startup option is built directly into ClockX Options — no external tools needed.

1
Right-click the clock → Options
Right-click the ClockX clock on your desktop and select Options from the context menu. The Options dialog opens.
2
Go to the General tab
In the Options dialog, click the General tab. You will see the auto-start settings near the top of this tab.
3
Enable "Auto-load with Windows"
Check the Auto-load with Windows checkbox. You will see two sub-options:
— For current user only: ClockX starts when your user account logs in (writes to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run)
— For all users: ClockX starts for every user on the machine (requires admin rights, writes to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run)
4
Click OK
Click OK to save. ClockX will now launch automatically at the next Windows startup. No restart needed to confirm the setting is saved.

If you run multiple ClockX instances for world clock, enable auto-start for each instance separately. Each instance saves its own settings independently.

Verify & troubleshoot

Checking and fixing startup issues

Verify in Task Manager

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Startup apps tab. Look for ClocX in the list. Status should show Enabled. If it shows Disabled, right-click → Enable.

Antivirus blocking startup

Some antivirus products automatically disable startup entries for unsigned programs. Check your antivirus startup manager and whitelist ClocX.exe. Then re-enable auto-start in ClockX Options.

Clock not appearing after login

ClockX may be starting but its window is off-screen. Right-click the system tray icon → Show. If no tray icon: check Task Manager → Processes for ClocX.exe. If not running, the startup entry was removed — re-enable it in Options.

Windows update reset startup

Major Windows updates occasionally disable or remove third-party startup entries. After a large update, check Task Manager → Startup apps and re-enable ClockX if needed, then re-save in Options.

Alternative method

Manually adding ClockX to startup

If the built-in option isn't working, you can add ClockX to the Windows Startup folder manually.

1
Open the Startup folder
Press Win + R, type shell:startup and press Enter. The Startup folder opens in File Explorer. Items placed here launch for the current user on login.
2
Create a shortcut to ClocX.exe
Navigate to C:\Program Files\ClocX\, right-click ClocX.exe → Create shortcut. Copy the shortcut into the Startup folder you opened in step 1.
3
Test by restarting
Restart Windows. ClockX should appear automatically after login. This method is independent of the ClockX Options setting and is harder for antivirus software to disable.

FAQ

Startup questions

Does enabling startup require admin rights?

The "current user only" option does not require admin rights — it writes to the current user's registry. The "all users" option does require administrator privileges since it writes to the machine-wide registry key.

How do I disable ClockX from starting with Windows?

Right-click the clock → Options → General → uncheck Auto-load with Windows → OK. You can also disable it in Task Manager → Startup apps → right-click ClocX → Disable.

Will my alarms and settings be preserved if I disable startup?

Yes. Startup settings are independent of your alarms and clock configuration. Disabling auto-start only prevents ClockX from launching automatically — all your settings remain intact when you open it manually.

ClockX starts but takes a long time to appear after login — why?

Windows staggers startup programs to avoid overloading the system at login. ClockX may start a few seconds after the desktop appears. This is normal and depends on how many startup items you have. ClockX itself starts in milliseconds once Windows gives it the go-ahead.

How to run ClockX at Windows startup

Enable ClockX auto-start with Windows

Right-click the clock → Options

Go to the General tab

Enable "Auto-load with Windows"

Click OK

Checking and fixing startup issues

Verify in Task Manager

Antivirus blocking startup

Clock not appearing after login

Windows update reset startup

Manually adding ClockX to startup

Open the Startup folder

Create a shortcut to ClocX.exe

Test by restarting

Startup questions

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