Start TechDash when you sign in

Control whether TechDash starts in the background at operating-system sign-in.

Last checked 21 August 2026

Use Open at login when this computer should start TechDash automatically after you sign in. TechDash starts in the background, so the main window may stay closed while monitoring resumes.

This setting is useful only while a user is signed in. It does not run TechDash as a server or system service before sign-in.

Turn automatic startup on or off

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Find the Monitoring card.
  3. Under Open at login, select the control to show On or Off.

The default is On, and the setting is saved immediately. There is no separate Save button.

What happens when it is on

At the next operating-system sign-in, TechDash starts in the background. Look for the TechDash icon in the macOS menu bar or Windows system tray. Select that icon and choose Open TechDash when you want the interface.

TechDash is also packaged for Linux, but desktop environments manage login applications differently. If Open at login does not create a working login launch on your Linux environment, open TechDash manually after sign-in and use your desktop environment's normal autostart controls only if your organisation permits it.

Once running, TechDash can continue page checks, site-resource work, lookups, Search Console schedules, and notifications while the window is closed. The license must be valid, monitoring must be resumed, and the network must be available.

What happens when it is off

TechDash does not launch itself at sign-in. Monitoring begins only after you open the app manually. Closing the window after that still leaves the running app in the tray; turning Open at login off does not change close-versus-quit behavior for the current session.

Changing the setting to Off does not quit TechDash. It affects a future sign-in. To stop the current process and all scheduled work, use Quit TechDash.

Verify automatic startup

Use this exact self-check after changing the setting or when checks appear stale:

  1. Set Settings > Monitoring > Open at login to On.
  2. Quit TechDash completely and confirm that its tray icon disappears.
  3. Sign out of the operating system, then sign in again.
  4. Do not open TechDash from Applications, the Start menu, or a shortcut.
  5. Look for the TechDash icon in the macOS menu bar or Windows system tray.
  6. Select the icon and choose Open TechDash.
  7. Return to Settings > Monitoring and confirm Open at login still shows On.
  8. Open Queue Status and confirm the page loads. Then review a website's Monitored Pages for recent or upcoming checks.

The startup check passes when the tray icon appears before you open TechDash manually and Open at login remains On. Signing out and back in is enough to test it. You do not need to restart the computer.

Limits that can look like startup failure

  • The computer must be powered on and a user must be signed in.
  • TechDash cannot perform checks while the app is fully quit.
  • Sleep or shutdown prevents checks even if TechDash is configured to launch later.
  • An offline or captive network delays checks even when the process started successfully.
  • A paused portfolio, paused website, or locked license prevents the corresponding work from running.
  • On battery power or while the screen is locked, page checks run at about twice their configured interval.

If the self-check fails

If the tray icon is missing, open TechDash manually and confirm Settings > Monitoring > Open at login still shows On. Turn it Off, then On, quit TechDash, and repeat the self-check once. Operating-system login-item settings, organisation policy, or security software may prevent automatic startup.

If the icon appears but results are stale, automatic startup worked. Check Queue Status, internet access, pause state, and license state instead.

Open Help & Support when the icon is still missing after the repeated self-check, the setting changes back to Off, or an operating-system message blocks TechDash. Include:

  • Whether you use macOS, Windows, or Linux, and its version.
  • The TechDash version.
  • Whether Open at login remained On.
  • Whether the tray icon appeared before you opened TechDash manually.
  • The exact operating-system or security message, if any.

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