How can I start a process in the background?

Question

I can't seem to find an answer on Google or here on StackOverflow.

How can I start a process in background (behind the active window)? Like, when the process starts, it will not interrupt the current application the user is using.

The process won't pop out in front of the current application, it will just start.

This is what I'm using:

Process.Start(Chrome.exe);

Chrome pops up in front of my application when it's started. How can I make it start in background?

I've also tried:

psi = new ProcessStartInfo ("Chrome.exe");
psi.UseShellExecute = true;
psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Minimized;
Process.Start(psi);

But there's no difference at all from the previous one.

Thanks.

This may help: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2027536/setting-a-windows-form-to-be-bottommost — Ron Beyer, Jul 25 '15 at 15:13
Won't that just put Chrome in background *after* it's started? How do I make it start in background? — Robert Malansangan, Jul 25 '15 at 15:39

score 30 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 25 '15 at 17:41

30

Try this:

 Process p = new Process();
        p.StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo("Chrome.exe");
        p.StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = @"C:\Program Files\Chrome";
        p.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
        p.Start();

Also, if that doesn't work, try adding

p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;

edited Jul 25 '15 at 17:41

answered Jul 25 '15 at 16:27

Tayla Wilson

464
4
12

6

I had to add p.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden to make it completely hidden. – Erwin Mar 10 '17 at 12:31
only using p.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true; didn't worked but p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false; did the work. – Rahul Sonone Mar 27 '20 at 06:07

Vitaliy Tsvayer · Answer 2 · 2015-07-25T16:33:02.323

4

Below code should do what you need:

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        var handle = Process.GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle;
        Process.Start("Chrome.exe").WaitForInputIdle();
        SetForegroundWindow(handle.ToInt32());
        Console.ReadLine();
    }

    [DllImport("User32.dll")]
    public static extern Int32 SetForegroundWindow(int hWnd); 
}

edited Jul 25 '15 at 16:33

answered Jul 25 '15 at 15:19

Vitaliy Tsvayer

765
4
14

2

That still made Chrome pop out in front my active window and made it my current active window. No errors. But it still didn't start it in background. Result was the same as before. – Robert Malansangan Jul 25 '15 at 15:36
@RhythmHeavenFever, I have edited code, you need to get handle of your current process before starting other process of course. try it again. – Vitaliy Tsvayer Jul 25 '15 at 16:34

How can I start a process in the background?

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