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docs: add more context to Windows execution #926

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docs: add more context to Windows execution
rafaeloledo May 7, 2025
8a2f21a
docs: adopt suggestions from tomasz1986
rafaeloledo May 8, 2025
f710ea2
docs: fix typo
rafaeloledo May 8, 2025
b063a95
fix: use more semantic term
rafaeloledo May 14, 2025
893ace5
Merge branch 'syncthing:main' into main
rafaeloledo Jul 22, 2025
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Merge branch 'main' into main
rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025
8222784
chore: adjust from the last review
rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025
1064409
fix: make -File mandatory
rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025
0e6f217
fix: treat -FilePath as mandatory
rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025
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chore: unclutter information
rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025
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39 changes: 20 additions & 19 deletions users/autostart.rst
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -34,27 +34,8 @@ start Syncthing automatically either at user log on, or at system
startup. In both cases, Syncthing will open and stay invisible in
background.

It's possible to run Windows Task Scheduler CLI API with a command such as
``schtasks /create /sc ONLOGON /tn Syncthing /tr "<program-path> [--no-console --no-browser]"``.
The operation requires elevated privileges. Preventing the pop-up console that hides after
some delay is possible wrapping the executable with a ``.vbs or .ps1``.

vbs::

Dim objShell
Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
objShell.Run "path to syncthing.exe", 0, False
Set objShell = Nothing

ps1::

Start-Process "path to syncthing.exe" -WindowStyle Hidden

For technical information about Task Scheduler visit
https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/taskschd
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/schtasks

Or follow the Graphical tutorial below:

#. Start the Task Scheduler either by going to ``Start Menu > Windows
Administrative Tools`` and clicking on ``Task Scheduler``, or by
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -271,6 +252,26 @@ by a sysadmin who knows enough to understand the security implications.
#. Start the service via ``sc start syncthing`` in the Command Prompt.
#. Connect to the Syncthing UI, enable HTTPS, and set a secure username and password.

For Hard Users
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It's possible to run Windows Task Scheduler CLI API with a command such as
``schtasks /create /sc ONLOGON /tn Syncthing /tr "<program-path> [--no-console --no-browser]"``.
The operation requires elevated privileges. Preventing the pop-up console that hides after
some delay is possible wrapping the executable with a ``PowerShell`` script.

``script.ps1``::

Start-Process "<path to syncthing>.exe" -WindowStyle Hidden
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@rasa rasa Aug 31, 2025

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Your schtasks example includes --no-console --no-browser but your
Powershell example doesn't. Perhaps it should, so the two examples mirror each other?

Also, isn't -File required? So: powershell -File <path to script>.ps1 ?

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@rafaeloledo rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025 •
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Windows Terminal and Default Console:
In modern Windows versions, particularly with Windows Terminal set as the default console application, the --no-console flag might not completely hide the console window. It might still appear and then minimize, or the flag might be ignored entirely.

https://forum.syncthing.net/t/win-10-and-11-updates-breaks-no-console/19142

I was trying the --no-console flag that only exists in the Windows version of the syncthing and faced some issues related.

Switching to the mentioned legacy mode may be discouraged, since Windows Terminal is being a default on all new installations.

Wrapping with a ps1 script works even on wt.exe pop-ups.

-File/-FilePath is not mandatory.

Start-Process
    [-FilePath] <string>
    [[-ArgumentList] <string[]>]
    [-WorkingDirectory <string>]
    [-PassThru]
    [-Verb <string>]
    [-WindowStyle <ProcessWindowStyle>]
    [-Wait]
    [-Environment <hashtable>]
    [-WhatIf]
    [-Confirm]
    [<CommonParameters>]

https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/start-process?view=powershell-7.5
https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/start-process?view=powershell-5.1

If you give the path as a first argument, it assumes that is the -FilePath flag as you can see above.

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@bt90 bt90 Aug 31, 2025

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Might also try conhost.exe --headless ...

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@rafaeloledo rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025

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Might also try conhost.exe --headless ...

I've not tested it. Feel free to contribute and do it. I don't have Windows installation on my PC right now...

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@rasa rasa Aug 31, 2025

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-File/-FilePath is not mandatory.

I wasn't referring to Start-Process but to the powershell command itself:

powershell -File "<path to script>.ps1"

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@tomasz1986 tomasz1986 Aug 31, 2025

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It still works without -File, but I'm not sure if it implicitly defaults to -File script.ps1 or rather -Command script.ps1 🙃.

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@rasa rasa Aug 31, 2025

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Not on my system:

If you want to skip the -File option, you need to use:
powershell .\script.ps1.

Better to just tell our readers to use the option, as <path to script> is vague, imho.

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@rafaeloledo rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025

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It still works without -File, but I'm not sure if it implicitly defaults to -File script.ps1 or rather -Command script.ps1 🙃.

Unfortunately @rasa example is what happening in my system too.

image

So, the -File flag is mandatory in this case.

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@rafaeloledo rafaeloledo Aug 31, 2025 •
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-File/-FilePath is not mandatory.

I wasn't referring to Start-Process but to the powershell command itself:

powershell -File "<path to script>.ps1"

image

I can only find docs offline about powershell.exe. But, as you can see, even if it is treated as optional, you'll need to use the dot operator to resolve file paths. Using -File directly can be more user friendly considering that the operator is less known by non programmers.


Then run as admin::

schtasks /create /sc ONLOGON /tn Syncthing /tr "powershell <path to script>.ps1"


For more information, please read official docs for Command Line Interface API:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/schtasks

macOS
-----

Expand Down