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Connect on Startup

The Connect on Startup setting controls whether the NetBird client automatically connects to the network when the service starts. When enabled (the default), the client establishes a connection as soon as the NetBird service launches — for example, after a system reboot or service restart.

When to use it

  • Always-on connectivity (default): Keep the peer connected to the NetBird network at all times, ensuring it is reachable and can access remote resources immediately after boot.
  • Manual connection control: Disable this setting if you prefer to connect only when needed, such as on laptops that switch between networks or in environments where you want to minimize background activity.
  • Conditional startup: Useful in scripted or automated environments where you want the NetBird service running but only connect on demand.

What it does

When Connect on Startup is enabled (default behavior):

  • The NetBird client automatically connects to the management service and joins the network when the service starts.
  • The peer becomes reachable by other peers immediately after boot.

When Connect on Startup is disabled:

  • The NetBird service starts but does not connect automatically.
  • You must manually run netbird up or click Connect in the desktop app or tray menu.
  • The peer remains offline until an explicit connection is initiated.

Whether the device successfully connects also depends on the Peer Session Expiration setting under Settings > Authentication. If the peer's session has expired, the user must reauthenticate before the peer can connect.

Changing the setting in the desktop app

  1. Open the NetBird desktop app.
  2. Go to Settings → General.
  3. Toggle Connect on Startup.

This setting controls the background network connection. It is separate from Launch NetBird UI at Login, which controls only whether the graphical interface opens when you sign in to the operating system.

Enabling via the CLI

Connect on Startup is enabled by default. To disable it:

netbird up --disable-auto-connect

To re-enable it:

netbird up --disable-auto-connect=false