[apache] How to start Apache and MySQL automatically when Windows 8 comes up

I am using XAMPP, version 3.2.1. I just installed it on Windows 8. Every time I need to go to the XAMPP Control Panel to start services (MySQL, Apache,...); in Windows 7 it started automatically when Windows came up.

Is there a way I can make it auto-start in Windows 8 too?

This question is related to apache xampp

The answer is


One of the latest XAMPP releases (XAMPP for Windows v5.6.11 (PHP 5.6.11) for sure, probably some earlier versions too) does not have the Control Panel with the "Svc" checkbox that allows to install Apache and MySQL as a service.

Go to your XAMPP/Apache directory instead (typically C:/xampp/apache) and run apache_installservice.bat as an administrator. There is also apache_uninstallservice.bat for uninstall.

To run MySQL as a service. Do it the same way - the location is xampp/mysql and batch files are: mysql_installservice.bat for service installation and mysql_uninstallservice.bat for removing the MySQL service.

You can check if they were installed or not by going to services manager window (press Windows + R and type: services.msc) and check if you have Apache service (I had Apache2.4) running and set to startup automatically. The MySQL service name is just: mysql.


Open:

C/users/YourUserName/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Start-up

If there is a problem finding the above directory:***

Press Windows + R and write shell:startup. Press Enter. It will move you to the directory.

Drag and drop the XAMPP control panel to the above directory

It will open XAMPP automatically.

If you want to auto start Apache and MySQL, click on config in XAMPP and check the Apache and XAMPP items (if unchecked) and save it. It will start it automatically.


  1. Window + R
  2. Type services.msc
  3. Search for your WAMP Apache and go to property and select Auto.
  4. Restart your computer.

As a service

You can set this one by:

Going first to your installation directory (in my case it’s c:\xampplite). It could be somewhere else depending on your installation. Have also my full version in c:\x2\xampp. Once your in the installation directory, find xampp-control.exe and click/double-click to launch it.

You should first stop all running instances of your apache2 and mysqld/mysql processes to do this.

Click the checkmark next to Apache and MySQL with the header name service. It will warn you that it’s installing as a service which of course is what we like it to do. Click Yes.

Also do step 5 with MySQL. We’re almost done.

Click Start ? Run

Type services.msc (it can also be done in the control panel under administrative tools which is a way lot of click than this one). Find the Apache 2 and MySQL services.

Double click each one and set the startup type to Automatic (you will be presented with three options: Automatic, Manual, and Disabled):

  • Automatic – will start it automatically at startup
  • Manual – users will have to start it up manually i.e. by issuing a command like net start apache2
  • Disabled – will disable it.

Be warned though that any change in the services just like the registry can cause your system to stall.

Click the start button to manually start it (just for the session though). At the next restart it’ll be automated.

Do the same with MySQL.

As a startup program

Find xampp_start.exe from your installation directory.

Press Ctrl + C to copy it or right-click the file and hit copy.

Go to C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and right click on it and hit Paste Shortcut.

When you restart it’ll be starting also and you’ll see something like this:

You can stop it by issuing the xampp_stop.exe command in your installation directory.

Also worth mentioning is that if you right click again on the shortcut and hit properties, try to change the run option to minimized. This way the shortcut will be on your taskbar once started.


You could copy the XAMPP shortcut into "Local Disk C /users/YourUserName/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Start-up"...

This will make the control panel start up with the computer. Then if you were to select the configuration in the top right hand corner of the control panel you can make Apache and MySQL auto start... This is a quite long-winded get around, but it works for Windows 10.


Copy xampp_start.exe from your XAMPP install directory to C:\Users\YOUR USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

Replace YOUR USERNAME with your username.


Find/search for file "xampp-control.ini" where you installed XAMPP server (e.g., D:\Server or C:\xampp).

Then edit in n the [Autostart] section:

Apache=1
MySQL=1
FileZilla=0
Mercury=0
Tomcat=0

Where 1 = true and 0 = false

That's so simple.


Ok, so I've tried using the Xampp Control Panel and choosing from the Config menu to start MySQL did not work. Instead go to C:\xampp\mysql and run a file entitled mysql_installservice and MySQL will automatically run as a Windows service.


Go to the Config button (upper right) and select the Autostart for Apache:

Config button

Autostart modules

To start XAMPP at startup in Windows, paste a shortcut of the XAMPP control panel in this folder:

C:\Users\ USERNAME \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

or

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp


If on your system User Control Account is Off then you can run the XAMPP as Administrator and check the boxes for run as service.

And if on your system User Control Account is On then it may not work. You have go to Configuration files and manually install as a service or run apache_installservice.bat for Apache and mysql_installservice.bat for MySQL at the path

  1. C:\xampp\apache
  2. C:\xampp\mysql

if path is the default path.


You can do it via cmd.

For Apache

Open cmd in administrator mode. Change directory to C:/xampp/apache/bin. Run the command as httpd.exe -k install. Your Apache server service will be installed. You can start it from services.

For MySQL

Change directory to C:/xampp/mysql/bin. Run the command as mysqld --install. Your MySQL service will be installed. You can start it from services.

Note: Make sure the selected Apache and MySQL services are set to start automatically.

You're done. There isn't any need to launch the XAMPP control panel


Apache

  1. Run cmd as administrator
  2. Go to the Apache bin directory, for example, C:\xampp\apache\bin
  3. Run: httpd.exe -k install more information
  4. Restart the computer, or run the service manually (from services.msc)

MySQL

  1. Run cmd as administrator
  2. Go to the MySQL bin directory, for example, C:\xampp\mysql\bin
  3. Run: mysqld.exe --install more information
  4. Restart the computer, or run the service manually (from services.msc)