Steam, Epic, GOG, Ubisoft, EA, Xbox, Battle.net... if you have all these running at startup, your PC is working overtime before you even launch a game. Here's how to clean up.

The Launcher Overload Problem

A typical PC gamer in 2026 has 5-7 game launchers installed:

  1. Steam — The main platform
  2. Epic Games Launcher — Free games and exclusives
  3. GOG Galaxy — DRM-free games
  4. Ubisoft Connect — Ubisoft titles
  5. EA App — EA games
  6. Xbox app — Game Pass
  7. Battle.net — Blizzard games

Each one:

  • Starts with Windows
  • Uses RAM in the background
  • Shows notifications
  • Checks for updates

That’s 7 programs fighting for your attention.

Step 1: Disable Auto-Start

The first fix is stopping launchers from starting automatically:

Steam

  1. Open Steam → Settings
  2. Go to Interface
  3. Uncheck Run Steam when my computer starts

Epic Games Launcher

  1. Open Settings (gear icon)
  2. Scroll to Desktop Notifications
  3. Disable Run When My Computer Starts

GOG Galaxy

  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to General
  3. Uncheck Launch Galaxy on startup

Ubisoft Connect

  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to General
  3. Uncheck Launch Ubisoft Connect on startup

EA App

  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to Application
  3. Disable Open EA app when Windows starts

Battle.net

  1. Click Blizzard icon → Settings
  2. Go to General
  3. Set When I launch Battle.net to Let me choose

Xbox App

The Xbox app is trickier (it’s a Windows component):

  1. Open Windows Settings → Apps → Startup
  2. Find Gaming Services and Xbox related apps
  3. Toggle them off

Step 2: Use a Unified Launcher

Instead of opening 7 different launchers to find your games, use one that combines them all:

  1. Download Kolektor
  2. See all your games from all platforms
  3. Launch any game — Kolektor handles the backend
  4. Only open individual launchers when needed (updates, store purchases)

This means you can disable auto-start on everything and just use one launcher daily.

Step 3: Use the Bypass Feature

Many games can launch directly without opening their store launcher. Kolektor supports this for compatible titles:

  • Skip the Ubisoft Connect splash screen
  • Launch directly into EA games
  • Bypass unnecessary launcher windows

Fewer windows = cleaner experience.

Step 4: Organize Your Desktop

While you’re cleaning up:

Shortcuts

Remove individual game shortcuts from your desktop. You don’t need them if using a unified launcher.

Taskbar

Unpin individual launchers from the taskbar. Pin only your unified launcher.

Start Menu

Use folders to organize gaming apps:

  • Create a “Game Launchers” folder
  • Move all launcher shortcuts there
  • Keep your main unified launcher accessible

Step 5: Manage System Tray Icons

Many launchers hide in the system tray. Right-click and close them after updates:

  • Steam (orange icon)
  • Epic (black icon)
  • GOG (purple icon)
  • EA (blue icon)

Better yet, prevent them from staying there in their settings.

The Ultra-Minimal Setup

For the cleanest possible setup:

  1. One launcher — Only Kolektor on startup
  2. No shortcuts — Launch everything from Kolektor
  3. No tray icons — Close launchers after updates
  4. Scheduled updates — Let launchers run once weekly

This keeps your PC snappy while maintaining access to all your games.

What About Updates?

You still need individual launchers for:

  • Game updates (automatic in background)
  • Store purchases
  • Cloud save sync
  • Achievement tracking

Strategy: open individual launchers when you sit down for a gaming session. Let them update games overnight. Then close them.

Before and After

Before (chaos):

  • 7 launchers at startup
  • 400MB+ RAM used by launchers
  • Constant notifications
  • 15+ taskbar/tray icons

After (minimal):

  • 1 launcher (Kolektor) at startup
  • Minimal RAM usage
  • No distracting notifications
  • Clean desktop and taskbar

Conclusion

You don’t need 7 launchers running at all times. Clean up your setup:

  1. Disable auto-start on all launchers
  2. Use Kolektor as your single entry point
  3. Open individual launchers only when needed
  4. Enjoy a cleaner, faster gaming PC

Download Kolektor Free — One launcher to find all your games.