PowerPoint (M365) launches itself in the background about 10 minutes after I log in

Question

Whenever I try to shutdown my PC (Win11 23H2), it is prevented by PowerPoint - despite me not having run PowerPoint.

When I start up my PC and check running processes in task manager, PowerPoint appears in the list after the system has been on for a little while - despite me not running it, it not being included in startup apps or task scheduler, and it not displaying an icon in the system tray. I've checked the event viewer, and this information event occurred about 10 minutes after system boot:

Does anyone have any idea why PowerPoint is running?

Answer 1

I had the exact same symptoms - powerpoint running in the background on shut down. Removing the streamdeck plugin solved my issue, thanks!

Answer 2

Hi @David George

Did you can open PowerPoint presentations or run PowerPoint properly?

Any error messages or error codes, please share with us.

Have you installed any updates to Office or Windows recently?

On June 11, both Office and Windows will have updates rolled out. KB5039212 is for Windows to update to Build 22631.3737. For Microsoft 365 Apps, such as Current Channel, the latest version is 2405 (Build 17628.20144)).

If updates were installed, it is recommended to temporarily roll back the version of Office and uninstall the Windows update.

Besides, I suggest you perform an Online-Repair for Office to have a check.

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Answer 3

You can check the following options:

1. Check Sign-in Options: Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turn off the option "Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device and reopen my apps after an update or restart". This setting can sometimes cause apps to reopen after a restart.
2. Perform a Full Shutdown: Try performing a full shutdown by clicking on the Start menu > Power > holding down the Shift key while clicking on “Shut down”. This can sometimes resolve issues with apps preventing shutdown
3. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter: This tool can help fix issues that might be causing PowerPoint to open automatically. Access it via Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update.
4. Check for Office Updates: Ensure that your Office suite is up to date. Sometimes, bugs in the software can cause unexpected behavior like this.
5. Investigate Background Processes: Since you’ve noticed an event in the Event Viewer, investigate further to see if it provides more details on why PowerPoint is starting. Look for any related errors or warnings that occur around the same time.
6. Safe Mode: Boot your PC in Safe Mode to see if PowerPoint still launches itself. If it doesn’t, the issue might be with a third-party application or service that’s causing PowerPoint to open.
7. Repair Office Installation: Use the Online Repair feature for Microsoft Office. This can fix issues with Office apps by restoring them to their default state.
8. Create a New User Profile: Sometimes, user profile corruption can cause strange issues. Creating a new user profile and transferring your files over can resolve these problems.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. Thank you.