diff --git a/assets/translations/strings.i18n.json b/assets/translations/strings.i18n.json
index a3d5e4ac..6dccf77f 100644
--- a/assets/translations/strings.i18n.json
+++ b/assets/translations/strings.i18n.json
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@
                 "dark": "dark mode",
                 "light": "light mode"
             },
-            "trueBlack": "true black"
+            "trueBlack": "true black",
+            "silentStart": "silent start"
         },
         "network": {
             "sectionTitle": "network",
diff --git a/assets/translations/strings_fa.i18n.json b/assets/translations/strings_fa.i18n.json
index 2cbf8164..9c1ddae9 100644
--- a/assets/translations/strings_fa.i18n.json
+++ b/assets/translations/strings_fa.i18n.json
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@
                 "dark": "تم تیره",
                 "light": "تم روشن"
             },
-            "trueBlack": "کاملا سیاه"
+            "trueBlack": "کاملا سیاه",
+            "silentStart": "اجرای ساکت"
         },
         "network": {
             "sectionTitle": "شبکه",
diff --git a/lib/bootstrap.dart b/lib/bootstrap.dart
index bed69f1d..f8454c01 100644
--- a/lib/bootstrap.dart
+++ b/lib/bootstrap.dart
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ import 'dart:async';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_native_splash/flutter_native_splash.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/app/app.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/core/prefs/prefs.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/data/data_providers.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/features/common/active_profile/active_profile_notifier.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/features/common/window/window_controller.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/features/system_tray/system_tray.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/services/deep_link_service.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/services/service_providers.dart';
@@ -13,13 +15,13 @@ import 'package:hooks_riverpod/hooks_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:loggy/loggy.dart';
 import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
 import 'package:stack_trace/stack_trace.dart' as stack_trace;
+import 'package:window_manager/window_manager.dart';
 
 final _loggy = Loggy('bootstrap');
 final _stopWatch = Stopwatch();
 
 Future<void> lazyBootstrap(WidgetsBinding widgetsBinding) async {
   _stopWatch.start();
-  FlutterNativeSplash.preserve(widgetsBinding: widgetsBinding);
 
   // temporary solution: https://github.com/rrousselGit/riverpod/issues/1874
   FlutterError.demangleStackTrace = (StackTrace stack) {
@@ -28,6 +30,9 @@ Future<void> lazyBootstrap(WidgetsBinding widgetsBinding) async {
     return stack;
   };
 
+  FlutterNativeSplash.preserve(widgetsBinding: widgetsBinding);
+  await windowManager.ensureInitialized();
+
   final sharedPreferences = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
   final container = ProviderContainer(
     overrides: [sharedPreferencesProvider.overrideWithValue(sharedPreferences)],
@@ -35,6 +40,15 @@ Future<void> lazyBootstrap(WidgetsBinding widgetsBinding) async {
 
   Loggy.initLoggy(logPrinter: const PrettyPrinter());
 
+  final silentStart =
+      container.read(prefsControllerProvider).general.silentStart;
+  if (silentStart) {
+    FlutterNativeSplash.remove();
+  }
+  if (PlatformUtils.isDesktop) {
+    await container.read(windowControllerProvider.future);
+  }
+
   await initAppServices(container.read);
   await initControllers(container.read);
 
@@ -45,7 +59,7 @@ Future<void> lazyBootstrap(WidgetsBinding widgetsBinding) async {
     ),
   );
 
-  FlutterNativeSplash.remove();
+  if (!silentStart) FlutterNativeSplash.remove();
   _stopWatch.stop();
   _loggy.debug("bootstrapping took [${_stopWatch.elapsedMilliseconds}]ms");
 }
@@ -60,7 +74,6 @@ Future<void> initAppServices(
       read(clashServiceProvider).init(),
       read(clashServiceProvider).start(),
       read(notificationServiceProvider).init(),
-      if (PlatformUtils.isDesktop) read(windowManagerServiceProvider).init(),
     ],
   );
   _loggy.debug('initialized app services');
diff --git a/lib/core/app/app_view.dart b/lib/core/app/app_view.dart
index 988bb008..cdde1bab 100644
--- a/lib/core/app/app_view.dart
+++ b/lib/core/app/app_view.dart
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import 'package:flutter_localizations/flutter_localizations.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/locale/locale.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/router/router.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/theme/theme.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/features/common/common_controllers.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/utils/utils.dart';
 import 'package:hooks_riverpod/hooks_riverpod.dart';
 
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@ class AppView extends HookConsumerWidget with PresLogger {
     final locale = ref.watch(localeControllerProvider).locale;
     final theme = ref.watch(themeControllerProvider);
 
+    ref.watch(commonControllersProvider);
+
     return MaterialApp.router(
       routerConfig: router,
       locale: locale,
diff --git a/lib/core/prefs/general_prefs.dart b/lib/core/prefs/general_prefs.dart
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e99b6f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/core/prefs/general_prefs.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import 'package:freezed_annotation/freezed_annotation.dart';
+
+part 'general_prefs.freezed.dart';
+part 'general_prefs.g.dart';
+
+@freezed
+class GeneralPrefs with _$GeneralPrefs {
+  const GeneralPrefs._();
+
+  const factory GeneralPrefs({
+    // desktop only
+    @Default(false) bool silentStart,
+  }) = _GeneralPrefs;
+
+  factory GeneralPrefs.fromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) =>
+      _$GeneralPrefsFromJson(json);
+}
diff --git a/lib/core/prefs/prefs_controller.dart b/lib/core/prefs/prefs_controller.dart
index 48556971..c33bcbe2 100644
--- a/lib/core/prefs/prefs_controller.dart
+++ b/lib/core/prefs/prefs_controller.dart
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import 'dart:convert';
 
+import 'package:hiddify/core/prefs/general_prefs.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/prefs/prefs_state.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/data/data_providers.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/domain/clash/clash.dart';
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ class PrefsController extends _$PrefsController with AppLogger {
   @override
   PrefsState build() {
     return PrefsState(
+      general: _getGeneralPrefs(),
       clash: _getClashPrefs(),
       network: _getNetworkPrefs(),
     );
@@ -22,8 +24,15 @@ class PrefsController extends _$PrefsController with AppLogger {
 
   SharedPreferences get _prefs => ref.read(sharedPreferencesProvider);
 
+  static const _generalKey = "general_prefs";
   static const _overridesKey = "clash_overrides";
-  static const _networkKey = "clash_overrides";
+  static const _networkKey = "network_prefs";
+
+  GeneralPrefs _getGeneralPrefs() {
+    final persisted = _prefs.getString(_generalKey);
+    if (persisted == null) return const GeneralPrefs();
+    return GeneralPrefs.fromJson(jsonDecode(persisted) as Map<String, dynamic>);
+  }
 
   ClashConfig _getClashPrefs() {
     final persisted = _prefs.getString(_overridesKey);
@@ -37,6 +46,14 @@ class PrefsController extends _$PrefsController with AppLogger {
     return NetworkPrefs.fromJson(jsonDecode(persisted) as Map<String, dynamic>);
   }
 
+  Future<void> patchGeneralPrefs({bool? silentStart}) async {
+    final newPrefs = state.general.copyWith(
+      silentStart: silentStart ?? state.general.silentStart,
+    );
+    await _prefs.setString(_generalKey, jsonEncode(newPrefs.toJson()));
+    state = state.copyWith(general: newPrefs);
+  }
+
   Future<void> patchClashOverrides(ClashConfigPatch overrides) async {
     final newPrefs = state.clash.patch(overrides);
     await _prefs.setString(_overridesKey, jsonEncode(newPrefs.toJson()));
diff --git a/lib/core/prefs/prefs_state.dart b/lib/core/prefs/prefs_state.dart
index 23c8d55a..61d10858 100644
--- a/lib/core/prefs/prefs_state.dart
+++ b/lib/core/prefs/prefs_state.dart
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import 'package:freezed_annotation/freezed_annotation.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/core/prefs/general_prefs.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/domain/clash/clash.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/domain/connectivity/connectivity.dart';
 
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ class PrefsState with _$PrefsState {
   const PrefsState._();
 
   const factory PrefsState({
+    @Default(GeneralPrefs()) GeneralPrefs general,
     @Default(ClashConfig()) ClashConfig clash,
     @Default(NetworkPrefs()) NetworkPrefs network,
   }) = _PrefsState;
diff --git a/lib/features/common/common_controllers.dart b/lib/features/common/common_controllers.dart
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8ef8dd0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/features/common/common_controllers.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import 'package:hiddify/features/common/clash/clash_controller.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/features/common/connectivity/connectivity_controller.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/features/common/window/window_controller.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/features/system_tray/controller/system_tray_controller.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/utils/platform_utils.dart';
+import 'package:riverpod_annotation/riverpod_annotation.dart';
+
+part 'common_controllers.g.dart';
+
+// this is a temporary solution to keep providers running even when there are no active listeners
+// https://github.com/rrousselGit/riverpod/discussions/2730
+@Riverpod(keepAlive: true)
+void commonControllers(CommonControllersRef ref) {
+  ref.listen(
+    clashControllerProvider,
+    (previous, next) {},
+    fireImmediately: true,
+  );
+  ref.listen(
+    connectivityControllerProvider,
+    (previous, next) {},
+    fireImmediately: true,
+  );
+  if (PlatformUtils.isDesktop) {
+    ref.listen(
+      windowControllerProvider,
+      (previous, next) {},
+      fireImmediately: true,
+    );
+    ref.listen(
+      systemTrayControllerProvider,
+      (previous, next) {},
+      fireImmediately: true,
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/features/common/window/window_controller.dart b/lib/features/common/window/window_controller.dart
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2bc65b64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/features/common/window/window_controller.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/core/prefs/prefs.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/utils/utils.dart';
+import 'package:riverpod_annotation/riverpod_annotation.dart';
+import 'package:window_manager/window_manager.dart';
+
+part 'window_controller.g.dart';
+
+// TODO improve
+@Riverpod(keepAlive: true)
+class WindowController extends _$WindowController
+    with WindowListener, AppLogger {
+  @override
+  Future<bool> build() async {
+    await windowManager.ensureInitialized();
+    const windowOptions = WindowOptions(
+      size: Size(868, 768),
+      minimumSize: Size(868, 648),
+      center: true,
+    );
+    await windowManager.setPreventClose(true);
+    await windowManager.waitUntilReadyToShow(
+      windowOptions,
+      () async {
+        if (ref.read(prefsControllerProvider).general.silentStart) {
+          loggy.debug("silent start is enabled, hiding window");
+          await windowManager.hide();
+        }
+      },
+    );
+    windowManager.addListener(this);
+
+    ref.onDispose(() {
+      loggy.debug("disposing");
+      windowManager.removeListener(this);
+    });
+    return windowManager.isVisible();
+  }
+
+  Future<void> show() async {
+    await windowManager.show();
+    state = const AsyncData(true);
+  }
+
+  Future<void> hide() async {
+    await windowManager.close();
+  }
+
+  @override
+  Future<void> onWindowClose() async {
+    await windowManager.hide();
+    state = const AsyncData(false);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/features/settings/widgets/general_setting_tiles.dart b/lib/features/settings/widgets/general_setting_tiles.dart
index fc7d0585..8e866586 100644
--- a/lib/features/settings/widgets/general_setting_tiles.dart
+++ b/lib/features/settings/widgets/general_setting_tiles.dart
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ import 'package:flutter_localized_locales/flutter_localized_locales.dart';
 import 'package:go_router/go_router.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/core_providers.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/locale/locale.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/core/prefs/prefs.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/core/theme/theme.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/features/settings/widgets/theme_mode_switch_button.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/utils/platform_utils.dart';
 import 'package:hooks_riverpod/hooks_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:recase/recase.dart';
 
@@ -15,6 +17,9 @@ class AppearanceSettingTiles extends HookConsumerWidget {
   Widget build(BuildContext context, WidgetRef ref) {
     final t = ref.watch(translationsProvider);
 
+    final general =
+        ref.watch(prefsControllerProvider.select((value) => value.general));
+
     final locale = ref.watch(localeControllerProvider);
 
     final theme = ref.watch(themeControllerProvider);
@@ -89,6 +94,16 @@ class AppearanceSettingTiles extends HookConsumerWidget {
             themeController.change(trueBlack: value);
           },
         ),
+        if (PlatformUtils.isDesktop)
+          SwitchListTile(
+            title: Text(t.settings.general.silentStart.titleCase),
+            value: general.silentStart,
+            onChanged: (value) {
+              ref
+                  .read(prefsControllerProvider.notifier)
+                  .patchGeneralPrefs(silentStart: value);
+            },
+          ),
       ],
     );
   }
diff --git a/lib/features/system_tray/controller/system_tray_controller.dart b/lib/features/system_tray/controller/system_tray_controller.dart
index 40557a04..6c86c48b 100644
--- a/lib/features/system_tray/controller/system_tray_controller.dart
+++ b/lib/features/system_tray/controller/system_tray_controller.dart
@@ -7,48 +7,40 @@ import 'package:hiddify/domain/clash/clash.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/domain/connectivity/connectivity.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/features/common/clash/clash_mode.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/features/common/connectivity/connectivity_controller.dart';
+import 'package:hiddify/features/common/window/window_controller.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/gen/assets.gen.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/utils/utils.dart';
 import 'package:riverpod_annotation/riverpod_annotation.dart';
 import 'package:tray_manager/tray_manager.dart';
-import 'package:window_manager/window_manager.dart';
 
 part 'system_tray_controller.g.dart';
 
-// TODO: rewrite
 @Riverpod(keepAlive: true)
 class SystemTrayController extends _$SystemTrayController
     with TrayListener, AppLogger {
   @override
   Future<void> build() async {
-    await trayManager.setIcon(Assets.images.logoRound);
-    trayManager.addListener(this);
-    ref.onDispose(() {
-      loggy.debug('disposing');
-      trayManager.removeListener(this);
-    });
-    ref.listen(
-      connectivityControllerProvider,
-      (_, next) async {
-        connection = next;
-        await _updateTray();
-      },
-      fireImmediately: true,
-    );
-    ref.listen(
-      clashModeProvider.select((value) => value.valueOrNull),
-      (_, next) async {
-        mode = next;
-        await _updateTray();
-      },
-      fireImmediately: true,
-    );
+    if (!_initialized) {
+      loggy.debug('initializing');
+      await trayManager.setIcon(Assets.images.logoRound);
+      trayManager.addListener(this);
+      _initialized = true;
+    }
+
+    final connection = ref.watch(connectivityControllerProvider);
+    final mode =
+        ref.watch(clashModeProvider.select((value) => value.valueOrNull));
+
+    loggy.debug('updating system tray');
+    await _updateTray(connection, mode);
   }
 
-  late ConnectionStatus connection;
-  late TunnelMode? mode;
+  bool _initialized = false;
 
-  Future<void> _updateTray() async {
+  Future<void> _updateTray(
+    ConnectionStatus connection,
+    TunnelMode? mode,
+  ) async {
     final t = ref.watch(translationsProvider);
     final trayMenu = Menu(
       items: [
@@ -85,7 +77,7 @@ class SystemTrayController extends _$SystemTrayController
 
   @override
   Future<void> onTrayIconMouseDown() async {
-    await windowManager.show();
+    await ref.read(windowControllerProvider.notifier).show();
   }
 
   @override
@@ -95,8 +87,8 @@ class SystemTrayController extends _$SystemTrayController
   }
 
   Future<void> handleClickShowApp(MenuItem menuItem) async {
-    if (await windowManager.isVisible()) return;
-    await windowManager.show();
+    if (await ref.read(windowControllerProvider.future)) return;
+    await ref.read(windowControllerProvider.notifier).show();
   }
 
   Future<void> handleClickModeItem(
@@ -112,6 +104,7 @@ class SystemTrayController extends _$SystemTrayController
     return ref.read(connectivityControllerProvider.notifier).toggleConnection();
   }
 
+  // TODO rewrite
   Future<void> handleClickExitApp(MenuItem menuItem) async {
     exit(0);
   }
diff --git a/lib/services/service_providers.dart b/lib/services/service_providers.dart
index afad7468..d411e386 100644
--- a/lib/services/service_providers.dart
+++ b/lib/services/service_providers.dart
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import 'package:hiddify/services/clash/clash.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/services/connectivity/connectivity.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/services/files_editor_service.dart';
 import 'package:hiddify/services/notification/notification.dart';
-import 'package:hiddify/services/window_manager_service.dart';
 import 'package:riverpod_annotation/riverpod_annotation.dart';
 
 part 'service_providers.g.dart';
@@ -15,10 +14,6 @@ NotificationService notificationService(NotificationServiceRef ref) =>
 FilesEditorService filesEditorService(FilesEditorServiceRef ref) =>
     FilesEditorService();
 
-@Riverpod(keepAlive: true)
-WindowManagerService windowManagerService(WindowManagerServiceRef ref) =>
-    WindowManagerService();
-
 @Riverpod(keepAlive: true)
 ConnectivityService connectivityService(ConnectivityServiceRef ref) =>
     ConnectivityService(
diff --git a/lib/services/window_manager_service.dart b/lib/services/window_manager_service.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 01794f1c..00000000
--- a/lib/services/window_manager_service.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
-import 'package:window_manager/window_manager.dart';
-
-// TODO: rewrite
-class WindowManagerService with WindowListener {
-  Future<void> init() async {
-    await windowManager.ensureInitialized();
-    const windowOptions = WindowOptions(
-      size: Size(868, 768),
-      minimumSize: Size(868, 648),
-      center: true,
-    );
-    await windowManager.waitUntilReadyToShow(windowOptions);
-    await windowManager.setPreventClose(true);
-    windowManager.addListener(this);
-  }
-
-  @override
-  Future<void> onWindowClose() async {
-    await windowManager.hide();
-  }
-
-  void dispose() {
-    windowManager.removeListener(this);
-  }
-}