From 07be21e54ab95ecbb0cbb66f34f5098d2a54178f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Johar Ali Shaik <64891225+Johar2503@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:10:59 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] docs: add Windows auto-start guide via Task Scheduler  (#113)

* docs: add Windows auto-start guide via Task Scheduler

* docs: fix markdown escaping, remove admin requirement, use path placeholder, link from README
---
 README.md                 |  4 +++
 docs/windows-autostart.md | 51 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 55 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 docs/windows-autostart.md

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7a8807b..e602a8b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ make serve                 # http://127.0.0.1:8765
 python3 service/scripts/server.py --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8765
 ```
 
+### Windows (no Docker)
+
+See [docs/windows-autostart.md](docs/windows-autostart.md) for auto-starting the service at Windows login without Docker.
+
 For the whole infra (core + optional harness/heavy backends), see [Docker / compose](#docker--compose) below.
 
 Optional system tools (auto-used when present — preinstalled in the core Docker image):
diff --git a/docs/windows-autostart.md b/docs/windows-autostart.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..344efaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/windows-autostart.md
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# Windows: Auto-start the service at login
+
+Run the service silently in the background on every login, without a terminal window or manual start.
+
+## 1. Clone the repo somewhere permanent
+
+Replace `<path-to-clone>` below with wherever you want the repo to live (e.g. `C:\watermarks-remover` or `C:\Users\<you>\watermarks-remover`). Use the same path consistently in every step below.
+
+```powershell
+git clone https://github.com/guillaumemeyer/watermarks-remover.git <path-to-clone>
+```
+
+## 2. Create a silent launcher script
+
+Save as `<path-to-clone>\start-service.vbs`:
+
+```vbscript
+Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
+WshShell.Run "python service\scripts\server.py --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8765", 0, False
+```
+
+## 3. Register a scheduled task
+
+This does **not** require Administrator privileges — `-AtLogOn` with a user-level trigger runs under your own account, so a regular PowerShell window is enough.
+
+```powershell
+$action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "wscript.exe" -Argument '"<path-to-clone>\start-service.vbs"' -WorkingDirectory "<path-to-clone>"
+$trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtLogOn
+$settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -AllowStartIfOnBatteries -DontStopIfGoingOnBatteries -StartWhenAvailable
+Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName "WatermarksRemoverService" -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -Settings $settings -Description "Auto-starts the watermarks-remover HTTP service at login"
+```
+
+## 4. Start it immediately (no reboot needed)
+
+```powershell
+Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName "WatermarksRemoverService"
+```
+
+## 5. Verify
+
+```powershell
+Invoke-RestMethod http://127.0.0.1:8765/health
+```
+
+Should return `{"ok": true, "version": "..."}`.
+
+## Notes
+
+- Requires Python 3.10+ on PATH.
+- The scheduled task runs at every login going forward — no manual start needed.
+- To stop auto-starting: `Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "WatermarksRemoverService"`