Hidden Start is a lightweight command-line utility that runs console applications and batch files in the background without visible windows. It can handle UAC privilege elevation and start multiple commands in a specified order.
Publisher’s description
What is Hidden Start?
Hidden Start by NTWind Software is proprietary Windows software in the terminals & cli tools category.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 1.5 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Updated in the last two months
- Small download (1.5 MB)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: Hidden Start is a terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Hidden Start safe to download?
- The file is served by hstart.s3.amazonaws.com; check that it is the publisher’s official mirror
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
34BBAE916F913757D22F7FFDE4BD618754EBA3AD363472AFB48433E446F37E89· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2Latest | August 30, 2026 | 1.5 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id ntwind.HiddenStart -eHstart_5.2-setup.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- NTWind Software
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 5.2
- Released
- August 30, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- September 23, 2026
- Versions listed
- 1
- Website
- ntwind.com
- winget ID
- ntwind.HiddenStart
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Hidden Start
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Frequently asked questions
Is Hidden Start free?
Hidden Start is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is Hidden Start safe to download?
The download comes from hstart.s3.amazonaws.com; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Hidden Start with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Hidden Start be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Hidden Start run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
What are alternatives to Hidden Start?
PowerShell, Oh My Posh, QPDF, Alacritty and PuTTY. The alternatives page compares them.
