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Windows: startup URLs and bookmarks

Add websites and bookmarks when creating a Windows instance. Websites open automatically in the first desktop session, and bookmarks appear on the selected browser’s bookmarks bar.

Updated October 8, 2026

  1. Choose Edge or Brave

    Choose a browser under Browser for websites and bookmarks; Edge is the default. Brave installs during the first desktop login even if no URLs were entered. Websites and bookmarks are configured after installation. Allow extra time for the first install. The browser choice is saved in your account’s deployment settings.

  2. Preinstall Brave extensions

    After choosing Brave, Preinstall Buster (admin preset) is selected by default and can be cleared. It installs the modified package currently configured by the administrator without the store copy and does not use the 5 extra ZIP slots. Administrators can replace the preset ZIP from the admin console. New instances use the latest saved package; existing instances do not auto-update; use the Brave (Extensions) desktop shortcut when reopening to keep it loaded. Add other Chrome Web Store links or 32-letter extension IDs, one per line, up to 20 including Buster. Brave downloads and enables them on first launch; allow a little time. You can disable them in Brave later. Choices are saved with the deployment draft.

  3. Load your own ZIP extensions

    Under ZIP extensions, click Choose ZIP files to upload from your computer, or enter direct HTTPS links. Uploads and links share a limit of 5 ZIPs, each up to 50 MiB and 200 MiB unpacked. Wait for upload progress to finish before creating instances; selected uploads can be removed. Uploaded files are available for 30 days and remembered in your account settings. Only files retained in current configurations count toward your allowance; removed uploads do not. Upload again if a file has expired or is about to expire. Each package must contain one built, Brave-compatible extension and its manifest.json; a containing folder is supported. Source projects that still need dependencies or compilation are not supported. On first desktop login, packages download, unpack and load in developer mode. Use the Brave (Extensions) desktop shortcut when reopening to keep loading them. ZIP extensions do not update automatically. Store and ZIP extensions can be used together. If one extension cannot be prepared, bookmarks, websites and other extensions still proceed. Failed setup steps retry without reopening completed startup URLs.

  4. Use WARP for the browser only (experimental)

    After choosing Edge or Brave, enable Use WARP for this browser only. The new instance configures a WARP exit for that browser without an extra Linux instance. RDP, SSM and other apps keep their existing network connection. The switch is off by default and saved with your account settings. Enabling it registers a WARP device and accepts Cloudflare's terms. This Windows Server feature uses a third-party implementation; try it on one new instance first.

  5. Check the WARP connection

    Open CloudPilot WARP status on the Windows desktop to see connection status and exit IP. Connected means the latest exit check succeeded. Startup URLs wait for the first successful connection. Disconnections retry automatically, switching transport if needed; the browser does not fall back to the AWS exit. Check this status page if browsing remains unavailable. Web RDP and Sync control can still connect. WARP does not guarantee faster browsing and does not offer a fixed IP or country selection. Existing instances are not changed.

  6. Use Brave password saving and autofill

    New Brave profiles enable password-saving prompts and automatic sign-in. After signing in to a site for the first time, choose Save in the browser prompt. Saved credentials can then fill login forms. Search for passwords in Brave settings to review or disable these options. Complete any verification required by the website.

  7. Understand Brave’s default setup

    New instances using Brave disable Wallet, Rewards, Leo AI, News, Talk, the built-in paid VPN and background mode after closing the browser. New tabs start blank, startup websites open maximized and the bookmarks bar stays visible. The blocked-item count on the Shields icon is hidden by default; Shields protection stays enabled. You can turn the count back on in Brave settings. Password saving, bookmarks and browser updates remain available.

  8. Understand Windows startup defaults

    New instances created with the built-in Windows setup disable Edge startup boost and background mode, Server Manager at login, and OneDrive auto-start before sign-in. Remote desktop, AWS management agents and Windows security remain available. Existing instances do not automatically receive these defaults, and reduced background activity does not guarantee lag-free performance.

  9. Fill in Automatically open URLs

    Enter one complete http:// or https:// URL per line, up to 10, with at most 2048 characters each. If the combined input is too long, follow the field message to shorten URLs or remove entries. The selected browser opens them once after initialization and desktop login. Use the checkboxes below the field to choose which URLs also become bookmarks. New URLs are checked by default; unchecking only skips the bookmark, not opening the URL. These choices are saved to your account.

  10. Add Extra bookmarks

    Choose Add bookmark and enter its name and URL. Add up to 10, with names up to 80 characters and a total limit of 1 MiB. In addition to http:// and https:// URLs, you can save bookmarklets beginning with javascript:. Extra bookmarks are saved without opening or running automatically.

  11. Use the favorites bar

    In the desktop session, the selected browser’s bookmarks bar stays visible. Startup URLs selected for bookmarking appear first, followed by extra bookmarks. Rename, move or delete them in the browser. To use a JavaScript bookmarklet, open the target webpage and click the bookmark on the bar.

  12. Preinstall software if needed

    Choose a software preset or enter a custom installer URL under software preinstallation. Allow additional time for downloading and installation. Refreshing, signing in again or changing browsers restores URLs, bookmarks and ordinary settings saved to your account; enter passwords and private keys again.

Example startup URLs (one per line)
https://example.com
https://example.org

Startup URLs and bookmarks require the built-in Windows setup. Keep the built-in UserData when creating the instance and allow the first desktop session to finish preparing after its status becomes Running.

Related questions

Why does Brave still ask me to save a password?

The defaults enable saving prompts and automatic sign-in; they do not silently save every password. Choose Save after first signing in to a site to use those credentials later. Choices in an existing Brave profile are preserved.

Will existing instances receive the new browser and startup defaults?

No. These defaults are applied when creating new instances with the built-in Windows setup. Refreshing the panel or reconnecting RDP does not install Brave, disable Wallet or change startup settings on an existing instance.

The instance is running. Where are my URLs and bookmarks?

The first boot still needs Windows initialization, reboot and desktop login to finish. Allow the desktop to become ready. URLs and bookmarks must be entered during creation with the built-in UserData retained. If they still do not appear, check the instance's initialization log for errors.

How do I add and use JavaScript bookmarklets?

Open Extra bookmarks when creating Windows, then enter a name and the complete code beginning with javascript:, up to 1 MiB in total. In the remote desktop, open the target webpage and click the bookmark on the favorites bar to run it.