As much as I love Windows Server 2016 compared to previous versions, there is nothing that annoy me more that the Server Manager opening when I logon. Fortunately, there is a way to disable it using Group Policy editor.
NOTE : If you are not within a domain group environment (Active Directory), there is an easy way to apply this change to a standalone server as followed.
In the Server Manager pane :
1. Click on “Manage” located in the upper right corner of the window ;
2. Then click on “Server Manager Properties” ;
3. Thick the box “Do not start Server Manager automatically at logon” ;
4. Click OK.
Here is the procedure with GPO / Active Directory :
1. Open the Group Policy editor :
a. If you want to apply this on a standalone server, use :
gpedit.msc
b. If you are within an Active Directory environment and intent to apply this to multiple servers :
gpmc.msc
And then edit the desired GPO where this should apply to.
2. Browse to the following tree :
Computer Configuration > Policies, Administrative Templates > System > Server Manager
3. Open the following object :
Do not display Server Manager automatically at logon (DoNotOpenAtLogon)
4. Set to “Enabled” and click “OK”.
NOTE : If you applied to a GPO, you’ll need of course to make sure the policy is enabled and either wait for it to apply or force the update using “gpupdate /force”.