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Commonly Used Startup Options

This table lists commonly used startup options for the matlab command. For a complete list of options, refer to the input arguments for matlab (Windows), matlab (macOS), or matlab (Linux).

Platform

Option

Description

All

-c licensefile

Set LM_LICENSE_FILE to licensefile. It can have the form port@host.

All

-h or -help

Display startup options (without starting MATLAB®).

All

-logfile "logfilename"

Automatically write output from MATLAB to the specified log file.

Windows® platforms

-minimize

Start MATLAB with the desktop minimized. Any desktop tools or documents that were undocked when MATLAB was last closed are not minimized at startup.

macOS and Linux® platforms

-nojvm

Start MATLAB without loading the JVM™ software. This minimizes memory usage and improves initial startup speed, but restricts functionality. With nojvm, you cannot use the desktop, figures, or any tools that require Java® software.

For example, you cannot set preferences if you start MATLAB with the -nojvm option. However, you can start MATLAB once without the -nojvm option, set the preference, and quit MATLAB. MATLAB remembers that preference when you start it again, even if you use the -nojvm option.

All

-nosplash

Start MATLAB without displaying its splash screen.

All

-batch "statement"

Run the specified statement non-interactively.

All

-r "statement"

Run the specified statement interactively.

All

-singleCompThread

Limit MATLAB to a single computational thread. This option is for numerical computations only.

On Windows systems, this option uses the multithreading capabilities of the computer on which it is running by default.

For a complete list of options, refer to the input arguments for matlab (Windows), matlab (macOS), or matlab (Linux).

See Also

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