How To Run A Single Instance Of Your Application

In some cases, we might have to run only a single instance of our application and restrict a user to running multiple instances of the application at a time (for example. Windows Media Player). This blog is applicable to both Windows Form and WPF Applications.

Getting Started

Step 1

Create a class file named SingleInstance.cs in your project.

public sealed class SingleInstance
{
public static bool AlreadyRunning()
{
bool running = false;
try
{
// Getting collection of process
Process currentProcess = Process.GetCurrentProcess();
// Check with other process already running
foreach (var p in Process.GetProcesses())
{
if (p.Id != currentProcess.Id) // Check running process
{
if (p.ProcessName.Equals(currentProcess.ProcessName) == true)
{
running = true;
IntPtr hFound = p.MainWindowHandle;
if (User32API.IsIconic(hFound)) // If application is in ICONIC mode then
User32API.ShowWindow(hFound, User32API.SW_RESTORE);
User32API.SetForegroundWindow(hFound); // Activate the window, if process is already running
break;
}
}
}
}
catch { }
return running;
}

NOTE

SingleInstance class has been declared sealed to avoid memory leakage.

To set the running process to the foreground, we have to use the functions availabe in User32.dll

We are creating another class i.e. UserAPI class.

Step2

Create a class file named User32API.cs.

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class User32API
{
[DllImport("User32.dll")]
public static extern bool IsIconic(IntPtr hWnd);
[DllImport("User32.dll")]
public static extern bool SetForegroundWindow(IntPtr hWnd);
[DllImport("User32.dll")]
public static extern bool ShowWindow(IntPtr hWnd, int nCmdShow);
public const int SW_RESTORE = 9;
}

Step 3

Implement this in our application.

In WPF

Open App.xaml.cs (under App.xaml) from the Solution Explorer and overriding the OnStartup method.

protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
{
if (SingleInstance.AlreadyRunning())
App.Current.Shutdown(); // Just shutdown the current application,if any instance found.
base.OnStartup(e);
}

In Windows Form

Open Program.cs from Solution Explorer and modify the snippet.

static class Program
{
/// <summary>
/// The main entry point for the application.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
// Allow the application to run your application, if no any instance running
if(!SingleInstance.AlreadyRunning())
Application.Run(new Form1());
}
}

Conclusion

Implementing two classes in our Application restricts the user to allowing multiple instances.

I hope, you enjoyed reading this blog. Stay connected to C# Corner for more updates.

5 Comments

Join the conversation! Your thoughts help the community grow.

Ravi Singh6y ago
Thanks Bro....
Former member9y ago
Are you trying to say SO code is not working?
Former member9y ago
You can use Mutex class instead of iterate in process list. here is one link http://stackoverflow.com/a/819808/6188148
- Amit Gupta9y ago
  OfCourse, there are several mechaniism to achieve a task. However, I found that the code was not working for single instance.
Manas Mohapatra9y ago
Good one to know about single instance of app run..