diff --git a/parallel_orchestrator.py b/parallel_orchestrator.py
index da348c8..91e7be0 100644
--- a/parallel_orchestrator.py
+++ b/parallel_orchestrator.py
@@ -299,14 +299,19 @@ class ParallelOrchestrator:
             cmd.append("--yolo")
 
         try:
-            proc = subprocess.Popen(
-                cmd,
-                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
-                text=True,
-                cwd=str(AUTOCODER_ROOT),  # Run from autocoder root for proper imports
-                env={**os.environ, "PYTHONUNBUFFERED": "1"},
-            )
+            # CREATE_NO_WINDOW on Windows prevents console window pop-ups
+            popen_kwargs = {
+                "stdin": subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                "stdout": subprocess.PIPE,
+                "stderr": subprocess.STDOUT,
+                "text": True,
+                "cwd": str(AUTOCODER_ROOT),  # Run from autocoder root for proper imports
+                "env": {**os.environ, "PYTHONUNBUFFERED": "1"},
+            }
+            if sys.platform == "win32":
+                popen_kwargs["creationflags"] = subprocess.CREATE_NO_WINDOW
+
+            proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, **popen_kwargs)
         except Exception as e:
             # Reset in_progress on failure
             session = self.get_session()
diff --git a/server/services/process_manager.py b/server/services/process_manager.py
index 2dc1137..01b9b47 100644
--- a/server/services/process_manager.py
+++ b/server/services/process_manager.py
@@ -341,12 +341,18 @@ class AgentProcessManager:
         try:
             # Start subprocess with piped stdout/stderr
             # Use project_dir as cwd so Claude SDK sandbox allows access to project files
-            self.process = subprocess.Popen(
-                cmd,
-                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
-                cwd=str(self.project_dir),
-            )
+            # stdin=DEVNULL prevents blocking if Claude CLI or child process tries to read stdin
+            # CREATE_NO_WINDOW on Windows prevents console window pop-ups
+            popen_kwargs = {
+                "stdin": subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                "stdout": subprocess.PIPE,
+                "stderr": subprocess.STDOUT,
+                "cwd": str(self.project_dir),
+            }
+            if sys.platform == "win32":
+                popen_kwargs["creationflags"] = subprocess.CREATE_NO_WINDOW
+
+            self.process = subprocess.Popen(cmd, **popen_kwargs)
 
             # Atomic lock creation - if it fails, another process beat us
             if not self._create_lock():
diff --git a/start_ui.bat b/start_ui.bat
index 2c59753..c8ad646 100644
--- a/start_ui.bat
+++ b/start_ui.bat
@@ -39,5 +39,3 @@ pip install -r requirements.txt --quiet
 
 REM Run the Python launcher
 python "%~dp0start_ui.py" %*
-
-pause