You might like to have some apps open automatically every time you sign in to your Mac. For example, if you use a Mac for work, you might want Slack to open for quick communications right after you start it. However, if you are experiencing apps opening that you don't want, there are a few ways you can change this.
When you start your MacBook, There may be too many app windows open on your Mac screen. Some of the active windows are from the application you use frequently, while the others are from programs you don't open regularly.
If you are bothered by those unwanted Mac startup programs appearing on your Mac screen and messing up your Mac desktop, simply you can disable them. Make sure you check everything because some of the apps may not show up in system settings or the dock which is set to open on startup, but that auto-start option may be hidden within that app's settings.
In this short tutorial, we will show you What to do so that apps do not open when you turn on your Mac
What are startup applications on Mac?
Startup items, also known as login items, are Programs and services that run in the background when you start your Mac. Some of them may be added to the startup by yourself, while others may not have your permission.
Adding some frequently used startup items can improve your work efficiency, however, too many startup items running in the background They will eat the RAM of your MacBook, which will cause your Mac to run slowly. Therefore, You need to disable unwanted apps on Mac.
How to Prevent Apps from Opening on Startup on Mac Using Dock
The easiest way to disable a program from starting at startup is from the Mac Dock, here's how to do it:
- First in the Dock, right-click the app that started unexpectedly on your Mac.
- From the context menu, select Options. The app that is set to open automatically when your Mac boots will have a check mark next to it. Open upon login.
- Click on Open in Login to uncheck it.
It may happen that the Mac startup items are disabled in the Dock, but they are still loading when you log in, how to fix it?
If you disable a login item from the Dock, but it still appears again after restarting your Mac, you may have your MacBook set to restore all open apps on startup or restart. To delete this functionality follow the following steps, it is very simple:
- First click on the menu of Apple , and then select Restart or Shutdown from the drop-down list.
- Uncheck the Reopen windows when I log in again option and then click the Restart or Close button to activate the process.
How to disable Mac login items in System Preferences
If you have too many startup programs on your Mac, using the Dock to find each app and stop it might not be the best way to go. Instead, you can do it more easily using macOS System Preferences. You can find login items in macOS in System Settings. To do so, follow the following steps:
- First select the menu Apple > System Preferences.
- Choose users and groups.
- Switch to tab Login Items at the top center. The list of enabled startup apps appears here.
- Click an app you want to disable in the list of login items.
- Select the minus (-) icon below the center panel to disable the application from the start.
- You can then repeat the process for the rest of the unwanted login items on your Mac.
If you want certain apps to start at startup without appearing on your Mac screen. You can check the Hide box next to each app that is turned on in the list of login items. This ensures that the program doesn't get in your way, but will be ready to use when you need it.
If you're not sure what app or program is in your login items list and are worried if removing it may cause some macOS problems, here's a way to help you identify an app you don't recognize.
- First select the unknown app or unrecognized in the list of login items and right-click on it.
- When the option appears Show in Finder, click on it.
- In Finder, right-click the item, then click select Quick View in the context menu. This will display a pop-up window showing its version, size, and last modified date.
- If you need more information about the application, choose Get information instead. Now, you will see all the file attributes such as file type, size, creation date, last opened, and more.
- After you have checked all the information related to this unknown application or program, if you still cannot make a decision to remove the application from opening on Mac, I suggest you keep it.
Mac Startup Programs Not in Login Items
If you find Mac startup programs that are not in the login items in System Preferences, it is likely because Hidden “problems” within your Mac library. These files tell your computer to start programs independently of normal startup items. To find where these programs or applications are stored, we have to use Finder to help us.
- First Start Finder, open Macintosh HD, your computer's internal drive.
- Select Library and look for folders called LaunchAgents and LaunchDeamons. As you can see, these files are .plist files that can be connected to a certain program or service.
- If you recognize a file name that matches a program that you know continues to open from startup, you can delete it by moving it to the Trash. This action will prevent the program from telling macOS that it needs to be started.
However, I do not recommend deleting every plist file you find unless you are 100% sure it is malicious or unsafe. There are also LaunchAgents and LaunchDeamons folders inside the Mac system folder that you should not interfere with because your computer needs them to work correctly.