How to Prevent Mac Apps from Opening at Startup

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen. Select System Settings from the dropdown menu to open the preference pane.

2. 30 sec

   Access General settings

   In the sidebar of the System Settings window, click on the General tab. This tab contains the core system configuration options for your Mac.

3. 30 sec

   Open Login Items

   Scroll down the right-hand panel until you locate the Login Items option. Click it to display the list of applications and background tasks that launch upon startup.

4. 1 min

   Remove applications

   Identify the application you wish to stop from opening automatically. Select the app name in the Open at Login list, then click the minus (-) button located directly below the list to remove it.

   Note: You may be prompted to enter your administrator password to confirm the change.
5. 1 min

   Manage background processes

   Review the Allow in the Background section beneath your login items. Toggle the switch to Off for any applications you do not want running persistent background tasks.

   Note: Disabling background tasks can sometimes prevent associated apps from delivering notifications or syncing data.
6. 30 sec

   Restart your Mac

   Once you have removed the unwanted items, restart your computer. Verify that the selected applications no longer launch automatically upon login.