How To Stop Apps From Starting On Startup Mac

  1. How To Stop Apps From Starting On Startup Machine
  2. How To Stop Apps From Starting On Startup Mac Os
  3. How To Remove Apps From Startup

Remove Startup Items in System Preferences. One of the easiest ways to remove Startup Items is by navigating to System Preferences Users & Groups. Do you want to stop programs from running at startup? There’s an easy way to remove programs from startup and get your Mac to load faster on launch. The fastest way to turn off startup items on Mac is an app like CleanMyMac X. Download CleanMyMac for free. Open Optimization tab. Click on Login items. From the list of apps. I don’t want to delete the Google Drive app from my Mac, of course. I just want to stop it from automatically launching when I boot or log in. To stop Google Drive (or any other item in your own list), all I need to do is click once on its name to select it and then click the small minus button at the bottom of the list.

If you want to speed up your Mac's startup time and prevent unnecessary applications from opening, disable unwanted programs from automatically loading. 1 Click the 'Apple' in the menu bar.

System cleanup in one click
Make your Mac fast and secure with CleanMyMac X.

There are probably quite a few apps on your Mac that operate int he background, and spin up when you start your computer up. Those are startup (or login) items, and while they’re meant for convenience, some can be unruly.

It’s easy to see how there are apps that would benefit from running at startup. Calendars should be syncing in the background, and if you have a third-party app for managing the health of your computer, it should also be proactively starting up when you boot your computer.

Here, we’ll tell you how to manage startup programs Mac computers don’t need and tell you about a few ways to manage your system better.

What are Mac startup programs?

A startup program is an app that spins up when you start your computer. Instead of finding the app and clicking on an icon to activate it, your Mac tells the app when it’s turned on, and the app activates in the background.

Again, this is typically convenient, but some apps activate at startup when they don’t need to.

Types of startup programs

How To Stop Apps From Starting On Startup Machine

Most startup programs need to activate when you boot your Mac up. Here are some typical types of startup programs you likely won’t need to worry about:

User login items. Some apps need to activate when you login to your Mac. This may be for background sync, or for apps that need access to other apps while they run.

Launch agents. These are .txt files of apps that sit quietly in the background and help the app run once you start it up.

Application login items. These help applications start when your Mac boots up. You can’t delete these, but you can manage them.

Daemons. Like launch agents, daemons are little automated bits of an app that run in the background. The difference is while launch agents interact with apps, daemons are doing things on a system level.

Monitoring apps. Some apps spin up at login to keep an eye on your Mac’s performance and health.

How do I stop programs from opening on startup on my Mac

When you need to know how to stop programs from running at startup Mac hardware can be a bit tricky, but we’ve got yout covered. The absolute best way to make sure your Mac is running in tip-top shape is CleanMyMac X. It does a ton of work, and managing startup or login items for your Mac is one of many services it offers. While a routine, scheduled cleaning of your system is the best choice, CleanMyMac X also allows you granular control over startup or login items.

Here’s how to change startup programs Mac doesn’t need with CleanMyMac X:

  1. Open CleanMyMac X on your Mac

  2. On the left side of the window, select “Optimization”

Note: you can choose to clean up all login items and launch agents, or choose the individual processes you want to control. Because killing all startup programs can lead to unintended issues, we will tell you how to select individual startup programs to manage.

  1. In the main window, select one of two categories: Login Items, or Launch Agents

  2. On the right side of the window, select the items you would like to disable

  3. Select “Perform” at the bottom of the window

That’s all it takes to remove startup programs Mac can live without.


How To Stop Apps From Starting On Startup Mac Os

Remove programs manually

You can change startup programs Mac computers won’t always need manually, though it takes a bit of work. Here’s how to turn off startup programs Mac won’t use in System Preferences:

  1. On your Mac menu bar, select the Apple logo on the left side
  2. Select “System Preferences”
  3. Select “Users & Groups”
  4. Choose your ID from the list

Note: if you’re the only user on your Mac, you may only have one profile, and won’t need to choose a user from a list.

  1. Select “Login Items”
  2. Under the “Hide” column, un-select any items you no longer want to run at login

It takes a bit of doing, and the list may not have all items you’re looking for. This is part of the reason we prefer CleanMyMac X for this; it’s easier to use, and can manage all login items.


Manage startup programs on Mac from the Dock

Okay, we’ve told you how to disable login items – but what about apps that aren’t starting up at login? Can you get them to start when your Mac does?

Absolutely! This is a great option for apps that may be important to you, but aren’t spinning up at login. Chances are the apps you use most are already in your Mac’s dock, and that’s the best place to manage them as startup items. Here’s how:

  1. In your dock, right-click the app you want to open up at login
  2. Hover over “Options”
  3. Select “Open at Login”

Now, the app will spin up when you login to or start up your Mac. Keep in mind these apps won’t run in the background; instead, the app’s window will open at login. This is a great option for those with multiple profiles (one for personal and another for business, as an example) who need different apps for unique workflows.

If you find your Mac’s dock a bit intrusive or cumbersome, you may like uBar. A dock replacement for your Mac, uBar keeps things tucked out of the way, and shows you in a much better interface which apps are active and running on your Mac. It even has multiple-monitor support and status bars for apps running processes or downloading content.

How To Remove Apps From Startup


Delay Mac startup apps

If you don’t want to disable startup items, you may instead want to know how to edit startup programs Mac doesn’t need immediately. An app named Delay Start can – well, delay the start – of apps at startup. Instead of an app activating immediately, you can set some to spin up on a delay. This is great if your Mac is booting up slowly, but you still need apps to run in the background throughout your day.

It’s a great app to keep in mind if you have a dedicated workflow. If you were a photo editor, you may want to delay the start of your photo editing software. If the first thing you do is import images from an external drive or camera, apps spinning up may interfere with the process. Rather than risk unintended consequences like lost images or damaged files, delaying an app’s start may be the better workaround.


Remove daemons and agents from startup process

You can check which daemons and agents are running on your Mac via the Finder app, but a word of caution: daemons and agents are hidden, which indicates you shouldn’t alter them unless you have a very clear understanding of the repercussions it may have. So, tread lightly.

Here’s how to remove agents and daemons via Finder:

  1. Open Finder on your Mac

  2. Select the main library on your Mac – it’s typically the username, and always has the house icon next to it

  3. Press Shift + Command + . (the period key on your Mac) to bring up hidden folders

  4. Select “Library”

  5. Select “Launch Agents” in the next column

This shows a full list of agents and daemons you can remove.


Conclusion

Macbook

Managing launch services can really help make your Mac run faster, smoother, and eliminate unwanted services from spinning up. Some of the largest and most popular apps get a bad rap because they run at launch for no reason. Often, this is a means to make the app feel as though it is a critical part of your system; cloud storage services often run at startup to sync files, but the unintended consequence of them slowing your computer down may not be worth it.

Another great app to keep in mind is iStat Menus, an app that lives in your menu bar and keeps track of your CPU, memory, and GPU use. It’s one of those ‘good’ apps to run at startup because it monitors your entire system. If an app is running at startup and bogging your system down, iStat Menus will know about it.

uBar, CleanMyMac X, and iStat Menus are all available for free as part of a seven day trial of Setapp, an incredible suite of nearly 200 productivity apps for the Mac. When the trial ends, continuous and unlimited access to the entire Setapp catalog is only $9.99 per month. Families will enjoy the $19.99 per month plan, which allows full access to Setapp on up to four unique Macs. We think you’ll love it – give Setapp a try today!

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To use any of these key combinations, press and hold the keys immediately after pressing the power button to turn on your Mac, or after your Mac begins to restart. Keep holding until the described behavior occurs.

  • Command (⌘)-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery system. Or use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to start up from macOS Recovery over the Internet. macOS Recovery installs different versions of macOS, depending on the key combination you use while starting up. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password.
  • Option (⌥) or Alt: Start up to Startup Manager, which allows you to choose other available startup disks or volumes. If your Mac is using a firmware password, you're prompted to enter the password.
  • Option-Command-P-R:Reset NVRAM or PRAM. If your Mac is using a firmware password, it ignores this key combination or starts up from macOS Recovery.
  • Shift (⇧): Start up in safe mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
  • D: Start up to the Apple Diagnostics utility. Or use Option-Dto start up to this utility over the Internet. Disabled when using a firmware password.
  • N: Start up from a NetBoot server, if your Mac supports network startup volumes. To use the default boot image on the server, hold down Option-N instead. Disabled when using a firmware password.
  • Command-S: Start up in single-user mode. Disabled in macOS Mojave or later, or when using a firmware password.
  • T: Start up in target disk mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
  • Command-V: Start up in verbose mode. Disabled when using a firmware password.
  • Eject (⏏) or F12 or mouse button or trackpad button: Eject removable media, such as an optical disc. Disabled when using a firmware password.

If a key combination doesn't work

If a key combination doesn't work at startup, one of these these solutions might help:

  • Be sure to press and hold all keys in the combination together, not one at a time.
  • Shut down your Mac. Then press the power button to turn on your Mac. Then press and hold the keys as your Mac starts up.
  • Wait a few seconds before pressing the keys, to give your Mac more time to recognize the keyboard as it starts up. Some keyboards have a light that flashes briefly at startup, indicating that the keyboard is recognized and ready for use.
  • If you're using a wireless keyboard, plug it into your Mac, if possible. Or use your built-in keyboard or a wired keyboard. If you're using a keyboard made for a PC, such as a keyboard with a Windows logo, try a keyboard made for Mac.
  • If you're using Boot Camp to start up from Microsoft Windows, set Startup Disk preferences to start up from macOS instead. Then shut down or restart and try again.

Remember that some key combinations are disabled when your Mac is using a firmware password.

Learn more

  • Learn what to do if your Mac doesn't turn on.
  • Learn about Mac keyboard shortcuts that you can use after your Mac has started up.