Perpetual "Background Items Added"

I think I solved this – for myself, at very least.

Full disclosure: I am not an Apple developer. However, I am a software engineer with > 20 years experience working on UNIX and UNIX-Like systems (mainly Linux variants), similar to MacOS.

OK! All that being said, here's what I did:

1. Reboot in Safe Mode
2. Remove unwanted items from /Library/LaunchDaemons/
3. Remove unwanted items from /Library/LaunchAgents/
4. Remove unwanted items from /Users/username/Library/LaunchAgents/ (aka "~/Library/LaunchAgents")
5. Reset background task management database
6. Reboot and login normally

Before I did this, I was getting dozens and dozens of "Background Items Added" warnings. (Ventura 13.1 on a 2020 Intel MacBook Pro.) My logic for this was as follows:

• When the Mac fully boots up and the user logs in normally, the state of running apps is held in memory, and may be written out to disk at any time.
• Making changes in this state, therefore, may not have a permanent effect
• When booted in "Safe Mode" no background applications are started. (Or, at least, only the very essential ones.)
• Therefore, changes can be made which will survive a restart, from Safe Mode

Furthermore: Startup tasks may be run at system boot, at login of ANY user, and at login of a particular user account. As I understand it:

• /Library/LaunchDaemons : Run at system boot
• /Library/LaunchAgents : Run when any user logs in
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents: Run when that particular user logs in

TL;DR: JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

Ok, I feel you. Here is the step-by-step. Like I said, this worked for ME. YMMV. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Reboot in Safe Mode

Apple Menu -> Restart. Hold down the SHIFT key (Intel Macs) until you see the login screen.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Remove unwanted startup items, reset BTM database, restart

1. Open up Terminal.app (link).
2. Make a directory into which you can move (rather than delete) the unwanted files by typing:
   1. mkdir -pv /tmp/DISABLED/LaunchDaemons
   2. mkdir -pv /tmp/DISABLED/LaunchAgents
   3. mkdir -pv /tmp/DISABLED/User-LaunchAgents
3. Go to your user LaunchAgents directory by typing: "cd ~/Library/LaunchAgents"
   1. List all files by typing: "ls -la"
   2. Move each file you want to disable by typing: "mv -v file.to.disable /tmp/DISABLED/User-LaunchAgents/"
4. Switch to the root (aka "admin") account by typing: "sudo su -" and then entering your admin password.
5. Go to the system LaunchDaemons directory by typing: "cd /Library/LaunchDaemons"
   1. List all files by typing: "ls -la"
   2. Move each file you want to disable by typing: "mv -v file.to.disable /tmp/DISABLED/LaunchDaemons/"
6. Go to the system LaunchAgents directory by typing: "cd /Library/LaunchAgents"
   1. List all files by typing: "ls -la"
   2. Move each file you want to disable by typing: "mv -v file.to.disable /tmp/DISABLED/LaunchAgents/"
7. Reset background task management database: "sfltool resetbtm"
8. Exit terminal and reboot normally

I know this looks like a lot. If anything goes sideways, /tmp/DISABLED contains the files you removed. Just move them back and restart.

Good luck!

After this annoyed the heck out of me, I found the solution, by tracing the corrupt file that was causing the problem. In MacOS, there is a process called "backgroundtaskmanagementd" that reads from a database of background items. However, since it only updates the database infrequently, it took some poking around the console to find the location. After I found it, I deleted the database file and restarted, and the endless messages stopped.

The database location is: /var/db/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagement/BackgroundItems-v8.btm

Since the location is hidden from the Finder, to get to it, in the Finder, select Go to folder... from the Go menu (or just press command-shift-G on your keyboard) and enter: /var/db/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagement/

Then, drag the BackgroundItems-v8.btm file to the trash, enter your password, and then restart.

I went to Apple Support and they told me exactly what to do. Here it is:

1. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities and open the Terminal app.
2. Copy and paste or run this command: sfltool resetbtm
3. Press the return key on our keyboard to run the command. If asked, enter your Mac login password.
4. Restart the Mac.

This worked for m.

Got things cleared up on my machine. Followed some directions here and elsewhere. Maybe this will help.

My situation:

Macbook Air M2.

Logitech software installed for mouse (logioptions+), logitech presentation software, and G hub. Removed all, still had issue.

Used CleanMyMac to also clear up agents (using CleanMyMac optimization).

Still causing issues.

Everything Logitech uninstalled (or so I thought!). Still Background items were listed in Settings for Logitech and Logi+.

So, used Finder to my user folder, while *still* in my user folder, hold Command, Shift, and period to show hidden files. You'll see a hidden Library folder in your user folder (I had been looking at the system's Library folder originally). Click into Library folder, did a search on "Logi". Found a bunch of leftover logitech folders. Moved those to trash (like other posters recommended).

Restarted. And no more irritating login item notifications.

Reinstalled LogiOption+ or whatever it is called for my mouse. Made sure to have all autoupdates and notifications off in the Logitech options for the mouse.

Restarted. Still no login item notifications

I had initially tried the sudo command. Didn't work unfortunately.

Safe mode restarts hadn't helped.

Looks like the issue was prior Logitech apps left a bunch of junk in the hidden Library folder in your user folder.

Good luck!

Apple Support helped with this today. Please look for upgrades for the software noted in the notification. The message means the software needs to be updated to work with Ventura. Sure enough, updating each software stopped the notifications.

This has been driving me mad too, and I seem to have just fixed it!

As others have suggested, you need to find the offending files in LaunchAgents (check both root and user libraries).

Since some of the notifications are showing the name of the individual developer rather than the company, a quick Google may help.

For me, offending apps were Temp Monitor, Monity, and Stream Deck (Corsair Memory Inc).

The first two, I just uninstalled for the time being, and removed their corresponding LaunchAgent files, and after a restart they disappeared from Login Items. (I also reset the PRAM on restart just in case, but that probably didn't do anything).

For Stream Deck, I made sure I'd updated to the latest version, backed up my profiles first, then deleted the Elgato file in LaunchAgents and restarted. No more notifications! Hurrah. In order to make Stream Deck launch at startup again, I just downloaded the installer and installed the software "over itself" (no need to uninstall). It worked a treat, adding the file back into LaunchAgents and without causing the persistent notifications. I didn't even lose any of my Stream Deck settings. Results in other apps may vary.

In macOS Ventura 13.4.1, I ultimately disabled the service that manages these "background items" from starting during login (or startup). I don't recommend this for everyone, because System Integrity Protection (SIP) must be disabled and re-enabled.

Disable

$ sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagementd.plist
$ sudo reboot

Enable

$ sudo launchctl load   -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagementd.plist
$ sudo reboot

For more information, read Manage login items and background tasks on Mac and inspect the output of these commands:

$ man backgroundtaskmanagementd  # service description
$ sudo sfltool dumpbtm           # lists configured background tasks

Possible fix - this did it for me!

Look in ~/Library/LaunchAgents (you can copy paste into go to folder from Finder), sort alphabetically and look for whatever the name of the application is that's bugging you with those pop-ups. Delete, empty trash, and restart.

It's also worth looking in Macintosh HD/Library/LaunchAgents and Macintosh HD/Library/LaunchDaemons for those same applications. Again, delete, empty trash, and restart.

My particular version of this problem produced multiple notifications of “Login Items” after every restart. Additional similar notifications would appear sporadically.

I went through my applications and logged out and/or disabled the licenses for every program that allowed it. Lo and behold, the constant notifications stopped; I assume the culprit program was no longer attempting to login, so no more notifications…

I copied serial numbers/passwords as I logged out to facilitate restoring the licenses.

I have re-connected Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, DaVinci Resolve, Topaz AI programs, ChronoSync, Sony Imaging Edge, and FotoMagico. The notifications have not recurred.

I plan to re-login to other programs from smaller developers at a slow pace and with frequent restarts to see if I can locate the offending programs. However, I can now use the programs that I use over 90% of the time with no annoying notifications. YMMV but hope this helps.

I've completely eliminated the problem now, including the problematic XQuartz application. By using Command+F in a finder window, I discovered I had failed to delete part of the XQuartz app, and was able to delete it. I also found some XQuartz-related files in LaunchAgents that I had previously missed due to their cryptic names. (It's not always clear what files to remove in these directories, so be careful.)

Bottom line: *completely* deleting the app (using Finder to find it), and *completely* removing related files from LaunchAgents has resolved the issue for me.

I just had this issue as well. It was extremely annoying. I did the update to OS 13.2.1 and as soon as my computer restarted I was getting a new notification every few seconds. For me, a OneDrive login item was the culprit. Deleting the launch items in ~/Library did not work for me. Force quitting any OneDrive activities using Activity Monitor also did not work.

What did final work was going to 'System Settings'/'Login Items'/'Allow in the Background'/'OneDrive' and toggling off ALL OneDrive items. Initially I did not notice that there were multiple OneDrive items in that list and it turned out to be the last item. I toggled the last item off and then dismissed all of the notifications and when I toggled it back on I was no longer receiving the notifications.

In Terminal, run this command:

sfltool resetbtm

and reboot.

I did not delete the .plist — but, nonetheless, running the above Terminal command and rebooting absolutely works.

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

muibui wrote:

I spoke with one of the Apple Support team members, and here's what I was suggested.

1. Reset using "sfltool resetbtm" from Terminal

2. Reboot

This is the correct answer. Worked for me right away; didn't even have to restart. Thanks!

I believe this behaviour is down to a notification flag failing to clear correctly.

This worked for me in Sonoma.

1. Go to ~/Library/LaunchAgents and locate all the plist files relating to the notification.
2. Move these to the trash (but DON'T delete them).
3. Restart
4. Move the files back to the ~/Library/LaunchAgents folder.
5. Notifications should appear then be gone for good once cleared.