How to Stop Apps from Opening at Startup on Mac in macOS Ventura

I found this remedy using AI. It worked!

• Go to the Apple menu () > Shut Down.

• Before clicking “Shut Down,” make sure “Reopen windows when logging back in” is unchecked.

• Shut down your Mac and then start it up again to see if the apps still reopen.

I know this is an old thread, but since I see some recent posts in here, figured I throw this in to help. Not sure why this information isn't more readily available online but instead just talk about login items. Also don't know why apple doesn't provide a prefpane to manage them.

There are 3 places to look for startup apps like you're talking about.

/Library/LaunchAgents

<user>/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/LaunchDaemons

Remove the *.plist files for any apps that you don't want to auto-start.

I highly recommend backing up these folders before deleting anything out of them. There are several apps that require a background process and removing it from here will prevent that app from functioning correctly.

You will also notice some other LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons folders out there if you search for them in Finder. I'd recommend not messing with any of those. As far as I've ever noticed those are all Apple internal stuff.

You might have to go into the settings for those apps that launch at startup, and find their setting to STOP launching at startup.

This was actually helpful and the thing that worked. Thank you. I had previously tried:

1. Login items in settings (not there. I even added it back and deleted it to see if that might work)
2. Changed the setting in the app (it was already unchecked. I checked it, then unchecked it)
3. Quitting the application (so it wouldn't 'reopen at login)
4. Even checked Activity Viewer to confirm for sure that nothing was open
5. Checked the Launch Agents in my user folder, because this is where the shortcut /Library/LaunchAgents sends you to when you "go" to a folder in finder.

In the end it was in the high level LaunchAgents folder, and it was the name of the developer and not the name of the application.

Hey,

You need to check if the application is pinned on Doc and opens when you start up your Mac; you can stop the application from opening on startup of your Mac. Follow these steps to shut them down:

Right-click on the App you want to stop opening >>> Click Options >>> Uncheck the Open at Login option.

That's it.

The best and quickest way to prevent apps from opening again at startup is to do the following prior to shutdown:

1. Click the apple icon at the top left of your screen (A menu screen will pop up).
2. Select "Force Quit" in the menu screen (Another menu screen will pop up with a list of the active apps).
3. Select the apps that you want to close prior to startup (Hold down the command key to select multiple apps).
4. Click the "Force Quit" box and the selected apps will disappear (The "Finder" app will remain and will not pop up at startup).
5. Click the apple icon at the top left of your screen (A menu screen will pop up).
6. Select "Shutdown" (Your active apps will not pop up again at startup).

The same thing was happening to me (I'm very much a non-expert). It's because I've been shutting down applications by clicking on the red button up the top rather than going over and quitting them properly. If you restart and let them all come up again on startup then go over and quit each one properly, they won't pop up again on startup.

Spotify is one such app you have to change in it's preferences.

Usually the solution is to go to the login list and (-) it out. But, if there’s nothing in the login list, what do you do? These apps, clicked on at least once, are running in the background and you don’t know it. So, the quick solution is to go back to the APP in the Dock after you’re finished, right click on it, then click QUIT in the pop-up menu. The next time you sign in on your Mac, it will not open automatically upon startup. Do this with all the apps that used. Hope this helps.

Usually the solution is to go to the login list and (-) it out. But, if there’s nothing in the login list, what do you do? These apps, clicked on at least once, are running in the background and you don’t know it. So, the quick solution is to go back to the APP in the Dock after you’re finished, right click on it, then click QUIT in the pop-up menu. The next time you sign in on your Mac, it will not open automatically upon startup. Do this with all the apps that you used. Hope this helps.

I might have found it on accident. In the dock after i have used an app i tried a right click and discovered all the programs that would open were the ones that were "opened but not opened" i did this and they don't open anymore.

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and set the offending Login Items to not open at login. Then 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.

Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac - Apple Support

I've had this issue and with MacOS 15, things have changed.

Try this:

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click General  in the sidebar.
2. Click Login Items & Extensions. (You may need to scroll down.)
3. Do any of the following:

• • Add a login item: Click  below the list of items, select a document, folder, app, server or other item, then click Add.
  • Remove a login item: Select the name of the item you want to prevent from opening automatically, then click  below the list.
  • Allow apps to run in the background: Turn on the app to allow it to perform tasks when the app isn’t open, such as checking for software updates or syncing data.

Taken from here: Open items automatically when you log in on Mac – Apple Support (UK)