Since upgrading to Sonoma Music launches automatically on restart (though I have it set not to launch).

Jonah Lee Walker wrote:

... the problem is because Music automatically launches if the external drive didn't show up, it resets the music location and it takes it a day to move it back to where it is supposed to be.

See Managing your Mac media libraries - Apple Community. If your Music Library.musiclibrary database were on your external drive as well as the media, then the media folder would not reset if the drive were unavailable, instead there would be an error message that the library couldn't be opened. Connect the drive, launch Music, all should work correctly.

I just don't get why it is launching, it isn't a login item, nor in the list of items. What is making it launch

Do you have any Bluetooth audio things? They can trigger Music into launching.

tt2

Hey there Jonah Lee Walker,

There are a few settings you can check if you're noticing the app opening each time you restart. Use the guidance below:

Prevent windows from reopening when you log in

Deselect ”Reopen windows when logging back in” in the confirmation dialog that appears when you log out of your Mac or restart.

Prevent windows from reopening when you open an app

You can prevent apps from restoring the windows they had open when you last quit the app.

macOS Ventura or later

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings.

2. Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.

3. Scroll down on the right and turn on “Close windows when quitting an app.”

Other solutions

* Press and hold the Shift key while opening the app. This doesn't change any settings, but the app forgets any windows that were open the last time you quit the app.

* Start up in safe mode, then restart normally. This doesn't change any settings, but your Mac forgets any apps and windows that were open the last time you logged out or restarted.

* Check the app's settings. Some apps offer a setting to make them reopen each time you log in or start up your Mac, or a setting to make them reopen windows. For example, Safari has a setting to control which windows it opens with.

* Make sure that the app isn't a login item. Login items open every time you log in or start up your Mac. You can add or remove login items.

Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac - Apple Support

Take care!

I had a similar, if not identical problem. Music would spontaneously launch, sometimes multiple times, some minutes after booting up. I seem to have gotten it to quit by reinstalling macOS Sonoma. from the repair/safe boot startup screen.

Never mind, it's back. I had to repeatedly quit Music earlier today. Looking at the Launchd log, the main thing that struck me was how often the "Visualizer" showed up in the entries. I've since set the Visualizer to Classic and will see if that helps.