How do I disable "reopen windows when logging back in"

Update your software to OSX 10.7.4

Well, does it work?

For those that haven't yet (or don't want to) upgrade to 10.7.4, I'd be interested to know if these commands work:

defaults write com.apple.loginwindow TALLogoutSavesState 0

(to turn the default status of the check box to off; you can turn it on manually just by clicking it)

defaults write com.apple.loginwindow TALLogoutSavesState 1

(to turn the default status of the check box to on, the way it is has been in Lion from 10.7 - 10.7.3).

I don't have Lion anymore, so I can't test them out myself.

Why use hacks when 10.7.4 fixes the issue?

Why call the terminal command which 10.7.4 uses to control this behaviour a 'hack'?

The reason was already given: some may not wish to update to 10.7.4. In case you haven't noticed, there's been a few problems reported.

Tthe update worked just fine for me. Connect your Mac to power, close every single app that is open (and I mean ALL running apps) and thrn update software. It defs fixes ur problem

It appears that this has been fixed in 10.7.4

System Perferences > Users & Groups > Login Items > untick all items.

Now you can restart your computer without opening previous windows.

10.7.4 addresses this annoying problem. Finally, once you close all apps and uncheck the "Reopen windwos when logging back in", it stays. At least, it's working for me.

I have Mac OS 10.7.5. The checkbox "Reopen windows when logging back in" is unchecked but most windows open anyway when starting the computer... Is there any solution ? Thanks.

Go to  > System preferences... General and uncheck the box that says something like 'restore windows when quitting and reopening apps'.

Thanks fo the answer but that box is already unchecked...😕

If both the boxes are unchecked (the one in logout window and the one in sys prefs | general) and resume is still kicking in then you perhaps have a corrupt plist file which is not saving the preference properly.

Try this:

Open Terminal.app and paste this command:

rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist

press 'return' on your keyboard.

Then restart your computer. When it reboots, go uncheck those two boxes and restart again to test.

do you quit the applications before you log out? Quit mail should not open when you log back in, etc.

I tried the Terminal command about the plist file but the two applications Mail and Microsoft Word reopen always after booting the computer. It happens only with one of the three users of the computer (with three different login) The two related boxes are unchecked and I always quit the application before loging out...