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How can I stop Lion from reopening applications upon startup?

The feature in Lion that re-opens the applications that I used prior to my last shutdown is REALLY irritating me. When I shut down, I unheck the re-open windows box and even had a "genius" chose an option in the general preferences to stop it, yet it keeps occurring. Chrome and Lightroom are the two applications that seem to be opening without end.


Any ideas?

Posted on Aug 6, 2011 10:52 PM

Reply
44 replies

Aug 6, 2011 11:37 PM in response to theJeremiah

Can't help you stop the madness, but if you want to report this issue to Apple's engineering, send a bug report or an enhancement request via its Bug Reporter system. To do this, register as an Apple Developer—it's free and available for all Mac users and gets you a look at some development software. Since you already have an Apple username/ID, use that. Once a member, go to Apple BugReporter and file your bug report or enhancement request. You'll get a response and a follow-up number; thus, starting a dialog with engineering.

Aug 26, 2011 10:59 PM in response to theJeremiah

I'm with you--I CAN'T STAND IT!!!! This whole Lion thing is a complete disaster. I am so frustrated. I'm sorry I ever downloaded this junky software. Never thought I'd be saying this as I am a lifelong Apple addict and fan. I am so angry at how many wasted hours I've spent fixing things that Lion crashes have caused. And one of them is the computer crashing and restarting on it's own, but of course it restarts by opening EVERY window of EVERY application that was running when it crashed....which of course creates ANOTHER crash. This software is garbage.

Aug 27, 2011 11:25 AM in response to smitty195

Please try locking the plist file as per my post on Aug 26. If the POSIX path I gave to the plist file causes any confusion, the equivalent HFS path is:


MacHD:Users:yourUsername:Library:Preferences:ByHost:com.apple.loginwindow.*.plis t


I agree that Apple needs to address the issue you're having with repeated crashes, but this works fine in the meantime, just like in Snow Leopard.

Aug 27, 2011 1:26 PM in response to baltwo

Well, I sort of disagree with that comment. Apple does indeed read these forums, but they do not openly and publicly state such. I have two buds who work for Apple, and they confirmed that Apple peruses these forums every day. That's not really a secret---ANY company who cares about their customers is going to read this stuff. It's common sense. And in last month's Consumer Reports magazine, they talked about how companies are now employing software that "mines" discussion boards and social networking sites in order to learn how good or bad their products are doing. It's an interesting read.

Sep 10, 2011 6:18 PM in response to billearl

billearl wrote:


Please try locking the plist file as per my post on Aug 26. If the POSIX path I gave to the plist file causes any confusion, the equivalent HFS path is:


MacHD:Users:yourUsername:Library:Preferences:ByHost:com.apple.loginwindow.*.plis t


I agree that Apple needs to address the issue you're having with repeated crashes, but this works fine in the meantime, just like in Snow Leopard.

ok,... where? no "library folder ,.. just not there!!!!


User uploaded file

Sep 10, 2011 7:38 PM in response to D. Thomas Lamourine

Oddly enough I discovered quite by accident that if I used Spotlight to find something that was in the invisible Library file i could find it. I could also track the pathwaty back to my User ID/Library. The Library file was greyed out but I was able to do what i wanted to do. In this case it was to copy my Safari bookmarks from the computer to a backup HD.


Then, a couple of days later, the folder just "turned up" and has been visible ever since. I have no idea why. I certainly didn't do anything intenionally.

Sep 11, 2011 12:55 AM in response to billearl

Oh you had my hopes up there...alas, that didnt' work for me.


I closed all windows and apps, then navigated to the file and locked it up as you said. Restarting the com brought up ('resumed') a whole host of rubbish from before I closed those apps & windows and locked the file.


Upon restarting, I checked that the file was still locked:


User uploaded file

How can I stop Lion from reopening applications upon startup?

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