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When I start up iMac, Chrome automatically opens. How do I make it stop?

I have Safari, Chrome and Firefox as browsers. They are all in my dock. Safari is my default browser.


After I've shut down the computer, when I start up again, Chrome is the only browser that opens automatically at start up. I don't want any of them to do that. I've looked through preferences and can't find anything. I've looked in my Library:StartUpItems folder, but there seems to be nothing there.


How do I make Chrome stop starting?

Posted on Nov 20, 2013 11:53 AM

Reply
79 replies

Mar 16, 2017 1:56 AM in response to a brody

FWIW--none of the solutions proposed here worked for me. I've also recently started using Workflowy, which apparently is based exclusively on Chrome, so it appears the auto-launch problems are related to use of Workflowy. I also noticed Chrome was significantly slowing my MacBook Pro (8 MB mem) and quitting Chrome solves the problem. But here's the issue: Workflowy depends upon Chrome running in the background. I cannot quit Chrome without quitting Workflowy first; launching Workflowy auto-launches Chrome. I've also tried using the Chrome Task Manager to delete the Workflowy background page operations, but doing so immediately quits Workflowy. Another thing I've noticed is that, since installing Workflowy, Chrome auto-launches immediately upon starting the Macbook Pro. I prefer using Safari b/c it seems to be more efficient and doesn't gobble CPU or memory like Chrome does.

I guess my question/comment to the omniscient souls on this discussion board is simply: are there any solutions, other than not using Workflowy? I've just emailed the Workflowy folks but haven't received a reply.

Aug 17, 2018 1:09 PM in response to dianaofportland

Hiya dianaofportland


Right click on chrome in the dock and de-select run at start.


If it's already deselected then make sure you dont just click the red x when quitiing.


ALWAYS RIGHT CLICK ON CHROME IN THE DOCK AND CLICK QUIT AS WELL .


This will ensure this doesnt happen


joseph scorthorne

Jan 22, 2017 12:53 AM in response to dianaofportland

Once you have turned off Google Chrome if it is in your Start Items in the User Account, and right-clicked the Chrome icon on the Mac taskbar and unchecked 'start at login' this problem may still happen. I have found the solution which took me about 1 hour of intense testing.


There is one other program that is installed automatically with Google Chrome that starts up automatically with Mac OS X without your permission.


1. Open your Google Chrome application.

2. Open 'Add-ons' under Chrome menu -> Settings you'll find it on your left side.

3. Find Google Hangouts

4. Click the 'Activate' checkbox to deactivate it.


While you're in Google Chrome why not change the start page to about:blank ? This will open up a blank start page should you ever use Google Chrome from time to time.


Settings -> 'At start-up' open a specific page -> and add "about:blank" without the quotes. Remove any other webpages. Click OK.


Now you will not have Chrome starting up anymore!

Jun 7, 2017 10:34 AM in response to dianaofportland

You need to change true to false in /Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.keystone.agent.plist


<key>RunAtLoad</key>
<true/>


Step by Step

Open Terminal

Type sudo su

Press Enter

It will ask for password, type your admin password

Press enter.

Type cd /Library/LaunchAgents/

And press enter

Type ls -ltr

Press Enter

if you see "com.google.keystone.agent.plist" in file list.

type vim com.google.keystone.agent.plist

locate line "<key>RunAtLoad</key>"

below that there will be a line "<true/>"

make it to false by pressing i for insert mode.

make true to false

press escape

type :wq

press enter

and restart your computer.

Sep 1, 2017 11:37 AM in response to dianaofportland

I know this is a really long time after the initial posting, however I was having the same problem with Chrome and I'm running 10.12.6 - nowhere did I have Chrome set to open at startup. I finally tried selecting that option, then deselecting that option and it seems to have worked. I just restarted my computer and Chrome never reared it's ugly head. Hope this is helpful to someone else

Apr 1, 2014 11:47 AM in response to B_Smitty

In Sys Prefs>Acconts>Login Items, what all is listed?


I hope this still runs in 10.6...


What all 3rd party extentions are you running?


EtreCheck is a simple little app to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac.


http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

Apr 1, 2014 12:44 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks. It seems to have worked, although the site does have a disclaimer saying it may not be entirely accurate on Snow Leopard. Anything helpful here?


Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro7,1

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores

4 GB RAM


Video Information:

NVIDIA GeForce 320M - VRAM: 256 MB


System Software:

Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549) - Uptime: 0 days 4:23:46


Disk Information:

Hitachi HTS545025B9SA02 disk0 : (232.89 GB)

(null) (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 200 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 232.57 GB (124.88 GB free)


MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898


USB Information:

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Mitsumi Electric Apple Optical USB Mouse


Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard


Apple Inc. Built-in iSight


Apple Internal Memory Card Reader



Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad


FireWire Information:


Thunderbolt Information:


Kernel Extensions:

com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.5.2)

com.eltima.ElmediaPlayer.kext (1.0 - SDK 10.4)


Problem System Launch Daemons:

[System] org.samba.winbindd.plist 3rd-Party support link


Launch Daemons:

[System] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.crashplan.engine.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.distortedvista.istatmenusprocessserver.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.eltima.ElmediaPlayer.daemon.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.freemacsoft.appcleanerdaemon.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist 3rd-Party support link


Launch Agents:

[System] com.kodak.BonjourAgent.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] org.musingsfrommars.MTL.Agent.plist 3rd-Party support link


User Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.kodak.Registration.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.nds.pcshow.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.nds.pcshow.uninstall.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.vndv.tagfolders.tagprompter.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] net.infinite-labs.SIMBLEnablerForSandboxedApps.plist 3rd-Party support link


User Login Items:

GrowlMenu

GrowlMenu

GrowlHelperApp

SpaceControl

Music Manager

Jumper

AdobeResourceSynchronizer

WeatherBug Alert

EvernoteHelper

Wondershare Helper Compact


Internet Plug-ins:

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.06 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

Flash Player: Version: 12.0.0.77 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

ContentUploaderPlugin: Version: 1.2 3rd-Party support link

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.06 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.7

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: (null) 3rd-Party support link

DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.6.6r636 3rd-Party support link

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.6.6

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 12.0.0.77 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

Yahoo! Installer 3: Version: 1.0.128 3rd-Party support link

PandoWebInst: Version: 1.0 3rd-Party support link

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin1017277: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link

DivXBrowserPlugin: Version: 1.3 3rd-Party support link

CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: Version: Version 1.1.6 3rd-Party support link

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 3rd-Party support link

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101750: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.4.4.2 3rd-Party support link

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.3.8 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 13.9.8 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101736: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link


iTunes Plug-ins:

Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.2


User iTunes Plug-ins:

TuneUp Visualizer: Version: 2.2.0 3rd-Party support link


User Internet Plug-ins:

WebEx64: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link

fbplugin_1_0_3: Version: (null) 3rd-Party support link

WebEx: Version: 1.0 3rd-Party support link


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Application Enhancer 3rd-Party support link

FinderPop 3rd-Party support link

Flash Player 3rd-Party support link

FlexCal 3rd-Party support link

Flip4Mac WMV 3rd-Party support link

Growl 3rd-Party support link

HiddenSettings 3rd-Party support link

MacFUSE 3rd-Party support link

MusicManager 3rd-Party support link

Perian 3rd-Party support link


Old Applications:

Tagger: Version: 1.5.1 - SDK 10.0 3rd-Party support link

/Users/[redacted]/Desktop/√√/music/a1 music audio/library_music_stuff/itunes stuff/Tagger.app

Unretina: Version: 1.3 - SDK 10.0 3rd-Party support link

/Applications/a_First To Go/Unretina.app


Time Machine:

Time Machine information requires OS X 10.7 "Lion" or later.


Top Processes by CPU:

31% firefox

8% WindowServer

4% locationd

4% thunderbird

1% EtreCheck


Top Processes by Memory:

1.34 GB firefox

221 MB thunderbird

131 MB java

127 MB mds

78 MB WindowServer


Virtual Memory Information:

382 MB Free RAM

1.84 GB Active RAM

1.13 GB Inactive RAM

415 MB Wired RAM

3.65 GB Page-ins

906 MB Page-outs

When I start up iMac, Chrome automatically opens. How do I make it stop?

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