How do I stop iPhoto from auto-launching?

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Level 1

24 points

How do I stop iPhoto from auto-launching?

I'm running the latest version of OS X and iPhoto, this has been going on for 2 years or more and I still can't figure out a solution. So I figured maybe something new is out there where someone might have a clue why I'm experiencing this.

I cannot keep iPhoto from launching on my Mac. I'm not plugging in any peripherals, there is no event taking place that is causing iPhoto to logically launch, I'm not connecting a camera or USB stick or anything. It just launches. It's like an app version of the Walking Dead, I can't kill this **** thing and I have not yet figured out how to put a stake through its brain. I like iPhoto when I actually want to use it, which is rarely. But it loads when I first boot up (even though it is NOT listed in my startup apps), and if I quit it, between 10-60 minutes later I'll be typing away working on something and boom, it just launches again. There's no pattern to it, it just won't stay quit.

Ayone have any clue why this might be happening? I've really grown to hate this app.

Posted on Apr 6, 2014 9:15 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

207,367 points

Apr 6, 2014 9:25 AM in response to conejo61

What system and iPhoto versions do you have? In iPhoto's General preference pane see that Connecting camera opens: is set to No Application.

As a test move the iPhoto applicataion into a subfolder within the Applications folder and reboot. Does it launch?

As another test rename the iPhoto application to iPhoito 9.4.3 or what ever the version is. Reboot and check again.

Still another test is to log into another user account on your Mac and reboot into it. Still a problem?

If the above fails boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and see if iPhoto still launches. If not then reboot normally and keep your fingers crossed. 😉

OT

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Answer 2

conejo61 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2014 9:32 AM in response to Old Toad

I've got 10.9.2 of OS X and 9.5.1 of iPhoto.

Already have that one preference set to "no application".

Thanks for the other suggestions, when I have a bit of time I'll try them and report back.

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 6, 2014 9:45 AM in response to conejo61

Gosh - since the cause is a user setting and iPhoto is simply doing what you have told it to do I'm not sure why you hate it for following your instructions

Your spend so much time ranting but you fail to give basic information to help direct you specifically to the correct location to change the setting you made

it is most likely a device - any FAT device that is connected to your computer will do this (that is how iPhoto sees a camera - as a FAT device) - to fix that change the iPhoto preference on action when a camera is connected to do nothing

It can be set as a start up item in the system preferences - to correct this remove it from the list

It can be set to automatically launch from the dock - to correct this right click on the iPhoto icon in the Dock and uncheck

With more information it is probably possible to narrow this down to an exact cause

LN

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Answer 4

conejo61 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2014 9:49 AM in response to LarryHN

LarryHN, I deleted my first response and will try to be a bit more polite in this one. Your response is both arrogant and unhelpful, and reeks of judgment and attitude. Get over yourself.

First, I have that setting set to do nothing when a camera is connected.

Second, I do NOT have iPhoto listed in the startup apps list.

Third, it is not set to automatically launch from the dock.

Since you're so confident that this is a user setting/error problem, please, bestow your wisdom on me and tell me what setting I've enabled or disabled to generate this behavior.

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Apr 6, 2014 9:52 AM in response to conejo61

Have nice day - maybe some masochistic volunteer who appreciates your abuse will help you - I won't

Bye now

LN

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Answer 6

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,290 points

Apr 6, 2014 9:57 AM in response to conejo61

Do you have any automation apps set up - Quickeys or Keyboard Maestro?

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Answer 7

conejo61 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2014 9:58 AM in response to Yer_Man

Hey Terence, I installed Keyboard Maestro about 3 weeks ago, but this behavior has been going on for a few years. Before that, no.

I've wracked my brain trying to figure out what could be triggering this behavior, but so far, I've got nothing.

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Answer 8

conejo61 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2014 10:58 AM in response to conejo61

one thought, and a question...

First, while I think I tried this my last go around with trying to fix this problem, I've disabled all iCloud settings. Just trying to get this thing to not communicate with anything and see what that does.

I'm going to try OldToad's advice later in the week. To do it I've gotta reboot, and I've got so much stuff that does autoload that it takes forever to complete a boot cycle. And I need to finish my taxes today, so I'll run those tests likely next weekend.

But a question: would something show up in a log file or in the Console when iPhoto launches showing what triggered it? I'd think something needs to be recorded somewhere. SOMETHING is making this thing rise from the dead and I'd think there's a record of that somewhere.

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Answer 9

Apr 6, 2014 11:06 AM in response to conejo61

You say this happens even when you do not have a camera plugged in. correct? Does it happen right away when you log in or does it happen after some time or randomly?

If it happens when you log in check your log in items (System Preferences->Users), make sure iPhoto isn't listed.

See you mentioned you checked startup items. So when does iPhoto start?

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Answer 10

Old Toad

Level 10

207,367 points

Apr 6, 2014 11:13 AM in response to conejo61

Two off topic things come to mind: 1 - how much free space do you have on your boot drive; 2- how much RAM. You should maintain a minimum of 10 GB of free space to help assure optimum system and application performance.

Check the mamory useage in Activity Monitor: the amouth of swap used and the memory pressure as you work with all those apps opened. You might find out how to speed up your Mac.

Rebooting can clear caches and often fix strange problems. If you have so many apps set to launch at login I'd lessen the number and reboot more often.

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Answer 11

conejo61 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2014 11:15 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Frank, it does it at 2 different "times":

First, EVERY time I reboot, iPhoto launches.

Second, just randomly, but usually within 20-30 minutes after I've quit the application. In fact, it just did it again.

So, I went to the Console to see if there was anything there and there was a bunch, but I've no idea what it means. Lots of references of mdworker. I'll paste the relevant sections of the Console below, maybe it means something to someone smarter than me. One line of it that repeats that I find interesting is this:

find suspect file using: sudo mdutil -t 778167

anywhere, here it is. iPhoto relaunched at about 1:04 or so.

4/6/2014 1:04:35.000 PM kernel[0]: Sandbox: mdworker(3212) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo

4/6/2014 1:04:35.331 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3265]) mdworker(3265) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo (pre-plugin fstype:hfs fsflag:480D000 flags:250000005E diag:0 isXCode:0 uti:public.folder plugin:internalPlainTextImporter - find suspect file using: sudo mdutil -t 778167)

4/6/2014 1:04:35.498 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3265]) mdworker(3265) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo (pre-plugin fstype:hfs fsflag:480D000 flags:250000005E diag:0 isXCode:0 uti:public.folder plugin:internalPlainTextImporter - find suspect file using: sudo mdutil -t 778167)

4/6/2014 1:04:35.721 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3265]) mdworker(3265) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo (pre-plugin fstype:hfs fsflag:480D000 flags:250000005E diag:0 isXCode:0 uti:public.folder plugin:internalPlainTextImporter - find suspect file using: sudo mdutil -t 778167)

4/6/2014 1:04:35.778 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3265]) mdworker(3265) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo (pre-plugin fstype:hfs fsflag:480D000 flags:250000005E diag:0 isXCode:0 uti:public.folder plugin:internalPlainTextImporter - find suspect file using: sudo mdutil -t 778167)

4/6/2014 1:04:35.826 PM WindowServer[123]: disable_update_timeout: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "iPhoto" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.

4/6/2014 1:04:35.834 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3265]) mdworker(3265) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo (pre-plugin fstype:hfs fsflag:480D000 flags:250000005E diag:0 isXCode:0 uti:public.folder plugin:internalPlainTextImporter - find suspect file using: sudo mdutil -t 778167)

4/6/2014 1:04:35.919 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3212]) mdworker(3212) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo ()

4/6/2014 1:04:35.984 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3212]) mdworker(3212) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo ()

4/6/2014 1:04:36.052 PM sandboxd[364]: ([3212]) mdworker(3212) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo ()

4/6/2014 1:04:36.000 PM kernel[0]: Sandbox: mdworker(3266) deny file-read-data /Users/RJM/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Contents/PkgInfo

4/6/2014 1:04:39.221 PM WindowServer[123]: common_reenable_update: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "iPhoto" after 4.40 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds)

4/6/2014 1:04:42.007 PM WindowServer[123]: disable_update_timeout: UI updates were forcibly disabled by application "iPhoto" for over 1.00 seconds. Server has re-enabled them.

4/6/2014 1:04:42.626 PM WindowServer[123]: common_reenable_update: UI updates were finally reenabled by application "iPhoto" after 1.62 seconds (server forcibly re-enabled them after 1.00 seconds)

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Answer 12

conejo61 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2014 11:17 AM in response to Old Toad

OldToad....i've got 8 gig of RAM in total, and over 100G of free hard drive space. Once I'm booted, the machine hums along nicely. It's mostly utilities like Butler, Default Folder, aText, Backblaze, Hazel, stuff like that.

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Answer 13

Apr 6, 2014 11:27 AM in response to conejo61

Log out, then at the login window enter your password then hold down the shift key and press log in. Keep the shift key down till the dock appears. This prevents log in items from starting.

Did this keep iPhoto from starting?

BTW you really mean iPhoto starts when you log in right, an app like iPhoto couldn't start on boot.

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Answer 14

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,290 points

Apr 6, 2014 11:31 AM in response to conejo61

Double check the settings on Butler and Hazel, in particular...

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Answer 15

conejo61 Author

Level 1

24 points

Apr 6, 2014 11:46 AM in response to Yer_Man

agh, I meant Bartender, not Butler.

checked Hazel as that could have opportunity to do interesting things. Not seeing anything there that could be remotely connected. I don't have any iphoto-related triggers.

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