Apps open on their own during sleep

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Level 1

28 points

Apps open on their own during sleep

When I put my MacBook Pro to sleep, 5 to 10 applications will open of their own accord while the computer is asleep. I open the mac to find all sorts of applications that I rarely use are up and running.

I have absolutely nothing in the Login Items list of System Preferences not that that should matter because it's not a startup issue.

I tried re-setting the NVRAM but the problem still remains.

Any idea what could be going on?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.5)

Posted on Oct 2, 2017 12:48 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 3, 2017 7:17 AM in response to mpk-284

Have you set your Mac to logout after a certain time of inactivity?

(Settings -> Security -> Advanced)

If yes, I would also uncheck this box.

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Answer 2

Oct 2, 2017 2:03 PM in response to mpk-284

Hi Marc,

can't think of anything why this is happening.

What i would try is to restart your Mac. When you are asked if applications that are still running, should be opened after the restart, remove the check mark. When your Mac starts, no application should open. And maybe this will stop also applications starting while your Mac sleeps.

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Answer 3

mpk-284 Author

Level 1

28 points

Oct 2, 2017 1:17 PM in response to Georg Portenkirchner

Each event is slightly different but for the most recent episode, I had Mac Mail and Google Chrome open when I put the computer to sleep (closed the laptop) and when I opened it I had the following apps running, all of which are apps that I have used at some time in the past but were not open when I put the computer to sleep:

Preview

Quicktime

Skype

Vectorworks

NeoOffice

ChronoSync

Marc

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Answer 4

mpk-284 Author

Level 1

28 points

Oct 3, 2017 12:57 AM in response to Georg Portenkirchner

Thank you Georg

I have tried restarting (many times) and as I said, re-setting the NVRAM. The box for which programs to reopen on startup is unchecked. But, again, this doesn't have to do with startup, rather it is awaking from sleep mode.

How can programs just open themselves during sleep mode?

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Answer 5

Oct 3, 2017 2:33 PM in response to mpk-284

Advanced is in the lower right corner of the Security settings window.

It seems that that while your Mac is asleep something takes it back into a former state.

This might be happening, after your account is logged out.

Have you set a login password for your Mac?

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Answer 6

mpk-284 Author

Level 1

28 points

Oct 3, 2017 9:56 PM in response to Georg Portenkirchner

Thank you for pointing out where "Advanced" is. I see that neither of the boxes in the Advanced setting are checked, including the one that makes the computer logout after a certain time of inactivity.

I have set a login password that is required after the computer is asleep for a minute or so. However, I set this AFTER this problem started. I had thought at first that someone was using my computer when I was not in the room because I would return to find several apps up and running. So, I set the login password so someone would need to login after the computer was put in Sleep mode. Then I realized that it was not a person using my computer and opening the apps. That the apps were opening by themselves during the sleep mode.

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