How to Prevent Mac Apps from Opening at Startup

Stop unwanted applications from launching automatically when you log into your Mac. Follow these steps to manage Login Items and improve performance.

1. Open System Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen. Select System Settings from the dropdown menu to open the preference pane.
2. Access General settings. In the sidebar of the System Settings window, click on the General tab. This tab contains the core system configuration options for your Mac.
3. Open Login Items. Scroll down the right-hand panel until you locate the Login Items option. Click it to display the list of applications and background tasks that launch upon startup.
4. Remove applications. Identify the application you wish to stop from opening automatically. Select the app name in the Open at Login list, then click the minus (-) button located directly below the list to remove it.
5. Manage background processes. Review the Allow in the Background section beneath your login items. Toggle the switch to Off for any applications you do not want running persistent background tasks.
6. Restart your Mac. Once you have removed the unwanted items, restart your computer. Verify that the selected applications no longer launch automatically upon login.