Clean Up Startup Items in macOS | Original
To manage applications and processes that launch automatically when you log in to macOS (including macOS 15.2 and later), you can adjust your startup items. Here’s how:
1. Using System Settings (or System Preferences)
- Step 1: Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
- Step 2: Go to General and then Login Items.
- Step 3: A list of apps and services that launch at startup will be displayed. To remove an item, select it and click the minus (–) button below the list.
- Step 4: Repeat this for all items you wish to remove.
2. Adjusting App-Specific Settings
- Many applications include their own settings to control startup behavior. Look within the app’s preferences or settings to disable automatic launching.
3. Managing Launch Agents and Daemons (Advanced)
- Background processes can be managed by Launch Agents or Launch Daemons. These are typically located in the following directories:
~/Library/LaunchAgents(for user-specific agents)/Library/LaunchAgents(for system-wide agents)/Library/LaunchDaemons(for system-wide daemons)
- Caution: Modifying these files can impact system stability. Proceed with care.
Tips:
- Restart Your Mac: After making changes, restart your Mac to confirm that the startup items no longer launch.