How to Remove Login Items on Your Mac: 5 Quick Ways

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: July 27, 2024

Expert verified

If you’re like me, dealing with a slow Mac startup due to too many apps opening automatically can be annoying. I’ve been there, and I know it can really slow down getting started with your day. That’s why I’ve put together this simple guide to clear out those unnecessary login items and speed up your Mac’s boot time.

How to Remove Login Items on Your Mac

Excessive or outdated login items on your Mac can lead to sluggishness, security vulnerabilities, and privacy concerns. You should remove login items to reduce your Mac’s startup time and prevent security breaches.

Below, I’ve shared some quick and easy methods to find and remove login items on your Mac.

1. Delete All Hidden Login Items In a Single Click With MacKeeper

If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to manage your Mac’s startup items, especially those hidden ones that aren’t immediately visible, I recommend using MacKeeper. This software simplifies the process, allowing you to clean up your login items with just a single click.

Here’s how it works:

1. Download MacKeeper and install it on your Mac.
2. Open Login Items under Performance in MacKeeper.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select unnecessary items from the list and click Remove Selected Items.

5. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up.

6. It will remove your selected items from the system startup list. You can click Rescan to repeat the process.

2. Using System Settings

Now, if you prefer not to use third-party software, System Settings offers a built-in way to change your startup items on Mac. This method is straightforward and doesn’t require any additional downloads.

Follow these steps to check your login items in System Settings:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and tap System Settings.

2. Select General and click Login Items in the right menu.

3. Here, you’ll see the items that launch when you start up your Mac.
4. Select the login item you want to remove and click the – button at the bottom of the list to remove the login item.

3. From the Dock

I’ve often found that some apps I use daily, like Mail or Safari, open automatically at startup. While it is useful, sometimes, I prefer a cleaner, faster boot-up. That’s where a simple trick using the Dock comes in handy, a method I personally use quite often for its ease and effectiveness. Unfortunately, it is only limited to the apps currently in your Dock, but still pretty handy.

Here’s how to remove an app from launching at startup using the Dock:

1. Locate the application icon you want to remove in the Dock. Right-click the app icon, and a menu will appear.

2. Hover your mouse over Options from the menu. In the Options menu, uncheck Open at Login.

3. The application will no longer launch automatically when you log in to your Mac.
4. Repeat this process for any other login items you want to remove from the Dock.

4. Using the Library Folder

For more advanced users, macOS provides another layer of control over startup items through the LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons folders. These folders contain files instructing the system which apps, services, or scripts to run at startup.

Here’s how you can use these folders to manage your startup items:

1. Open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, and select Go to Folder.

2. Type any of the following paths in the box to access these folders:

/Library/LaunchAgents

 /Library/LaunchDaemons

3. Look for the file or folder associated with the login item you want to remove.
4. Right-click the file or folder and select Move to Bin.

5. Via App Settings

You can also remove login items on your Mac from the app settings. However, not all apps let you change their startup behavior from within their own settings. So, it’s best to use one of the methods I shared above. But if you have an app that offers this option, here’s how to go about it:

1. Open an application for which you want to disable automatic startup.
2. Within the application, go to the menu bar, click the app’s name, and select Settings.
3. In the Settings window, look for a tab or section related to startup, login, or similar terms.
4. Once you find the relevant settings, look for an option that allows the application to start automatically when you log in. This might be a checkbox or a toggle switch. Uncheck or toggle it off to prevent the app from starting automatically.
5. Save your changes and close the window.

Risks Associated With Login Items on Mac

As someone who’s navigated the Mac ecosystem for years, I’ve come to appreciate the convenience of login items. However, I’ve also learned to be cautious about their potential risks. Balancing convenience with caution is key.

Here are some insights and tips about risks associated with login items based on my experience:

• 🐌 Impact on System Performance: I’ve noticed that my Mac starts to drag when too many apps launch at startup. Each app nibbles away at the system’s resources, leading to longer boot times and a sluggish performance.
• 🔒 Security Risks: When you add a login item to your Mac, you give it the ability to launch automatically every time you log in. If one of these items is compromised, it’s an open door for trouble. I’ve learned to be selective and cautious, especially with third-party apps, and only add login items from trusted sources.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Privacy Concerns: Some apps can be nosy, collecting data without making it obvious. I’ve grown more vigilant about which apps I allow as login items, especially those that might track my activities. Always check the privacy policies of your apps and be wary of those with vague or extensive data collection practices.
• 🔥 Conflict with other software: Some login items may conflict with other software. Due to this, your Mac crashes frequently or behaves in an unstable manner. This is especially true if the login item is outdated or incompatible with your operating system.
• 🚀 High usage of system resources: Some login items consume significant system resources. Due to this, you may experience your Mac running slow or freezing. Too many login items can also lead to higher memory usage, causing your Mac to run out of memory.

Other Mystery Processes That Automatically Launch on Mac

Besides the methods I mentioned earlier, there are other ways in which apps launch automatically on macOS. If you come across a mystery process that you can’t trace through any of the methods mentioned above, it may be due to one of the following:

Get Rid of Unnecessary Login Items on Your Mac

Now that you know how to identify and remove login items on your Mac, you can improve its performance and security. However, if you want to optimize your Mac further, here are some valuable tips:

• Outdated drivers, software bugs, and hardware issues can cause a kernel panic error. To prevent it from harming your system, learn how to fix a kernel panic error on macOS.
• Keep your system running smoothly and improve its speed by clearing temp files on Mac.
• Get rid of unnecessary files and free up RAM on your Mac to keep it running without lagging and freezing.

Frequently Asked Questions