Why apps open automatically and how to stop them
When you restart your Mac, certain apps open on their own because you told them to — either deliberately or by accident. macOS remembers which apps were open when you shut down, and it reopens them by default. You can also set individual apps to launch every time you start your computer, whether or not they were running before. Most people want fewer apps starting automatically, because each one slows down your startup time and uses memory while you work.
You have two places to control this: the system settings that restore your previous session, and the list of apps that launch no matter what. Both are straightforward to change, and you can adjust them separately depending on what you want.
Key Takeaways
- macOS automatically reopens apps that were running when you shut down, unless you turn off the "Reopen windows when logging back in" setting in System Settings.
- Apps you want to launch every startup go into the Login Items list, which you can view and edit in System Settings under General.
- Removing an app from Login Items does not uninstall it — it just stops it from launching automatically.
- Some apps add themselves to Login Items without asking, so checking this list occasionally helps you find unexpected startup programs.
Turn off automatic window restoration
The simplest way to reduce startup apps is to disable the feature that reopens your previous session. This setting tells macOS not to reopen the apps that were running when you shut down or restarted.
Open System Settings and click General in the sidebar. Look for the section labeled Login and Security (or Login Items on older macOS versions). You will see a checkbox that says Reopen windows when logging back in. Uncheck it. The next time you restart, your Mac will open to a clean desktop with no apps running.
If you want your Mac to remember some apps but not others, leave this setting on and manually quit the apps you do not want before shutting down. Only the apps still running when you power off will reopen.
View and remove apps from Login Items
Login Items is the list of apps that launch every time you start your Mac, regardless of whether they were running before. Some apps add themselves here automatically — Slack, Dropbox, and Spotify often do this. You can see the full list and remove anything you do not want.
Go to System Settings, click General, then scroll down to Login Items. You will see two sections: Open at Login and Allow in the Next 5 Seconds. The first section shows apps that launch when ready. To remove one, click the minus button next to its name. The app will no longer start automatically, but it remains installed on your Mac and you can still open it manually.
The second section, Allow in the Next 5 Seconds, shows apps that can launch if they request permission during startup. These are usually background services that need to run for other apps to work properly. You generally do not need to change these unless an app is misbehaving.
Add an app to launch at startup
If you want a specific app to open every time you start your Mac, you can add it to Login Items manually. This is useful for apps you use constantly — your email client, calendar, or work software.
Open System Settings, go to General, then Login Items. Click the plus button under Open at Login. A file browser will open. Navigate to your Applications folder, select the app you want, and click Add. The next time you restart, that app will launch automatically.
You can add as many apps as you want, but remember that each one adds a few seconds to your startup time and uses memory while running. Most people find that two to four startup apps is a reasonable balance.
Understand the difference between startup apps and background services
Not every app that runs at startup appears in Login Items. Some apps install background services or daemons — small programs that run invisibly and do not show a window. These handle things like cloud syncing, security scanning, or system monitoring.
You cannot manage these services from Login Items because they are not traditional apps. If you notice your Mac is slow at startup or using a lot of memory, and you suspect a background service is the cause, you can check Activity Monitor. Open Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor, click the CPU or Memory tab, and sort by the column header to see what is using the most resources. If you recognize an app or service you do not need, you can force quit it from here, though it may restart the next time you boot.
For more permanent control over background services, you may need to open the app itself and look for a preferences or settings option that says something like "Launch at startup" or "Run in background". Uncheck that option if it exists.
Speed up your startup by being selective
Every app in your Login Items adds time to startup, even if it launches in the background. A Mac with ten startup apps will take noticeably longer to reach a usable state than one with two or three. If your Mac feels slow when you turn it on, reducing Login Items is one of the fastest fixes.
Start by removing anything you do not use daily. If you open an app only once a week, it does not need to launch at startup — you can open it manually in thirty seconds. Apps like Slack, Discord, or Telegram are common culprits; they are useful, but most people do not need them running the moment the Mac starts.
Check your Login Items list once a month or after installing new software. Some installers add their apps to startup without asking, and over time your list can grow without you noticing. A quick review takes two minutes and can save you seconds every single day.
What to do if an app keeps relaunching itself
Occasionally an app will reopen even after you remove it from Login Items and disable window restoration. This usually means the app has its own internal setting that forces it to launch at startup, separate from macOS's system settings.
Open the app and look for Preferences or Settings — usually under the app name in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Search for words like "startup", "launch", "background", or "login". If you find a checkbox that says something like "Launch at startup" or "Open at login", uncheck it. Save the change and restart your Mac. The app should no longer relaunch automatically.
If the app still relaunches and you cannot find a preference to stop it, the app may have a bug or may be designed to always run. In that case, your only option is to remove the app entirely or contact the developer for support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing an app from Login Items delete it from my Mac?
No. Removing an app from Login Items only stops it from launching automatically at startup. The app remains installed and you can still open it manually whenever you want. You can add it back to Login Items anytime.
Why does my Mac take so long to start up?
Too many apps in Login Items is a common cause. Check your Login Items list and remove anything you do not need running when ready. Also check Activity Monitor to see if a background service is using a lot of CPU or disk activity during startup. If your Mac is old or has a full hard drive, startup will also be slower regardless of which apps are set to launch.
Can I set different apps to launch for different user accounts?
Yes. Each user account on your Mac has its own Login Items list. When you log in as a different user, only the apps in that user's list will launch. You manage them the same way — through System Settings under that user's account.
What is the difference between "Open at Login" and "Allow in the Next 5 Seconds"?
Apps in "Open at Login" launch when ready when you start your Mac. Apps in "Allow in the Next 5 Seconds" can request permission to launch during startup, but they do not launch automatically. This section is usually for background services that other apps depend on.
Is it safe to remove apps from Login Items?
Yes, it is safe to remove any app from Login Items. If an app needs to run at startup to function properly, it will usually tell you or add itself back automatically. If you are unsure about an app, you can always remove it and see if anything breaks — you can add it back in seconds if needed.