How to change and take control of Mac startup programs

There are probably a few apps on your Mac that run in the background and come up when you start your computer. These are called startup (or login) items, and while they're meant to be convenient, some of them can be unruly.

It's easy to see that there are Mac startup programs that you would benefit from. For example, Calendars should sync in the background, and if you have an app that manages the health of your computer, it should also proactively launch when you start your device.

In this article, we'll tell you how to get rid of startup apps that Mac computers don't need, and give you a few ways to better manage your system.

What are Mac startup programs? 

Mac launchers, also known as login items, are apps or processes that automatically launch when you sign in to a user account. 

Why do these programs start automatically? Well, there are several reasons why they may be helpful to you:

• Convenience and saving time. Thanks to the startup programs' existence, you can use the apps you need immediately after logging in. It is especially true for programs that you regularly interact with. Imagine no longer having to manually launch them every time you log in! Convenient, right?
• Workflow optimization. Users often choose apps as launchers to create the most comfortable working environment. For example, if you constantly need to access your email or calendar, there is nothing better than setting them to automatically start when you turn on the computer.
• Background services. To ensure the productive work of some programs (even when closed), the constant presence of background processes is required. This category includes system utilities, background updates, or software components that are constantly running to support certain features.
• Notifications. Several apps require installation as startup programs to ensure timely notification delivery. It is typical for instant messengers, productivity tools, etc.

At first glance, such programs are helpful for faster and more productive computer work. But at the same time, an excess of unnecessary startup items slows down the computer boot time and consumes numerous system resources. Properly managing startup programs on Mac will help you avoid such problems.

Types of startup programs

As mentioned, on Mac, several types of launchers can start automatically when you sign in to a user account. It can be both basic system processes and numerous user apps. Let's take a look at the most common startup programs and find out what they are designed for.

1. System Services — iCloud, Notification Center, Bluetooth, Time Machine, etc. These are built-in macOS services and processes that provide basic system functions, namely, file indexing, cloud synchronization, remote device connection, backup, and receiving notifications.
2. Custom Apps — Mail, Messages, Dropbox, Calendar, Evernote, etc. They can be installed as startup programs to provide quick access to apps frequently used for work or personal purposes.
3. Background utilities — antivirus software, firewall apps, and system maintenance tools. These programs run in the background and protect the system, optimize performance, and more.
4. Cloud and synchronization services — Dropbox, Google Backup and Sync, and OneDrive. They automatically run to sync your files with your cloud storage, ensuring your data is up-to-date and available across all devices.
5. Apps for messaging and communication — Slack, Skype, etc. These programs allow you to stay connected with colleagues, relatives, or friends all the time.
6. Productivity tools — Todoist, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace. They are used to efficiently manage tasks, projects, and documents, which can help improve the organization and productivity of the workflow.
7. Media and entertainment apps — iTunes, Spotify, VLC, Steam, etc. When auto-launched, they provide users immediate access to their favorite media and entertainment content.

The easiest way to stop Mac programs from opening on a startup 

You may wonder, "How do I stop programs from opening on startup on my Mac?" 

Maybe you're tired of waiting for all these unnecessary programs to load every time you turn on your computer. Or you simply want to declutter your startup process and optimize your Mac's performance. 

Whatever the reason, we recommend you install CleanMyMac X.

It does a ton of work (system junk clean ups, malware removal, app updates), and managing startup or login items for your Mac is one of many services it offers. 

To change startup programs Mac according to your preferences with CleanMyMac X, follow the steps below:

1. Install and open CleanMyMac X on your Mac
2. On the left side of the window, select Optimization

Note: you can choose to clean up all login items and launch agents, or choose the individual processes you want to control. Because killing all startup programs can lead to unintended issues, we will tell you how to select individual startup programs to manage

1. In the main window, select Login Items
2. On the right side of the window, select the items you would like to disable
3. Select Perform at the bottom of the window
4. Than go back and select Launch Agents
5. On the right side of the window, select the items you would like to disable
6. Select Perform at the bottom of the window.

That's all it takes to remove startup programs Mac can live without.

Tip: Want to further speed up your Mac and know how to monitor its health properly? Check out iStat Menus. It lives in your menu bar to monitor your Mac in real time. iStat Menus can tell you if an app is eating up all your RAM or hogging your network bandwidth, if your hard drive is running out of space or showing errors, and how busy your CPU and GPU are at any given time. If an app is running at startup and bogging your system down, iStat Menus will know about it. 

How to manually stop Mac apps from opening on startup 

You can change startup programs in another way, though it takes a bit more time. If you're okay with that, here's how to manage startup programs on Mac manually: 

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings
2. Click General  in the sidebar, then click Login Items on the right
3. Select the name of the item you want to prevent from opening automatically, then click the "-" button below the list.

Depending on the version of macOS, the presented algorithm may differ slightly. You can find detailed instructions on how to edit startup programs Mac in Monterey and other earlier versions of macOS user guides.

Remove and manage startup programs on Mac from the Dock

Are you looking for how to turn off startup programs Mac via Dock? Follow the steps below:

1. Run the app that you are going to remove from startup
2. Right-click on its icon in the Dock and click Options
3. Uncheck Open at login.

Tip: If you find your Mac's Dock a bit intrusive or cumbersome, you may like uBar. The Dock replacement for your Mac, uBar keeps things tucked out of the way, and shows you in a much better interface which apps are active and running on your Mac. It even has multiple-monitor support and status bars for apps running processes or downloading content. 

Delay Mac startup apps

If you don't want to disable startup items, you may instead want to know how to edit startup programs Mac does not need immediately. An app named Delay Start can delay the start of apps at startup. This is a great option if your Mac is booting up slowly, but you still need apps to run in the background throughout your day. 

It's also a nice app to keep in mind if you have a dedicated workflow. If you are a photo editor, you may want to delay the start of your photo editing software. If the first thing you do is import images from an external drive or camera, apps spinning up may interfere with the process. Rather than risk unintended consequences like lost images or damaged files, delaying an app's start may be the better workaround.

Remove daemons and agents from the startup process

You can check which daemons and agents are running on your Mac via the Finder app, but a word of caution: daemons and agents are hidden, which indicates you shouldn't alter them unless you have a very clear understanding of the repercussions it may have. So, tread lightly.

Here's how to remove agents and daemons via Finder:

1. In the Finder, click on the Go menu and choose Go to Folder. You can also use the Shift + Command + G key combination
2. Then type /Library/LaunchDaemons and press Enter

1. Scan the list of .plist files and search for anything with a name you don't recognize
2. If you see one, click on it and preview the file, looking for the name of a vendor you know
3. If you don't find one, drag the file to Bin

1. Then go to the Go to Folder (see step 1), type /Library/LaunchAgents, and press Enter
2. Next, repeat steps 3-5
3. Once you've dragged all the files you want to remove to Bin, empty it and restart your Mac.

Final thoughts on how to stop programs from running at startup Mac

Managing launch services can really help make your Mac run faster, smoother, and eliminate unwanted services from spinning up. If you are looking for the easiest way to get rid of launch items, try CleanMyMac X. The app not only helps you manage startup apps but also performs smart cleanups, removes malware, updates apps, and much more.

Another great tool to keep in mind is iStat Menus. It lives in your menu bar and keeps track of your CPU, memory, and GPU use. It's one of those "good" apps to run at startup because it monitors your entire system. If an app is running at startup and bogging your system down, iStat Menus will know about it. 

Note that apps mentioned in this article (uBar, CleanMyMac X, and iStat Menus) are all available for free as part of a seven-day trial of Setapp, an incredible platform that hosts 240+ apps for your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. When the trial ends, continuous and unlimited access to the entire Setapp catalog is only $9.99 per month. Families will enjoy the $19.99 per month plan, which allows full access to Setapp on up to four unique Macs. We think you'll love it – give Setapp a try today!

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