How to stop apps from opening on startup MacBook Pro

You might like to have some apps open automatically each time you start or log into your Mac. For instance, if you use a Mac for work, you might like Slack to open right up for quick communications. However, if you are experiencing apps opening that you do not want, there are a few ways you can change this.

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3 ways to stop Mac apps from opening automatically on startup
1. From System Preferences
2. Do it from Mac’s Dock
3. Check in-app settings
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This short tutorial shows you how to stop Mac apps from opening automatically on startup or login.

3 ways to stop Mac apps from opening automatically on startup

Follow these methods on your Mac. Make sure to go through all because some of the apps may not show in System Preference or the Dock that it’s set to open on startup, but that auto-launch option may be hidden inside that app’s settings.

1. From System Preferences

You can see apps that are set to open automatically when you log in by accessing your System Preferences. Here’s how:

1) Click  > System Preferences from the top menu bar.

2) Choose Users & Groups.

3) Select the user on the left if you have more than one added.

4) Click Login Items on the right.

5) You’ll see the items set to open automatically. To remove one, select it and click the minus sign.

2. Do it from Mac’s Dock

If there is a particular app that keeps opening automatically, you can quickly change this from your Dock, assuming the app is there permanently or as a recently-used app.

1) Right-click or hold Control and click the app’s icon.

2) Go to Options in the pop-out menu.

3) If Open at Login is checked, click it to uncheck it.

3. Check in-app settings

Some apps like Spotify and Facebook Messenger notoriously do not appear in the System Preferences list of apps that launch on startup. Even when you right-click their name in the Dock, “Open at Login” isn’t checked. This makes a normal person think the app will not automatically launch when Mac restarts. But such apps do open on their own.

The only way to prevent these apps from launching automatically when you switch on your Mac is to find their appropriate setting inside the app and turn it off.

For example, inside the Spotify app, press Command + Comma (,) to see its preferences/settings. Next, click Show Advanced Settings, and under Startup and window behavior, choose No.

While it’s convenient to have certain apps open automatically when you start or log into your Mac, there are others that you just don’t need and get in the way when you start your day.

Secondly, when you open a Mac app for the first time, it may show a checkbox asking your permission to open on startup. Make sure you don’t check that and permit unnecessary apps from launching automatically when you power on your Mac.

Do you have specific apps open automatically? If so, which ones?

Related tips:

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Looking to stop some apps from launching when you start up your Mac or add to the ones that do? Follow along for a look at how to enable/disable Mac apps opening at login, how to auto open and hide apps, as well as stop apps from auto-opening on a case-by-case basis, and more.

Depending on how often you restart/log in to your Mac, it can be easy to forget about the apps that automatically open when booting up. But of course, when you do, it can be frustrating if you need to quit a handful of apps along with manually launching what you need.

Taking a few minutes to update what apps you want to enable/disable for auto-opening is well worth the time.

We’ll also look at how to automatically open and hide apps at login, as well as prevent apps from auto-opening on a case-by-case basis.

Option 1

Here’s the fastest way to enable/disable Mac apps auto opening:

Right-click on an app in your Dock
Hover over Options
Check or uncheck “Open at Login”
If you want to go further with customization, you can assign the settings to “All Desktops” or “This Desktop”

Option 2

To see all the apps that currently auto-open at login, head to System Preferences
Click Users & Groups
Choose a user
Near the top, choose the “Login Items” tab
You can select individual or multiple apps to disable auto open
- After selecting an item (or multiple by holding command + clicking) choose the – icon
- To add apps to auto-open at login, click the + icon
Note you can also check or uncheck the box under the “Hide” column to customize to your liking

If you want to stop apps from opening on a case-by-case basis, you can hold the shift key as you click the log-in button, then let go when you see the Dock.

If you don’t have a log in a window when booting your Mac, Apple says you can “press and hold the Shift key when you see the progress bar in the startup window, then release the Shift key after the desktop appears.”