How to stop apps from launching automatically on startup
When you restart your Mac, certain apps open on their own — usually the ones you had open the last time you shut down, plus any apps set to launch automatically. You can remove apps from this startup list in System Settings, and you can also prevent individual apps from reopening your previous windows and tabs.
The fastest way is to go to System Settings > General > Login Items, where you'll see two sections: "Allow in the Login Window" (apps that appear on your lock screen) and "Open at Login" (apps that launch after you sign in). Select any app in the "Open at Login" section and click the minus button to remove it. This stops that app from launching automatically, but it doesn't affect whether the app reopens your old windows — that's a separate setting inside each app.
If you want to prevent apps from reopening their previous windows and tabs, you can turn off that behavior globally or per app. The global setting is in System Settings > General > Close windows when quitting an app — toggle this on, and most apps will stop reopening old content. Some apps like Safari, Mail, and Chrome have their own settings for this inside the app's preferences, which override the system setting.
Key Takeaways
- Open System Settings > General > Login Items to see which apps launch automatically when you sign in, and use the minus button to remove any you don't want.
- Removing an app from Login Items stops it from launching on startup, but doesn't prevent it from reopening your previous windows the next time you open it manually.
- Turn on "Close windows when quitting an app" in System Settings > General to prevent most apps from reopening old windows and tabs after restart.
- Some apps like Safari, Mail, and Chrome ignore the system setting and have their own window-reopening preferences in their individual settings.
What happens when you remove an app from Login Items
Removing an app from the Login Items list means it won't launch automatically when you sign into your Mac. The app will still be on your computer and will work normally when you open it manually — you're only stopping the automatic launch, not uninstalling anything.
The next time you restart your Mac, that app simply won't appear. If you change your mind later, you can add it back by clicking the plus button in the same Login Items window and selecting the app from your Applications folder.
How to prevent apps from reopening old windows
When you restart your Mac, apps often reopen the windows and tabs you had open before the restart. This is separate from the Login Items setting — even if an app isn't in your Login Items list, it can still reopen old content if you manually launch it after restart.
To stop this behavior system-wide, go to System Settings > General and turn on "Close windows when quitting an app." This tells macOS to close all windows when you quit an app, so the next time you open it, it starts fresh instead of reopening what was there before.
Not all apps respect this setting. Safari, Mail, Messages, and Chrome have their own preferences for window reopening. In Safari, go to Safari > Settings > General and change "Safari opens with" to "A new window" or "A new private window." In Chrome, go to Chrome > Settings > On startup and select "Open the New Tab page." Mail and Messages have similar options in their own preferences.
Why apps keep launching on startup
By default, macOS remembers which apps were open when you shut down and relaunches them the next time you sign in. This is called "Resume" and is meant to get you back to where you were quickly. Some apps also add themselves to the Login Items list on their own when you install them — Slack, Dropbox, and Discord often do this.
If you see an app in your Login Items that you don't remember adding, it was likely installed by the app itself. You can remove it the same way you'd remove any other app from the list.
How to check which apps are set to launch at login
Open System Settings and click General in the sidebar. Scroll down and click Login Items. You'll see two sections: "Allow in the Login Window" shows apps that appear on your lock screen before you sign in, and "Open at Login" shows apps that launch after you sign in.
The "Open at Login" section is the one that affects startup. Any app listed there will launch automatically. If you see an app you don't recognize, you can search for it online or check your Applications folder to see what it does before deciding whether to remove it.
Removing apps one at a time versus clearing the whole list
You can remove apps individually by selecting one in the "Open at Login" section and clicking the minus button. This is the best approach if you want to keep some apps launching automatically but remove others.
There's no built-in way to clear the entire Login Items list at once. If you want to start fresh with no apps launching automatically, you'll need to remove them one by one. After you've removed them all, the "Open at Login" section will be empty, and only apps you manually add back will launch on startup.
Apps that hide themselves from the Login Items list
Some apps, particularly system utilities and background services, don't appear in the Login Items list even though they launch on startup. These are often legitimate tools like Bluetooth drivers, printer software, or security tools that need to run in the background.
If you want to see all apps launching at startup, including hidden ones, you can use the Terminal. Open Terminal (in Applications > Utilities) and type launchctl list | grep -v "com.apple" to see third-party apps and services running in the background. This list is more technical and harder to interpret, so the Login Items window in System Settings is usually sufficient for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing an app from Login Items uninstall it?
No. Removing an app from Login Items only stops it from launching automatically on startup. The app remains installed on your Mac and will work normally when you open it manually.
Why does an app keep reappearing in my Login Items after I remove it?
Some apps add themselves back to Login Items automatically when they update or when you open them. If this happens, remove it again and check the app's preferences to see if there's a setting to disable automatic launch. If the app keeps adding itself back, you may need to uninstall it and use an alternative.
Can I set different startup apps for different user accounts?
Yes. Each user account on your Mac has its own Login Items list. Sign into a different account and go to System Settings > General > Login Items to set up startup apps for that account separately.
What's the difference between "Allow in the Login Window" and "Open at Login"?
"Allow in the Login Window" shows apps that appear on your lock screen before you enter your password — usually things like Bluetooth settings or AirDrop. "Open at Login" shows apps that launch after you sign in. You probably only need to worry about the "Open at Login" section.
Does closing System Settings save my Login Items changes?
Yes. Changes to Login Items take effect immediately when you click the minus button. You don't need to restart your Mac or confirm anything — just close System Settings and the change is saved.