October 15, 2026
How to manage Mac startup programs
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Some apps open by themselves every time you log in to your Mac. A few of them earn their place, like cloud storage that keeps your files in sync. The rest slow down login and take up memory before you even start working.
On macOS 27 Golden Gate, startup programs sit in three places: the Open at Login list, the Background App Activity list, and launch agents hidden in the Library folders. In this guide, we show how to turn off each kind, add an app to startup, and manage them all in one window.
This Article Contains
All startup items in one list
Why do programs start automatically on my Mac?
Apps that add themselves to startup usually do it on purpose. Cloud storage apps, such as Google Drive or OneDrive, start at login to sync your files in the background. Password managers, chat apps, and menu bar utilities do the same, so they are ready when you need them.
Trouble starts when too many of them pile up. Each one adds time to login and takes a share of memory. New apps can also add startup items during installation, often without you noticing. That is why it pays to review your startup programs on a regular basis.
macOS has three kinds of startup items, and each kind is managed in its own place:
| Startup item | What it does | Where to turn it off |
|---|---|---|
| Login items | Apps that open in a window or in the menu bar when you log in | Open at Login in System Settings or the Dock menu |
| Background items | Helpers that run without a window to sync data and check for updates | Background App Activity in System Settings |
| Launch agents and daemons | Small settings files in the Library folders that start helper programs at login (agents) or at startup (daemons) | Finder or App Cleaner & Uninstaller |
The Login Items & Extensions pane in System Settings also has a third section, Extensions. It covers add-ons for macOS and apps, a separate topic that this guide leaves aside.
How to stop programs from opening automatically when you log in
Start with the app itself. Many apps have an option such as Launch at login in their own settings, so turn it off there first. If the app has no such option, use one of the four methods below.
1. Remove login items in System Settings
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Click Login Items & Extensions. The pane opens with the title Login Items.
- In the Open at Login list, select the app you want to stop.
- Click the minus (−) button below the list.
The app stays installed. It simply stops opening when you log in, and you can still start it yourself from the Applications folder.
The path is the same on macOS Sequoia 15 and Tahoe 26. On Ventura 13 and Sonoma 14, the pane is called Login Items.
2. Turn off Background App Activity
Some apps run helpers in the background without opening a window. macOS lists these apps in a separate section of the same pane.
- Open System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions.
- Scroll down to Background App Activity. These are apps that “can automatically run in the background to do things like sync data and check for updates,” as macOS puts it.
- Check the status line under each app name. It shows whether the app is running in the background now or when it last ran.
- Turn off the switch next to each app you don’t need in the background.
Important:
An app with its switch off also stops its background work, such as syncing files or checking for updates. Keep the switch on for the cloud storage and backup apps you rely on.
This section has switches only. To remove a background item for good, uninstall the app it belongs to. On macOS Tahoe 26, the same section is called App Background Activity, and on Ventura 13 through Sequoia 15, Allow in the Background.
3. Turn off Open at Login from the Dock
If the app has an icon in the Dock, you can change its startup setting right from the Dock menu. Here is how:
- Find the app icon in the Dock.
- Right-click the icon and hover over Options.
- Click Open at Login to remove the checkmark next to it. The app no longer opens when you log in.
To turn the option back on, repeat the same steps. A checkmark next to Open at Login means the app starts when you log in.
4. Remove launch agents from the Library folder
Launch agents are small .plist files that tell macOS which helper programs to start. Updaters and sync tools often install them. They sit in the Library folder, which Finder hides by default.
~/Library/LaunchAgents
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/Library/LaunchAgents
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/Library/LaunchDaemons
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To find and remove a launch agent, follow these steps:
- Open Finder and press Command+Shift+G.
- Type and press Return.
~/Library/LaunchAgentsCopy
- Find the files of the app you want to stop. File names usually contain the developer’s name, such as from Google.
com.google.keystone.agent.plistCopy
- Drag the file to the Trash.
- Restart your Mac. The removed agent no longer starts.
/Library/LaunchAgents
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/Library/LaunchDaemons
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Warning:
Remove only the files you recognize. Some launch agents belong to apps you still use, such as a printer driver or a VPN client. Search the file name online to see what it does, and leave the file in place if you are still unsure. Wait to empty the Trash until you are sure your apps work as before, so you can put a file back.
How to add a startup program on Mac
You may want an app to open every time you log in, such as your mail client or a notes app. Here is how to add it.
- Open System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions.
- Under the Open at Login list, click the plus (+) button.
- Select the app in the Applications folder and click Open.
The app appears in the Open at Login list and opens the next time you log in.
If the app has an icon in the Dock, there is a shorter way. Right-click the icon and choose Options → Open at Login, as in the Dock method above.
An easy tool to manage startup programs on Mac
System Settings splits startup items across two lists, and launch agents hide in three Library folders. App Cleaner & Uninstaller by Nektony puts login items, launch agents, and system daemons in one Startup Programs list. This includes stubborn launch agents and daemons that are hard to find manually. Switching items on and off is free. Follow this link to download the free trial.
Here’s how to turn off startup programs with App Cleaner & Uninstaller:
- Open App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
- Click Startup Programs in the sidebar. Each item in the list shows its type, such as Application Login Item, User Login Item, or Launch Agent.
- Select the item you don’t need. The right panel shows its parent application, creation date, and path.
- Click Disable. You can also turn off the switch next to the item in the list.
To turn an item back on, use its switch again, or select it and click Enable.
Many apps for macOS 13 Ventura and later register their startup items the modern way. macOS manages these items itself, in the Background App Activity section of Login Items & Extensions. For them, App Cleaner & Uninstaller offers to open System Settings.
Note:
An app login item you switch off in App Cleaner & Uninstaller stays off until you restart your Mac. After a restart, macOS applies the state shown in System Settings. To stop the app from opening at login for good, also remove it from Open at Login.
How to remove launch agents and system daemons
App Cleaner & Uninstaller can also delete some startup items from your disk. This works for launch agents and system daemons installed as .plist files in the LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons folders. That is the older way apps add startup items. Removing items is a Pro feature.
- In Startup Programs, hover over a launch agent or system daemon.
- Click Remove next to its switch.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller moves removed files to the Trash. You can put them back until you empty the Trash.
If Remove appears on hover, the item can be deleted. Other items can only be switched off. Their files sit inside the app, so they are removed automatically when you uninstall it.
Before you remove a startup file, check that you will not need it anymore. A quick search for the file name usually tells you what it does. If you are unsure, switch the item off instead: you can turn it back on at any time.
Quick Video Guide
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Conclusion
On macOS 27 Golden Gate, startup programs sit in three places. Remove apps from Open at Login, switch off helpers in Background App Activity, and delete the launch agents you recognize.
If you prefer to see all startup items in one list, App Cleaner & Uninstaller shows login items, launch agents, and system daemons side by side. It also uninstalls apps together with their service files and manages extensions, all from the same window.
Whichever route you choose, your Mac has less to load at login. For more ways to make it faster, see our guide on how to speed up a slow Mac.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see all startup programs on Mac?
To see all Mac startup apps, follow these steps:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Click Login Items & Extensions.
The Open at Login list shows apps that open when you log in. The Background App Activity list shows apps that run in the background, with a switch next to each.
~/Library/LaunchAgents
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/Library/LaunchAgents
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/Library/LaunchDaemons
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Another way to see startup programs on Mac is to use App Cleaner & Uninstaller. It displays login items, launch agents, and system daemons in one list.
Is it OK to disable all startup items on Mac?
For most items, yes. Startup items are apps and helpers that open automatically when you log in or when your Mac starts. Turning one off keeps the app installed, and you can still open it yourself. Keep the items you rely on, though: a cloud storage app, for example, stops syncing your files in the background. You can use App Cleaner & Uninstaller to see all startup programs in one list and switch them on and off.
How do I set startup programs on Mac?
You can set Mac startup apps by following these steps:
- Open System Settings and click General.
- Click Login Items & Extensions.
- Under the Open at Login list, click the plus (+) button, select the app, and click Open.
Alternatively, right-click the app icon in the Dock and choose Options → Open at Login.
What is Background App Activity on Mac?
It is a section in System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions. It lists apps that can run in the background to sync data and check for updates, with a switch next to each. Turn off the switch to stop that app’s background work. On macOS Tahoe 26, the same section is called App Background Activity, and on Ventura 13 through Sequoia 15, Allow in the Background.
Where are startup items stored on Mac?
~/Library/LaunchAgents
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/Library/LaunchAgents
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/Library/LaunchDaemons
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