Quick Answer
To remove login items on your Mac, open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, select General, then Login Items & Extensions. Select an app under Open at Login and click the – (minus) button. You can also turn off background activity for apps listed under Allow in the Background.
Remove only apps you recognize and do not need immediately after signing in. Some background items support security tools, cloud storage, backups, VPNs, password managers, or hardware features.
What Are Login Items?
Login items are apps, helpers, and services that start automatically when you sign in to your Mac. They can be useful—for example, a password manager may need to be ready immediately—but too many can make startup feel slower and consume memory or processor resources after login.
macOS groups these controls into two main areas:
- Open at Login: Apps that launch visibly when you sign in.
- Allow in the Background: Apps and helper processes that can perform tasks without opening a normal window.
Removing an item from Open at Login does not uninstall the app or delete its files. It only prevents the app from launching automatically. Turning off background activity changes how an app or service works and may disable features such as automatic syncing, notifications, updates, or device support.
Before Removing Anything
Before changing login items, consider what each app does. Keep items that provide a function you rely on as soon as you sign in, such as:
- Password managers
- Cloud storage and file-syncing tools
- Backup software
- VPN or security software
- Audio, display, printer, or input-device utilities
- Apps that manage external hardware
- Accessibility tools
- Work or school security software
If you are unsure about an item, search for the app’s name on your Mac or check the developer’s documentation before disabling it. An unfamiliar background item is not automatically malicious, but an item you do not recognize deserves closer attention.
Also save your work before making changes. Removing a login item usually does not close a running app, but changing background permissions can affect active services. If you are about to uninstall an app later, quit it first and confirm that important files are saved.
Remove Apps That Open Automatically
This is the safest and most direct way to stop unwanted apps from appearing every time you sign in.
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Choose System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Select Login Items & Extensions.
- Look under Open at Login.
- Click the app you want to remove.
- Click the – (minus) button below the list.
The app should remain installed, but macOS will no longer open it automatically when you sign in. Repeat these steps for other apps you do not need at startup.
Prevent an App From Opening Without Removing It
Some apps include their own setting for launching at login. Open the app’s settings or preferences and look for an option such as:
- Open at login
- Launch at startup
- Start automatically
- Start when I log in
- Launch on system startup
Turn off that setting if it is available. This can be useful when the app keeps returning to the Open at Login list after an update or reinstall.
Turn Off Unnecessary Background Activity
An app may not open a visible window but still run a helper process in the background. These processes can check for updates, synchronize files, monitor devices, deliver notifications, or provide menu bar features.
To review them:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Login Items & Extensions.
- Scroll to Allow in the Background.
- Review the listed apps and services.
- Turn off the switch for a service you do not need running when you are signed in.
Warning: Turning off background activity can stop an app from syncing, sending notifications, installing updates, or detecting connected devices. If you depend on a service, leave it enabled or test the change before making additional changes.
If you see a separate control for an app’s extensions, review it carefully. Extensions can provide Finder integration, share-sheet options, menu bar controls, or other features. Disable only the extension you understand.
Check Whether Login Items Are Causing the Slowdown
A slow Mac is not always caused by startup apps. Limited storage, browser tabs, an older battery, indexing, an app using excessive resources, or a pending system task can also affect performance.
To test whether login items are contributing:
- Remove or disable one or two nonessential items.
- Restart your Mac.
- Sign in and wait a few minutes.
- Notice whether the desktop becomes usable more quickly or feels more responsive.
- Open the apps you normally use and check whether any feature is missing.
Change only a few items at a time. If you disable everything at once, it becomes difficult to identify which service caused a problem. Keeping a short note of each change makes it easier to restore an item later.
Use Activity Monitor to Find Resource-Heavy Apps
Activity Monitor can help identify apps that continue using system resources after startup.
- Open Finder.
- Click Applications in the sidebar.
- Open the Utilities folder.
- Double-click Activity Monitor.
- Click the CPU tab to find apps using processor resources.
- Click the Memory tab to see which apps are using the most memory.
Click the column headings to sort the list. A process with a technical name may belong to macOS or another app, so do not quit or remove it solely because its name is unfamiliar.
To stop a running app, select it and click the Stop button in the toolbar, then choose Quit. If it does not respond, choose Force Quit only as a last resort.
Warning: Force quitting can cause unsaved work to be lost. Do not stop a process unless you understand what it belongs to and have saved your work.
Activity Monitor shows what is running now; it does not by itself identify which items are configured to open at login. Use it alongside Login Items & Extensions.
Remove an App Completely When You No Longer Need It
Removing a login item only changes startup behavior. If you never use the app, uninstalling it may remove its associated helpers as well.
First, check whether the app includes an uninstaller. Open the app’s folder or visit the developer’s instructions. If no uninstaller is provided:
- Quit the app.
- Open Finder.
- Select Applications in the sidebar.
- Drag the app to the Trash, or select it and choose File > Move to Trash.
- Empty the Trash only after confirming that you no longer need the app or any files associated with it.
Warning: Deleting an app can remove access to its features and may not remove every support file. Do not delete apps supplied by macOS or hardware manufacturers unless you know what they do. If the app stores documents, project files, libraries, or local data, back up anything important first.
Some apps reinstall their login helpers when you update or reinstall them. If the item returns, review the app’s settings or use its official uninstaller.
Look for Login Items in Other User Accounts
Login items are generally configured for the user account that added them. If several people use the Mac, another account may have its own startup apps.
Sign in to each account, if appropriate, and review:
Apple menu > System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions
A managed work or school Mac may also have background services installed by an administrator. You may not be able to remove these, and disabling them could violate workplace policies or stop required security tools from working. Contact the administrator instead.
Troubleshooting
The app still opens after I remove it
Check the app’s own preferences for a startup option. Then return to Login Items & Extensions and see whether the app is listed under Allow in the Background. Some apps use a helper service that can reopen the main app or provide automatic updates.
If the app was recently updated or reinstalled, the installer may have added the login item again. Remove it once more only if you are certain the service is not needed.
I do not see the app in Login Items & Extensions
The app may be launched by another app, a browser extension, a scheduled task, or a helper installed by the developer. Check the app’s settings and Activity Monitor. If you cannot identify a process, avoid deleting files from system folders based on its name alone.
A feature stopped working after I disabled a background item
Turn the related switch back on in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, then sign out or restart if necessary. Re-enable background access for services that handle syncing, notifications, backups, VPN connections, external devices, or security protection.
My Mac is still slow after removing login items
Restart the Mac and check available storage. Then use Activity Monitor to look for an app consuming unusually high CPU or memory. Browser extensions, large file transfers, cloud syncing, indexing, and failing hardware can also cause sluggish performance.
If the problem began recently, remove only the most recent login items first. If performance improves in a new user account, the issue may be limited to settings or software in your usual account.
I removed an important item by mistake
Return to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and add the app again under Open at Login using the + button, if available. For background services, turn the relevant switch back on. If the app does not appear, open it manually and check its settings for a startup option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing a login item uninstall the app?
No. Removing an item from Open at Login only stops automatic launching. The app remains in your Applications folder until you uninstall it.
Should I disable every item under Allow in the Background?
No. Some background services are necessary for syncing, backups, security, notifications, VPNs, or connected hardware. Disable only items you recognize and do not need running continuously.
Can login items damage my Mac?
Login items normally do not damage hardware. However, too many can use system resources, and an unwanted or malicious helper could create privacy or security concerns. Investigate unfamiliar items rather than disabling or deleting system files at random.
Does removing a login item improve battery life?
It may reduce activity after you sign in, especially if an app frequently syncs, checks for updates, or monitors devices. The effect depends on the app and what your Mac is doing.
Should I remove Apple apps from the login list?
Usually, leave system components and tools you do not recognize alone. If a listed Apple app is unnecessary, research its purpose first. Removing or disabling system-related services can affect macOS features.
Final Thoughts
Review System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and remove only apps you do not need at startup. Disable background activity carefully, test changes one at a time, and keep security, backup, sync, VPN, and hardware-related services enabled unless you understand the consequences. If your Mac remains slow, use Activity Monitor and check other possible causes instead of removing more system components.