Quick Answer
To manage Mac login items and apps that run in the background, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions. Under Open at Login, select an app and click the – button to stop it from opening automatically. Under Allow in the Background, use the switches to control background activity for supported apps and services.
Removing unnecessary login items can reduce startup clutter, prevent unwanted notifications, and stop apps from running when you are not using them. However, some background items support important features such as cloud syncing, password management, security tools, updates, and hardware controls.
What Are Login Items and Background Apps?
A login item is an app, document, folder, server, or other item configured to open automatically when you sign in to your Mac. For example, you might set a messaging app, music app, or work tool to launch every time macOS starts your user session.
A background app or background item performs tasks without necessarily opening a visible window. It might:
- Sync files with a cloud service
- Check for software updates
- Support a menu bar utility
- Monitor security threats
- Control a keyboard, mouse, printer, or other device
- Provide notifications
- Run a helper process required by another app
These two categories are related but not identical. An app may appear under Open at Login, Allow in the Background, or both.
Why Manage Login Items and Background Activity?
Managing these settings can help you:
- Stop apps opening at startup
- Reduce the number of windows and notifications that appear after login
- Prevent unwanted apps from running continuously
- Make it easier to identify software you no longer use
- Improve organization when you sign in
- Reduce background activity, which may help battery life in some situations
The effect varies by Mac, app, and workload. Removing one login item usually will not transform performance by itself. The main benefit is often a cleaner startup experience and better control over which apps remain active.
Warning: Do not disable an item simply because its name is unfamiliar. Some entries belong to security software, backup tools, cloud storage services, device drivers, or other software you rely on.
How to View Mac Login Items and Background Items
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Select System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Select Login Items & Extensions.
You will typically see sections for items that open when you sign in and apps or services allowed to perform tasks in the background. The exact entries depend on the apps and services installed on your Mac.
Open at Login
The Open at Login section lists items that macOS opens automatically after you sign in. These may include:
- Applications
- Folders
- Documents
- Network locations
- Other user-added items
If an app opens every time you start using your Mac, it may be listed here. Some apps also have their own setting for launching at login, so an app can sometimes reopen itself even after you change the macOS setting.
Allow in the Background
The Allow in the Background section controls background activity for supported apps and services. A background item may continue working without opening the main app window.
For example, a cloud storage app may need background permission to synchronize files. A password manager may use background activity to offer browser integration or autofill features. An update helper may check for new versions.
Disabling an item can affect the related app’s features, even if the app still opens normally when you launch it yourself.
How to Stop Apps Opening at Startup
Use this method when an app launches automatically after you sign in and you want to prevent that behavior.
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Login Items & Extensions.
- In Open at Login, click the app or item you want to remove.
- Click the – button below the list.
The item should no longer open automatically the next time you sign in.
Warning: Removing an item from Open at Login does not uninstall the app or delete its files. It only changes whether macOS opens that item automatically at login.
Remove Several Login Items
Repeat the same process for each unwanted entry:
- Select an item under Open at Login.
- Click the – button.
- Continue until only the items you want to open automatically remain.
Keep essential tools enabled if you depend on them immediately after signing in. For example, removing a cloud storage app from Open at Login may prevent its sync window from appearing, although its background behavior may be controlled separately.
How to Stop an App From Running in the Background
Use Allow in the Background when you want to restrict background activity rather than simply stop an app window from opening.
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click General.
- Select Login Items & Extensions.
- Find the app or service under Allow in the Background.
- Turn its switch off.
Depending on the app, turning off background permission may stop syncing, notifications, automatic updates, device support, or other features.
Warning: Before turning off a background item, check what the related app does. Disabling background activity for backup software, security software, cloud storage, or hardware utilities may prevent important functions from working until you turn it back on.
When to Leave Background Activity Enabled
Consider leaving an item enabled if you use the app for:
- Automatic file synchronization
- Scheduled backups
- Antivirus or security monitoring
- Password autofill or browser integration
- Notifications that you need promptly
- Hardware controls for a keyboard, mouse, headset, display, or printer
- Automatic software updates
If you rarely use the app and do not need these features, disabling its background permission may be reasonable.
How to Stop an App From Opening at Login Without Removing It
If you want to keep an app available but do not want it to launch automatically, remove it from Open at Login rather than uninstalling it.
- Open System Settings.
- Go to General > Login Items & Extensions.
- Select the app under Open at Login.
- Click the – button.
You can still open the app manually from Applications, Launchpad, the Dock, or Spotlight.
Some apps also include a separate preference such as Open at login, Launch at startup, or Start automatically. Look in the app’s settings if it continues to launch after you remove it from macOS.
How to Stop an App From Reopening After Restart
macOS can reopen apps and windows that were open before you shut down or restarted your Mac. This is separate from a permanent login item.
When shutting down or restarting:
- Choose Apple menu > Shut Down or Apple menu > Restart.
- Look for the option Reopen windows when logging back in.
- Clear the checkbox if you do not want previously open apps and windows to return.
- Confirm the shutdown or restart.
Warning: Before shutting down or restarting, save your work. Closing apps or restarting can cause unsaved changes to be lost.
You can also quit apps before shutting down:
- Click the app in the Dock or switch to it.
- Choose [App Name] > Quit [App Name] from the menu bar, or press Command-Q.
- Save any work if prompted.
An app that reopens after a restart is not necessarily a login item. It may be restored from the previous session or launched by another app.
How to Stop Notifications From Login and Background Apps
You can keep an app running while preventing it from interrupting you with notifications.
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Notifications.
- Select the app.
- Adjust the notification settings, such as:
– Allow notifications
– Alert style
– Sounds
– Badges
– Notification Center behavior
This is useful when an app provides a background function you need but sends alerts you do not want.
For example, you might keep a cloud storage app running for synchronization while disabling nonessential notifications. The available controls vary by app.
How to Identify Unwanted Login Items
Before removing an entry, consider these questions:
- Do I recognize the app or service?
- Do I use the related app or device?
- Do I need automatic syncing or notifications?
- Is this software related to security, backups, passwords, or hardware?
- Does the item have a clear developer or app name?
- Did the entry appear after installing a program I still use?
If you are unsure, search for the item’s name in Finder, check your installed applications, or open the related app’s settings. Avoid deleting random files from system folders just to remove an unfamiliar entry.
Review Recently Installed Apps
Unwanted login items often come from software you installed in the past. To review applications:
- Open Finder.
- Click Applications in the sidebar.
- Change the view or sort the list to make unfamiliar apps easier to find.
- Open an app if you recognize it but are unsure what it does.
- Check its settings for login or background options.
Warning: Do not move an app to the Trash if you still need it for backups, security, cloud storage, or connected hardware. Uninstalling an app can remove more than its login item and may affect related files or services.
How to Uninstall an App That You No Longer Need
If an unwanted login item belongs to software you no longer use, uninstalling the app may be better than only removing its startup behavior.
First, check whether the app includes an uninstaller:
- Open Finder > Applications.
- Look for an uninstaller inside the app’s folder.
- Follow the uninstaller’s instructions.
If no uninstaller is provided:
- Quit the app.
- Open Finder > Applications.
- 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 its files.
Warning: Emptying the Trash permanently removes the items in it. Make sure the app does not contain documents, project files, or data you still need.
Uninstalling an app may not remove every supporting component. If it continues to appear in Login Items & Extensions, reinstalling and using the developer’s uninstaller may be necessary.
How to Check Whether Login Items Affect Performance
If your Mac feels slow after login, check which apps are using system resources.
- Open Finder > Applications > Utilities.
- Open Activity Monitor.
- Click the CPU tab to view processor usage.
- Click the Memory tab to view memory use.
- Review unfamiliar processes carefully.
Activity Monitor lists processes, not always the same names shown in Login Items & Extensions. An app may use several helper processes.
Do not force quit a process unless you understand what it belongs to. Force quitting can close an app or interrupt an operation.
Warning: Force quitting an app can cause unsaved work to be lost. If you need to close a normal app, use Quit from the app’s menu first.
A gradual, controlled approach works best: remove one unnecessary login item, restart or sign out, and check whether the startup experience changes.
Troubleshooting Login Items and Background Apps
An app keeps opening after you remove it
Try these checks:
- Confirm that it is removed from Open at Login.
- Check the app’s own settings for an automatic launch option.
- Restart the Mac and see whether the behavior continues.
- Check whether another app opens it.
- Look for an associated helper or updater in Allow in the Background.
Some apps use a helper service to launch the main app or restore a session.
A background feature stopped working
If syncing, notifications, updates, or hardware controls stop:
- Open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.
- Turn the related item back on under Allow in the Background.
- Open the app and check its own settings.
- Restart the app.
- Restart the Mac if the service does not resume.
If the feature remains unavailable, check the app developer’s support documentation or reinstall the app using its official installer.
An important app no longer starts automatically
Add it again:
- Open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.
- Click the + button under Open at Login.
- Select the app, folder, or other item.
- Click Open.
If the app requires background activity, make sure its switch is enabled under Allow in the Background.
Login Items & Extensions does not show the item
The app may be reopening from the previous session, using its own startup setting, or being launched by another utility. Check:
- The app’s settings
- System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions
- Whether Reopen windows when logging back in was selected
- Related cloud, security, backup, or device software
Avoid modifying hidden system files unless you are experienced and have a specific reason. Incorrect changes can prevent software from working correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a login item and a background item?
A login item opens automatically after you sign in. A background item performs tasks without necessarily showing an app window. One app may use both types of entries.
Does removing a login item uninstall the app?
No. Removing an item from Open at Login only stops it from opening automatically. The app remains installed and can be launched manually.
Will disabling background apps improve battery life?
It may reduce some background activity, but the result depends on what the app does and how often it runs. Avoid disabling important backup, security, synchronization, or hardware services without understanding the consequences.
Can I stop all background apps?
You can disable available background permissions, but doing so may break features you rely on. macOS and installed apps may still run necessary system processes.
Why does an app appear in both sections?
An app may have a visible startup component and a separate helper service. Removing it from Open at Login may stop the window while leaving background functions enabled.
Should I remove items I do not recognize?
Not immediately. Identify the related app or service first. Unknown entries can belong to security software, backups, cloud storage, or device utilities.
How do I restore a removed login item?
Go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, click + under Open at Login, select the app, and click Open. If necessary, turn its background permission back on.
Final Thoughts
Use System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions to control which apps open when you sign in and which services can work in the background. Remove entries you recognize and no longer need, but leave essential backup, security, syncing, password, and hardware services enabled. If an app still launches, check its own settings and whether macOS is restoring the previous session.