Login items are apps and background services that open automatically when you sign in to your Mac. Too many of them can use memory, slow startup, increase fan activity, and leave fewer resources available for the apps you actually need.
The most effective solution is to review your login items in System Settings, disable anything unnecessary, and remove background permissions for apps that do not need to run continuously. You can then use Activity Monitor to identify which remaining apps consume the most memory.
Quick Answer
To prevent login items from using too much memory:
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select General, then Login Items & Extensions.
- Under Open at Login, select an unnecessary app and click the – button.
- Review the Allow in the Background list and turn off services you do not need.
- Restart your Mac and check Activity Monitor > Memory to confirm the change.
Do not remove an item if you are unsure what it does. Some background services support security software, cloud synchronization, hardware controls, or other apps you rely on.
What Are Login Items?
Login items are programs that launch automatically after you sign in. They generally fall into two groups:
- Apps that open at login: These appear as normal application windows or run in the Dock.
- Background items: These run without opening a visible window. They may sync files, check for updates, monitor devices, provide cloud storage features, or support another app.
Automatic startup is convenient, but every active app or service can consume some combination of memory, processor time, battery power, and network bandwidth. A single login item may not cause a noticeable problem. The effect is more significant when several apps start together or when a background service continues running all day.
Memory usage also changes over time. An app that is harmless during startup may become a problem if it keeps many browser tabs, documents, caches, or media files in memory.
Review Apps That Open Automatically
macOS lets you remove most user-level apps from the automatic startup list without uninstalling them.
Warning: Removing an app from Login Items does not delete the app. However, it changes its startup behavior. If the app has unsaved work open, close it normally before making changes.
- Select Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click General in the sidebar.
- Select Login Items & Extensions.
- Look under Open at Login.
- Select an app you do not need immediately after signing in.
- Click the – button below the list.
- Repeat for other unnecessary apps.
The app will still be available from Finder > Applications, Launchpad, Spotlight, or the Dock. You can open it manually whenever you need it.
Which Apps Should You Consider Removing?
Good candidates often include:
- Messaging apps you use only occasionally
- Music or video apps that do not need to run continuously
- Software update helpers for apps you rarely use
- Meeting apps that do not need to start before a meeting
- Game launchers
- Manufacturer utilities for devices you no longer use
- Duplicate cloud-storage or synchronization tools
Think about whether you need the app immediately after signing in. If not, launching it manually can reduce startup activity and background memory use.
Avoid removing items that provide functions you depend on, such as:
- Password managers
- Antivirus or endpoint-security software
- Cloud storage that must synchronize continuously
- Accessibility utilities
- Input-method or keyboard tools
- Drivers and utilities for connected hardware
- Backup software
If you are unsure, search for the app’s name in its documentation before disabling it. You can also remove one item at a time and observe whether anything you need stops working.
Turn Off Unnecessary Background Activity
An app may continue running even when it does not appear in the Open at Login list. macOS displays many of these services under Allow in the Background.
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Login Items & Extensions.
- Review the entries under Allow in the Background.
- Turn off the switch for a service you do not need running continuously.
You may be asked to authenticate with your Mac password or use Touch ID.
Background services can have names that are less obvious than the apps they support. For example, an entry may identify a developer, helper process, updater, or synchronization component rather than the main app. Before disabling one, consider what it might control.
Turning off a background item can prevent automatic updates, synchronization, notifications, device monitoring, or other features. If a related app later reports that a component is missing, return to Login Items & Extensions and turn the item back on.
Identify High-Memory Login Items with Activity Monitor
System Settings shows what is allowed to start, but Activity Monitor shows what is actually using resources.
Warning: Do not force-quit a process just because its name looks unfamiliar. Force-quitting system processes or security software can cause instability or interrupt important work.
- Open Finder.
- Select Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
- Click the Memory tab.
- Select the Memory column to sort processes by memory usage. Click it again if necessary to place the largest values at the top.
- Look for apps or helper processes associated with items that start automatically.
- Select an app you recognize and click the Stop button in the toolbar if you need to close it.
Activity Monitor includes several useful indicators:
- Memory: The amount of physical memory currently used by a process.
- Memory Pressure: A general indication of whether your Mac can manage its current memory demands. Green usually indicates that memory is being handled comfortably; yellow or red suggests increasing pressure.
- App Memory: Memory used by open apps.
- Wired Memory: Memory that cannot be compressed or moved to storage.
- Compressed: Memory compressed to make room for other tasks.
- Swap Used: Data moved to the startup disk because available physical memory is limited.
A large memory value by itself does not always indicate a problem. An app may use more memory while performing a task and release some of it later. Look for consistently high usage, rising Memory Pressure, sluggishness, or repeated slowdowns.
Match a Process to an App
Some login items appear in Activity Monitor under a helper or process name rather than the app’s familiar name. To investigate:
- Select the process in Activity Monitor.
- Click the Info button in the toolbar.
- Review details such as the process name, user, and open files or ports.
- If the process belongs to a recognizable developer or app, review that app’s settings for options such as Launch at login, Start automatically, or Run in the background.
Changing the app’s own setting is often preferable to force-quitting its helper process. A helper may restart automatically if its parent app or background permission remains enabled.
Check an App’s Own Startup Settings
Some apps manage automatic startup outside the macOS Login Items list. Common examples include cloud-storage tools, messaging apps, backup utilities, device-management software, and creative applications.
Open the app, then look through menus such as:
- Settings
- Preferences
- General
- Advanced
- Startup
- Launch at login
- Start when you log in
- Run in the background
Turn off only the startup or background option you do not need. Avoid disabling synchronization, backups, security monitoring, or hardware support unless you understand the consequences.
If the app continues to start after you remove it from System Settings, its own preference may be recreating the login item. Disable the setting in the app, then check System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions again.
Reduce Memory Use Without Disabling a Necessary Login Item
Sometimes an app needs to run at login, but its memory use can still be reduced.
Limit What the App Loads
Look for options that control:
- Automatic project or document reopening
- Preloading content
- Offline file availability
- Media previews
- Extensions
- Notifications
- Automatic tab or workspace restoration
- Multiple account synchronization
For example, a cloud-storage app may need to run but may not need to keep every folder available offline. A browser may be required for a workflow but may not need to reopen every previous tab.
Keep Apps Updated
Updates can fix memory leaks, crashes, and compatibility problems. Use the app’s built-in update feature or the distribution method you originally used to install it. Do not install a separate “Mac cleaner” or memory optimizer solely because an app displays high memory use.
Restart a Misbehaving App
If one app’s memory use continually grows, quit and reopen it. If that only helps temporarily, check for an update, disable optional extensions, or contact the developer. A login item that repeatedly consumes more memory over time may have an application-specific bug rather than a macOS startup problem.
Prevent Login Items from Reappearing
If an item returns after you remove it, one of these situations may apply:
- The app is still running and has a setting that restores startup behavior.
- The app was installed or managed by an organization.
- A companion helper or updater is recreating the item.
- The app is part of a device driver or security product.
- A macOS permission or system extension is involved.
- The app was reinstalled or updated.
First, open the app’s preferences and turn off its automatic-start option. Then remove the item again from System Settings.
If the Mac belongs to a school or employer, management software may control some login items. In that case, you may not be able to change them permanently. Contact the administrator rather than attempting to remove managed components.
Troubleshooting Login-Item Memory Problems
The Mac is still slow after removing login items
Restart the Mac after making changes. Then open Activity Monitor and watch Memory Pressure while performing your usual tasks.
If memory pressure remains high, the cause may be:
- Too many browser tabs or extensions
- A single app with a memory leak
- Large files or media projects
- Virtual machines
- Multiple cloud-sync tools
- An app that relaunches after being closed
- Insufficient available memory for your workload
Remove or adjust one likely cause at a time so you can identify the change that helps.
I cannot remove a login item
Some entries are controlled by system software, security tools, device drivers, or management profiles. If the – button is unavailable or the entry returns immediately, check the related app’s settings and whether the Mac is managed.
Do not delete random files from system folders to remove a login item. That can damage the app or prevent future updates.
An important app stopped working
Return to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and turn the related background item back on. You may also need to reopen the app or restart your Mac.
If you disabled a security, backup, synchronization, accessibility, or hardware-related service, restore it before troubleshooting further.
An app opens again after I close it
Some apps are configured to reopen automatically when you sign in, while others use a background helper. Check both Open at Login and Allow in the Background. Also inspect the app’s own preferences for a startup option.
Memory Pressure is high even with few login items
Login items are only one source of memory use. Open Activity Monitor > Memory and identify the largest current users. Quit unnecessary apps and browser tabs, then check whether pressure decreases.
If the same process repeatedly grows, update or reinstall the related app using its official uninstaller or installation method. Back up important data before reinstalling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do login items slow down a Mac?
They can. Login items may increase startup time and use memory or processor resources after you sign in. The effect depends on how many items run, what they do, and how much memory your Mac has available.
Is it safe to remove all login items?
No. Removing every item can disable security monitoring, backups, synchronization, accessibility features, or hardware support. Remove only items you recognize and do not need immediately.
Does removing a login item uninstall the app?
No. Removing an app from Open at Login changes when it opens; it does not delete the app or its files.
Should I use a memory-cleaning app?
Usually, no. macOS manages memory automatically, and third-party cleaning tools can add more background processes. Use Activity Monitor to identify the actual source of memory pressure.
Will turning off background items stop notifications?
It may. Apps that rely on background services for notifications, synchronization, updates, or device monitoring may provide fewer features when those services are disabled.
Should I force-quit a high-memory login item?
Force-quit only an app you recognize and only when it is unresponsive or causing an immediate problem. Force-quitting does not permanently disable startup. Change the app’s login or background settings to prevent it from launching again.
Final Thoughts
The safest way to reduce memory use from login items is to remove unnecessary apps from Open at Login, disable background services you do not need, and verify the results in Activity Monitor. Make changes gradually, keep essential security and backup tools enabled, and investigate any app whose memory use continues to grow after startup.