Stop apps opening by themselves when you start or log in to your Mac

Why it happens

Many apps add themselves to your Login Items when you install them, so they start every time you log in. A few at once can make startup feel slow. Your Mac can also reopen whatever was open when you shut down, which looks the same but has a different fix.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click General, then Login Items & Extensions.

2. Look at the list under Open at Login. Click the app you don't want, then click the − button below the list. Repeat for any others.

   General›Login Items & Extensions›Open at Login

3. Restart your Mac to check. If the app no longer opens, you're done.

4. Want an app back later? Click the + button under the same list and choose it from Applications.

The background list is called App Background Activity on macOS 26 and Background App Activity on macOS 27. The shut-down checkbox reads Reopen windows when logging back in on macOS 26 and Reopen windows when logging in on macOS 27. Open at Login is the same on both.

Still not fixed?

1. When you shut down or restart, untick Reopen windows when logging back in (on macOS 27 it reads Reopen windows when logging in) in the message that asks you to confirm. Otherwise your Mac reopens every app that was open.

2. Some apps start themselves from their own settings. Open the app's Settings and turn off its option to open at login or at startup. You can also Control-click its icon in the Dock, choose Options, and untick Open at Login.

3. Check the items under App Background Activity in the same pane. Turn off any you don't recognise; they are helpers that run without a window.

   macOS 26 Tahoe General›Login Items & Extensions›App Background Activity

   macOS 27 Golden Gate General›Login Items & Extensions›Background App Activity

4. If an app keeps coming back after you remove it, update it or uninstall it, then remove it from the list again.

5. If your Mac is still very slow to start with nothing in Login Items, try starting in Safe Mode. If that is slow too, contact Apple Support.