Top 5 Ways to Add, Remove, or Change Mac Startup Programs [2023]

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If you have ever stumbled upon apps that open in your face as soon as you log into your Mac, you know how unwelcoming they can get. Such apps, also known as startup programs, are intentionally present to speed up your workflow by reducing loading times. While some startup programs are indispensable, most of them are not worth your system’s precious resources.

On the bright side, setting up startup programs to your advantage will enhance and amplify your workflow. For that, you must alter and edit your Mac’s startup programs, which can be done using various methods according to your convenience and requirement. Read to the end for detailed instructions.

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Simply put, startup programs are applications that initiate the second your Mac is turned on. Such apps will appear on top and start functioning as soon as you sign into your Mac, thus reducing waiting times. Examples of startup programs above include auto-updaters like Microsoft AutoUpdate, game launchers, music streaming apps like Apple Music, and more.

Startup programs can be best said to be necessary evils because of their ease of use and resource-intensive nature simultaneously. While it’s advantageous having apps open instantly and save valuable time of yours, it’s equally heavy on the Mac to tackle multiple things while turning itself on.

This may result in your Mac reporting slower boot times, additional battery consumption, increased RAM usage, and whatnot. Thus, having only the bare minimum and essential apps required in your workflow is recommended to ensure proper system stability.

If you are unaware of your system’s existing startup programs, follow the following procedure.

You’ll be presented with a list of your Mac’s startup programs, which can also be edited. Furthermore, scrolling down will show apps with permission to run in the background to perform backend tasks like syncing, checking for software updates, and more.

There are many ways to alter your Mac’s startup programs, and here are the five best ways to perform the same.

Perform a Spotlight search by pressing Command + Space and typing Open at Login. Otherwise, you can reach the same settings page by following the procedure mentioned under the previous heading.

Apps in the dock can let you alter their login behavior directly. To do so —

Similarly, to remove an app, click on Open at Login again to uncheck it. The checkmark will be removed subsequently.

App settings allow you to change the app’s login behavior, but the process is time-consuming if you want to add or remove multiple apps this way. Still, this is the best way to add or remove a specific app to the login items without fiddling with the settings. The procedure can vary significantly as each app has its own settings page. Below is the procedure for Spotify.

Related Read: 4 Ways to Stop Mac Startup Apps at Login

Sometimes unknown programs that are not located in the application folder are added as login objects out of the blue. Such programs are usually hidden and represent leftover files that come from uninstalled applications, random macOS programs, etc. Follow the steps below to remove them.

Mac utility software like CleanMyMac X and MacKeeper helps keep your Mac free from unwanted malware, virus attacks, and junk files. A part of their feature set also includes a startup programs manager, which makes the process even more seamless and easy.

What if you don’t want to eliminate the existing startup programs while keeping your Mac as fast as before? Say no more, as apps like Delay Start let you set a custom time interval before which the apps of your choice won’t start. This way, the system will no longer consume additional resources to run startup programs during boot-up.

Another way is to temporarily turn off startup programs, which can be done by pressing the shift key while signing into your Mac from the lock screen.

Here are some of the most common Mac startup apps:

Startup programs are often considered harmful, but sometimes you can’t afford to do without a few applications. Therefore, changing login items is essential to ensure a smooth startup and efficient workflow. The numerous methods in this guide will help you achieve this and simplify the use of your Mac.

Startup programs are apps or processes that have permission to open and run automatically as soon as you turn on your Mac. This helps reduce loading times and eliminates manual app opening, but it is resource-intensive at the same time. Thus, having the least number of apps required in your workflow is recommended for the smooth functioning of your Mac.

Head to Settings > General > Login Items to view your Mac's startup programs. While there is no particular number, having the bare minimum is suggested for a fast boot-up. Heavy apps like games, emulators, or video editors shouldn't be allowed to open at login. In contrast, light apps like Spotify and WhatsApp are perfectly fine if set to open at login.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when deciding which apps to remove from Autostart on your Mac:

If you want to stop the Mac startup apps only temporarily, you can do so as follows:

Spotify is notorious for persuading users to allow it to open at login. To remove it as a startup program, head to Settings > General > Login Items > select Spotify from the list > click on the minus sign (-). Alternatively, following the third step from the above guide lets you revoke the permissions within the app's settings page.

In that case, you can remove the app using Finder using the following steps -

You'll be provided with all your Mac's startup processes, which you can delete by simply dragging the responsible file into the trash. Do not mess around with files that you cannot identify.

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