How to Stop Apps Running in the Background on Mac: Login Items

If you've noticed your Mac starting up slowly or certain apps seeming to always run in the background, you're not alone. Many applications add themselves to your Mac's Login Items, launching automatically every time you power on. It's easy to overlook these processes, but they can drain resources and clutter your experience. Knowing where to look and how to manage these background activities is key—let's uncover what really happens behind the scenes.

Understanding Login and Background Items

When starting up a Mac, two primary types of automatic processes are involved: login items and background items.

Login items are applications that open immediately after the user logs in, which can include frequently used applications such as email clients or messaging services. In contrast, background items operate quietly, undertaking tasks like data synchronization without requiring direct user interaction.

Managing these items is important, as they can contribute to a decrease in system performance if not properly regulated. Unnecessary login and background items can slow down the startup process and consume system resources, potentially leading to a degradation of user experience over time.

Users can manage login items through the System Settings, allowing them to select which applications should open upon login.

Similarly, understanding how to manage background items is crucial, as keeping only essential processes can help maintain optimal system performance. This careful management can lead to a more efficient computing experience on Mac systems.

Accessing Login Items in Macos Ventura

Managing the applications that launch automatically upon startup is a practical aspect of using macOS Ventura. Accessing your Login Items is achieved through the system settings.

To begin, navigate to the Apple menu and choose System Settings. Within the System Settings interface, locate the sidebar and select General. You'll find the Login Items & Extensions section after scrolling down.

The Open at Login category lists all applications currently set to launch upon signing in. This section allows users to manage startup applications effectively.

Users can add new applications that they wish to open automatically, remove those that are unnecessary, and thereby customize their Mac's startup behavior according to their specific needs.

This functionality is particularly useful for optimizing system performance and ensuring that only relevant applications are running at startup.

Identifying Apps Set to Launch at Startup

In macOS Ventura, managing startup applications is an essential aspect of optimizing system performance. To identify which applications are set to launch at startup, navigate to the Apple menu and access System Settings. From there, select General and proceed to Login Items & Extensions. This section displays a comprehensive list of applications that automatically open upon user login.

Each application listed in the "Open at Login" section could potentially impact system speed and resource allocation. Therefore, documenting these applications may be beneficial for troubleshooting and performance tuning.

Additionally, for users who prefer a command-line approach, the Terminal command `sudo sfltool dumpbtm` can be used to retrieve a detailed enumeration of these startup items.

It is advisable to review this list before making any decisions to remove login items, as some applications might be critical for your workflow or system functionality. Systematic evaluation of these entries can lead to a more efficient startup process and overall enhanced system performance.

Removing Unwanted Login Items

Before optimizing your Mac's performance, it's important to remove unnecessary login items that may be running in the background.

To do this, navigate to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions and access the Open at Login section. It's advisable to document all items listed here prior to removal, as this allows for easy re-addition should the need arise.

Select any item you wish to remove, then choose the option to exclude it from your Mac’s startup process.

After you have eliminated unwanted login items, it's recommended to restart your Mac from the Apple menu. This procedure can help to determine if a specific application was causing issues and can improve the efficiency of the login process.

Managing Background Apps Through System Settings

To manage background applications on your Mac effectively, start by accessing System Settings through the Apple menu.

Within the System Settings, navigate to General and select Login Items & Extensions. This section displays a list of applications set to open automatically at login under the "Open at Login" category. Review this list to identify any applications that you no longer wish to have launched at startup. You can select these applications and utilize the removal option to prevent them from running in the background upon login.

Furthermore, you should examine the ‘Allow in the Background’ section to manage the permissions for each application related to background processes.

This assessment can help in optimizing the performance of your Mac by limiting unnecessary background activity, which may result in improved resource management and overall efficiency.

Dealing With Persistent Startup Applications

Even after adjusting your Login Items in System Settings, certain applications may continue to launch automatically upon startup. This persistence can stem from various factors, as removing an application from the Login Items list doesn't guarantee its elimination from the startup process.

To address this issue systematically, first, document and remove each application listed in the "Open at Login" section. This process helps in identifying which applications are responsible for unwanted startups.

If an application reappears in this list despite removal, investigate its internal preferences to determine if there are options that enable it to start automatically and disable them.

Additionally, the Activity Monitor can reveal any unexpected background processes that may be associated with these applications, allowing for further investigation into their behavior.

For comprehensive management of startup items, the `sfltool dumpbtm` command can be utilized to generate a list of all current Login Items, providing insights into active applications and their startup options.

This structured approach should assist in mitigating issues with persistent startup applications on a Mac.

Cleaning Up Launch Agents and Daemons

While managing persistent startup applications is essential for system efficiency, addressing background processes controlled by Launch Agents and Daemons is equally important for a comprehensive system cleanup.

These processes rely on configuration files, specifically property list (.plist) files, located in `/Library/LaunchAgents`, `~/Library/LaunchAgents`, and `/Library/LaunchDaemons`. Such files can initiate unwanted background tasks each time the Mac boots.

To effectively manage these processes, it's advisable to examine these directories closely and remove any .plist files associated with applications that are no longer needed. Prior to making any modifications, it's crucial to back up these directories to prevent accidental loss of necessary system files.

For users seeking more advanced control, the `launchctl` command-line tool can be utilized to unload or manage specific Launch Agents or Launch Daemons in a precise manner, allowing for targeted intervention without disrupting system operations.

Using App-Specific Settings to Prevent Auto-Start

Managing auto-start behavior at the app level is an effective strategy for maintaining control over your system's startup processes. Many applications offer built-in preferences that allow users to disable automatic launching upon system login.

For instance, within Spotify's settings, there's a specific option to prevent the application from starting automatically when the system is logged in.

It is advisable to review the preferences or settings menu of each application for options related to startup behavior. Additionally, it's important to note that merely closing an application's window may not terminate its activity; the app may continue to run in the background.

To completely exit the application and prevent it from reopening automatically during the next session, users can right-click on the application's icon in the Dock (or taskbar) and select "Quit." This action ensures that the application is fully closed rather than simply minimized or left running in the background.

Updating Macos and Troubleshooting Notification Issues

Keeping macOS updated is important for resolving ongoing background notifications and ensuring application functionality. To update macOS, navigate to System Settings > General and check for available updates.

Regular updates can address bugs that may cause undesired alerts from background processes. If issues with notifications persist, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the affected application using a dedicated uninstaller to ensure complete removal.

Continuous notifications about “background items added” after updates may suggest underlying conflicts, necessitating a review of app permissions through System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.

If notifications continue despite these measures, it's advisable to contact the application support team for further troubleshooting and assistance.

Conclusion

By managing your Login Items and background apps on your Mac, you’ll keep your system running smoothly and free up valuable resources. It only takes a few minutes to review and remove unnecessary startup applications. Don’t forget to check for stubborn apps in the Launch Agents and Daemons folders if they keep coming back. Regularly updating macOS helps, too. A bit of routine maintenance goes a long way toward a faster, more efficient Mac experience.