How to stop apps opening at startup on a Mac: the three places to look

How do I stop apps from opening at startup on a Mac?

Open System Settings, General, Login Items & Extensions. Under Open at Login, select an app and click the minus. That covers apps set to open at login. Two other things can open apps too, below.

Why do apps keep opening when I turn on my Mac?

1. Login items. The list above.
2. Reopen windows. When you shut down or restart, the dialog has Reopen windows when logging back in. If it is ticked, every app open at shutdown comes back. Untick it each time, or quit apps before you shut down.
3. The app's own setting. Many apps have Open at login, Launch at startup or Start with your Mac in their own settings, separate from the list above. Turn it off there.

Why do so many windows open when I turn on my Mac?

Apps reopen their windows as you left them. With Close windows when quitting an application turned on in Desktop & Dock, apps open fresh instead. It was on, the default, on our Mac.

Is it safe to remove login items?

Yes. Removing an app from Open at Login only stops it opening by itself; it stays installed and opens when you click it. Leave apps you rely on in the background, such as a backup or password app.

Already open and want them all closed: quit all apps on a Mac.

Checked on 16 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1, by reading its settings and the labels in System Settings. Nothing was changed.