What is the Purpose of Mac Start-Up Programs?

What is the Purpose of Mac Start-Up Programs?

Would you like some apps to open automatically when you boot up your Mac? This saves time, with no need to repeat the same steps every time you start macOS. There are several ways to set up startup applications. This is very easy to do and only requires a one-time setup.

Every time you turn on your Mac, your computer automatically launches various applications and services in the background. These so-called “login items” are convenient and useful, but too many can lead to longer Mac boot times and slower performance.

To avoid such situations, you should understand how to change the automatic startup settings to optimize your computer. The instructions below show you how to add, prevent, or delay automatic downloads of apps on Mac.

How To Add An App To Startup On Mac Using The Dock

If your favorite app is permanently in the Dock or is currently running, do the following:

1. Right-click on its icon (or hold Ctrl + click the left mouse button). 
2. In the pop-up menu that appears, select Options
3. Select “Open at login” to activate the automatic launch of the application.

In order to remove an application or game from macOS startup, uncheck the box.

How To Add Or Remove Programs From Mac Startup In Users & Groups Of System Preferences

This method allows you to easily select multiple applications and edit their launch options for specific user profiles. 

1. Open System Preferences and go to Users & Groups.

2. On the left, select the group or profile for which you want to install startup applications. A list of “Login Items” apps that are already scheduled to run automatically will appear on the right side of the section.

3. To add or remove some programs, click on the plus or minus sign respectively. If you want to launch an application when your Mac boots but hide it when you log in, (minimized), check the Hide application box.

How To Temporarily Disable Autoload On Mac

macOS allows you to temporarily disable startup programs on Mac, which is useful in cases where you need to quickly log in to a service or identify a problem if the Mac does not boot correctly.

1. When the login window appears on the screen, enter your credentials, press and hold the ⇧Shift key, and then click the Login button. 
2. Release the key when the Dock appears. 
3. If the login window does not appear on the screen, restart the computer and when the progress bar appears, press and hold the ⇧Shift key when the progress bar appears. 
4. The Mac will start booting.

How To Delay The Automatic Launch Of Apps On Mac

While you can turn off the automatic launch, you will have to open each program manually, which takes time and effort. However, there’s an app that allows you to delay the automatic launch.

The Delay Start program allows you to control when and which application to open.

1. Remove all “Login Items” under “System Preferences” → “Users and Groups” → “Login Items”. Select all applications and click on the “-” icon.
2. Click on the “+” icon and add the Delay Start application to the list.
3. Now run the program. Click on the “+” icon to add applications that should start automatically.
4. Set the time in “Time Setting”. The Mac will delay the launch of this application for a set period.

Repeat the last two steps to set up the automatic launch of the desired applications.

How To Spot Malicious “Login Items” On A Mac

Contrary to popular belief, Mac computers can also be infected with malware. There are many programs for checking Macs for malware, one of which is KnockKnock. It’s a free app that shows you what’s running on your Mac and scans apps using the VirusTotal service, which checks files for viruses.

• Launch KnockKnock and click on the “Start Scan” option. The check will take about 1-2 minutes. 
• After its completion, the screen will display the results in several sections.

For example, you will see all automatically launching apps in the “Launch Items” section.

The “Kernel Extensions” category displays a list of modules that may have been loaded into the kernel. 

When you select a category, information from VirusTotal will be displayed on the right. If any “startup item” is infected, you can click “Show” to find the file in Finder and remove it.

KnockKnock can also help you determine if an app is from Apple or a third party via an image of a padlock:

• The closed green padlock indicates that Apple signs the item. 
• Apps signed by third parties have a closed black padlock. 
• Unsigned apps have an open orange padlock. 

Open locks do not necessarily indicate that the application is infected, but you should still beware of such programs.

Control “Login Items” On Your Mac

Use KnockKnock to detect malicious items and remove infected applications immediately. Then set up auto-starts for useful apps and get rid of other programs that start automatically on their own. Better yet, delay the launch of some applications so as not to overload the computer. With the tips above and a little patience, you can optimize startup on your Mac and help it boot faster.

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