When you boot up your Mac and log into your user account, you ideally want to be greeted by a clean, empty desktop so you can decide what to work on. However, macOS includes a feature that can automatically launch specific applications the moment your user profile loads. If Safari was added to this list (either by accident, by a mischievous script, or by a poorly-configured extension), the browser will violently pop open every single time you turn on your computer.
This automated launch sequence severely bottlenecks your Mac’s startup speed. If Safari is trying to load a massive, resource-heavy homepage or attempting to restore a previous session right as the operating system is struggling to load its core background daemons, your computer will feel incredibly sluggish for the first few minutes of use.
You can dive into your user account’s specific login preferences to completely purge Safari from the startup queue, ensuring your desktop remains clean and fast on boot.
How to Remove Safari from Mac Login Items
You must edit the explicit list of applications allowed to launch on startup.
- Open the System Settings (or System Preferences) via the Apple Logo in the top-left menu bar.
- Scroll down the left sidebar and click on General.
- In the right-hand pane, click on Login Items.
- Look at the top list labeled Open at Login.
- If you see Safari listed here, click on it once to highlight it in blue.
- Click the small Minus (-) button at the bottom of the list to permanently delete it from the queue.
- (Crucial Step) The next time you restart your Mac, look closely at the shutdown confirmation dialog box. Ensure you uncheck the box that says “Reopen windows when logging back in.”
macOS will no longer force Safari to launch during the boot sequence. Your Mac will load to a peaceful, empty desktop, waiting for your explicit command to open a web browser.