How to Manage Login Items and Background Tasks on Mac in macOS

Over time, installing new productivity applications, cloud storage sync clients, VPNs, and peripheral software can slow down your Mac’s startup speed and drain battery life. Many utilities automatically configure themselves to launch during system boot or run persistent background daemons even when the main app is closed. In modern versions of macOS (including macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia), Apple overhauled how startup processes are audited and controlled under the Login Items & Extensions interface.

In this guide, you will learn how to add, remove, and disable startup applications, manage hidden background daemons, and troubleshoot rogue background tasks on your Mac.

Understanding Login Items vs. Background Tasks in macOS

In modern macOS architecture, startup processes are split into two primary categories:

• Open at Login: Applications that open their graphical interface automatically the moment you enter your user password on boot or login (e.g., Slack, Spotify, or Microsoft Teams).
• Allow in the Background: Low-level helper tools, software update check agents, and Launch Daemons that execute continuously without a visible application window (e.g., Google Chrome Keystone updater, Adobe Creative Cloud sync service, or Logitech G HUB daemons).

Managing “Open at Login” Startup Applications

To view and modify the applications that open visibly when you sign in:

1. Click the Apple menu () in the upper-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.
2. Click General in the left sidebar.
3. Select Login Items & Extensions (or Login Items in earlier versions).
4. Review the list under the Open at Login heading.

Removing an Application from Startup

1. Select the app you wish to prevent from launching automatically.
2. Click the Minus (–) button at the bottom of the list.
3. The application remains installed on your Mac but will no longer execute upon boot.

Adding a Custom Startup Application

1. Click the Plus (+) button below the Open at Login list.
2. Navigate to your Applications folder in Finder.
3. Select the utility or document you want to launch on login and click Open.

Managing “Allow in the Background” Permissions

Directly beneath the Open at Login list, macOS displays the Allow in the Background section. This panel provides granular control over background helper processes installed by third-party developers.

Auditing and Disabling Background Daemons

1. Scroll down to the Allow in the Background section in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.
2. You will see a list of software vendors and developers (e.g., Microsoft Corporation, Dropbox, Inc., Zoom Video Communications).
3. To prevent an application from running background tasks, synchronisation engines, or automated updater daemons, toggle its switch to Off.
4. Enter your Mac administrator password or use Touch ID to confirm the change.

Note: Disabling background tasks for cloud storage providers (such as OneDrive or Dropbox) or security software will halt automated syncing or live file protection until the main application is manually launched.

Inspecting LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons via Finder and Terminal

In some cases, uninstalled software leaves orphaned property list (.plist) files that trigger persistent macOS system notifications warning that a background item was added. To inspect and purge these legacy configurations manually:

User-Level Launch Agents

Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, paste the following path, and press Enter:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

Review the .plist files inside this folder. If you identify files belonging to software you have long since uninstalled, move those specific .plist files to the Trash.

System-Wide Launch Daemons and Agents

For items that affect all users on your Mac, inspect these two directories:

/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Deleting files from these directories requires administrator authentication. Only delete .plist files clearly associated with discarded third-party software.

Using the sfltool Command in Terminal

Advanced system administrators can inspect and reset the shared file list database (which powers Login Items) using the built-in sfltool utility in Terminal:

# Dump the current list of registered login items
sfltool dump-server-state

If you encounter persistent ghost login items that cannot be removed via the Graphical User Interface, resetting the shared file list cache restores default factory behavior:

# Reset login item database (requires reboot)
rm ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.apple.sharedfilelist/com.apple.LSSharedFileList.ApplicationRecentDocuments.sfl*

Best Practices for a Fast, Clean Boot

• Keep Startup Items Below 5: Restrict Open at Login to essential tools you interact with immediately upon powering on your machine.
• Review Permissions After Major App Updates: Software updates occasionally attempt to re-register background daemons. Check the Login Items pane periodically.
• Avoid Redundant Updaters: If an application was installed via the Mac App Store, it relies on macOS system update mechanisms rather than proprietary background daemons, reducing background overhead.