AnyDesk on the Mac does not start automatically when booting - or it does!

Forbid the remote desktop software AnyDesk to start when the Mac is restarted. Here are the instructions!

With the TeamViewer alternative AnyDesk that I recently did in this post presented, I have had very good experiences in the last few weeks. One point that confused me a bit, however, is the fact that AnyDesk - once it has been installed correctly - always starts when the Mac boots. To fix that, I have to go to the Startup objects under System Settings> User looked it up, but unfortunately no entry for AnyDesk was found.

Because a user wrote to me that he couldn't find a way to start AnyDesk immediately after restarting, I have instructions below on how to do this too.

Forbid the remote desktop software AnyDesk to start when the Mac is restarted. Here are the instructions!
Forbid the remote desktop software AnyDesk to start when the Mac is restarted. Here are the instructions!

Why does AnyDesk start on restart?

Programs that are not in a user's startup items can also start up when the Mac starts up. This happens when the program enters the start agents via a plist file. This means that whenever the Mac reboots, it is checked which programs have an entry in “RunAtLoad” and these then start after the user logs in.

Stop AnyDesk from AutoStart

This situation can be changed in three ways:

1. Deactivate the start agent in CleanMyMac X.

The first way - from my point of view the easiest, runs via the menu item "Optimize" and "Start Agents" of the software "CleanMyMac X“, which I use more often to clean my Mac.

Among other things, the list of starting agents shows “com.philandro.anydesk.Frontend” displayed as “Enabled”. By clicking on “Enabled”, you can change the status to “Disabled”. This means that AnyDesk will no longer start automatically the next time you restart.

With the CleanMyMac X software, start agents can be deactivated with a simple click.
With the CleanMyMac X software, start agents can be deactivated with a simple click.

Unfortunately, the CleanMyMac X software is chargeable if you don't already have it Setapp subscription has booked. If you want it for free, you can choose one of the other two ways.

2. Delete the PLIST file in the Finder

The second way is via Finder. Press the key combination CMD + SHIFT + G and then specify this folder:

/ Library / LaunchAgents /

Below you will find a file called “com.philandro.anydesk.Frontend.plist”. You delete this file and then check with a restart whether AnyDesk is still started.

The AnyDesk PLIST file can be found in the / Library / LaunchAgents / folder, which specifies whether the program should start when the Mac is restarted.
The AnyDesk PLIST file can be found in the / Library / LaunchAgents / folder, which specifies whether the program should start when the Mac is restarted.

3. Edit the PLIST file in the Finder

The third way is to edit the above file. Instead of deleting them, you open them with a text editor.

Before editing the PLIST file, you have to authenticate yourself as an admin.
Before editing the PLIST file, you have to authenticate yourself as an admin.

A window will probably open here asking for administrator rights before you can change the file. Once you have received permission, change these lines:

RunAtLoad

in

RunAtLoad

Now you save the file again and from now on AnyDesk should no longer start up with the Mac.

Here you can see which changes have to be made to the PLIST file in order to prevent the autostart.
Here you can see which changes have to be made to the PLIST file in order to prevent the autostart.

Apart from this little problem, AnyDesk is really a recommendable tool. Anyone who frequently has to maintain the computers of relatives and acquaintances remotely will be happy about it.

Update 04.10.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX: AnyDesk will start automatically after booting

Today a reader wrote to me that he had exactly the opposite problem from me: He would like AnyDesk to run automatically after a restart, but the Mac always stops at the login screen and does not start AnyDesk until then.

macOS is deliberately designed so that no program can start before logging in. Until then, only macOS will be running. However, there is an option to automatically log a user in. This means that the Mac is booted up again even after a restart, the user is logged in and AnyDesk can be packed into the user's login items so that the tool starts up immediately.

The appropriate option for the automatic login can be found under "Users & Groups" in the system settings of macOS.
The appropriate option for automatic login can be found under “Users & Groups” in the macOS system settings.

It works like this: Under System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Options > Automatic Login, set automatic login to active and select the user who should be logged in automatically. Then select AnyDesk under “Login Items” for this user and restart the Mac.

If everything went well, the Mac will restart and the selected user will be logged in automatically. AnyDesk will then start automatically and you should be able to control the Mac remotely.

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19 Responses to “Doesn’t start AnyDesk automatically on Mac when booting – or does it?”

  1. Hello!

    But you also switch off a feature.

    If, for example, I want to access my computer at home from my work, then I start it via the Fritzbox via the Internet - and since AnyDesk then starts automatically, I can then access it.

    Of course only for those who need something;)

    Best wishes!
    seb

    1. Hello Seb! Yes, I do ... I never access my Mac while on the go anyway, and somehow it doesn't feel good when third-party software is constantly waiting in the background for someone to connect. Based on the security flaw in Zoom, it has been seen that you do not necessarily need a program like Anydesk to gain access to a third-party computer.

  2. Of course, you are right. In this respect, your tip is helpful for anyone who does not want to use this option or is only now aware of the risk. It would be up to AnyDesk to enable a corresponding configuration here.
    But I need access and I have to accept the risks or try to secure the computer through other measures.

  3. Addendum

    But you made me think about whether AnyDesk is the right one for this (my) purpose. Unfortunately, I am not very familiar with the VPN things that make such access more secure in other ways. It is also difficult that I need it across platforms. I'll go looking for it.

    1. Hello Seb! Basically, VPN is just a server through which you redirect all your internet traffic in encrypted form. What you mean is maybe the program”VNC’, which can also be used to control computers remotely. This might be something that would help you too as it is available for both Macs, Windows machines and even Linux boxes. I think if you don't make the password too simple, the security risk is limited. But if you don't need it, I wouldn't leave such programs running in the background all the time.

  4. I was also just wondering why this anydeck without the option to switch it off is active at every restart. very very dubious to behave in this way, at least there should be an option in the settings or, as with teamviewer, this must be activated first so that the program is activated automatically every time it is restarted. anydesk isn't that good either, teamviewer is better than the imo options. and chrome also has a very good plugin (called remote or something) which also allows remote maintenance. I'm still waiting for a good open source alternative that is easy to use so that I don't need all the other programs anymore ...

    thanks for the info on how to deactivate anydesk.

    1. Hello Mister X! So Anydesk is still a recommendation. If you prevent it from always restarting, it's really good to use. At Teamviewer I often get the message that the versions are not compatible with me and the customer. Then one of us has to do an update and 10 minutes are up in no time. That never even happened to me with Anydesk.

  5. That's what I call useful help.
    Thank you Sir Apfelot!

    I also switched from TV because despite the same (latest) versions on both computers no connection was established.

    1. Gladly! Teamviewer always kicks me out after 5 minutes because he thinks I'm using it commercially. So free support is “commercial”. It's a good thing that AnyDesk is available as an alternative! Bye bye team viewer! :D

  6. Alse I would have liked to have Anydesk started automatically on my Mac so that I can maintain it remotely and restart it from time to time.
    Unfortunately, Anydesk does NOT start automatically after rebooting but only after logging in. Therefore, unfortunately, completely unusable for remote maintenance.
    Unfortunately, there is nothing in the instructions on how to set up Anydesk, which is already available in the login screen. :(

    1. Hello Geskosmart! You can't blame AnyDesk for that, because NOTHING starts before you log in. Only macOS. If you want to make your Mac accessible for any remote desktop tool after a reboot, you have to set it to active under System Preferences> Users & Groups> Login Options> Automatic Login. Then the Mac starts and the selected user is automatically logged in. AnyDesk will then start automatically and you should be able to control the Mac remotely. You can tell me briefly whether it worked for you. If not, I'll be happy to help. LG, Jens

  7. that nothing starts before the boot screen in macOS is simply not correct!
    For me, AnyDesk starts automatically “before the login” “without automatic user login”.
    I have 10.12/XNUMX. I have to test whether this is also the case with Catalina ...

    1. Can you then connect to another computer on the Mac without logging in? Should actually go if AnyDesk is already running. And how do you see that AnyDesk is already running? I mean, you can't call up a dock or activity display in the login screen.

  8. Hallo,
    It exposes Mac to bad situation where someone else can login without permission.
    Is there an option that runs on the login password page so that we don't have to disable the password to login?

    1. No, as far as I know AnyDesk cannot do that. Apple Remote Desktop might be a better choice here. I think you can connect to it before you log in.

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