Autostart on Apple Mac: Call up programs when macOS starts up

If you want to edit the autostart on your Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook, i.e. add or remove programs that are called up when OS X or macOS is started, then you've come to the right place! In this little guide I want to bring the autostart of the Apple Mac closer to all those interested, newbies and those switching who come from Windows. So you can have Mac apps like Mail, Calendar or other frequently used programs start automatically with the operating system - or you can remove them from the corresponding list.

Edit autostart under OS X / macOS

Click on the apple in the top left and control the in the resulting menu System Settings

In order to remove programs from the Mac autostart or to add them, you then go through the following steps:

• Clicks depending on the system User Users and Groups
• Then select the tab Login objects or Startup objects from
• About the symbols + (Plus) and - (Minus) apps can now be added or removed

Do not display startup programs immediately

If the selected programs should not be displayed as a window immediately after switching on the Apple Mac and after starting OS X or macOS, then simply tick the box in the above menu Hide. So you can assign to each program whether it should only be started or immediately visible.

Special case: Mac OS X 10.2.8 Jaguar or older

Set the autostart of several users from one user account and assign or remove individual apps - this works quite well from OS X 10.3 Panther. If you are using an even older version of the Apple operating system, then you have to log in to each user account individually and then proceed as follows:

• Get the apple and then the System Settings on
• Navigates to the menu presentation and choose there Startup objects
• There you can now add or remove programs from the autostart

Mac autostart for each user individually

Autostart on the Apple Mac is determined individually for each user. If you want to assign individual programs and apps to each user or withdraw them for start-up, then you have to dig out your system administrator skills and assign the appropriate settings individually for each user. In the end, however, you have a Mac, an iMac or a MacBook that starts up automatically for everyone as he / she wants;)

Management of login items with Clean My Mac

I've been using the Clean My Mac tool for a number of years to regularly "clean" my hard drive and also to clean large old files from the disk. If you have an SSD, the storage space is chronically too small, but that's another topic. In any case, the Mac tool also offers the option of activating and deactivating the login items with a click. This is helpful if you are looking for errors and do not want to delete the objects completely right away. macOS does not offer temporary deactivation. At this point I can still tell you my test report on Clean My Mac 3 recommend. The tool is really one of the few recommendations when it comes to such cleaning programs.

If you are interested in the CleanMyMac tool, you can download a test version here on the manufacturer's website. I find the software very helpful because it simplifies many administrative tasks under macOS and makes it easier to understand and more accessible for laypeople.

You can find more information and tips on the subject at Support.apple.com

More articles on Apple operating systems

• Apple Mac, iMac, and MacBook: These models are compatible with macOS High Sierra
• Data backup: backup copy as protection against ransomware
• Time travel: start Apple's "System 7" in Safari and Co.
• Share Mac screenshots with the Mac2imgur app
• Square and curly brackets on the Mac keyboard - macOS shortcuts

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.