How to remove login items on Mac
Apps that launch at login slow down your startup and run in the background. Here's how to find and remove every type of startup item on macOS.
Remove login items in System Settings
Login items are apps, documents, or server connections that open automatically every time you log in to your Mac. Over time, apps you install add themselves to this list without asking — slowing down your startup and consuming memory in the background.
To manage them, open System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions. You'll see a list of everything that launches at login.
- Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
- Navigate to General → Login Items & Extensions.
- Select any app you don't want launching at startup.
- Click the minus (−) button to remove it.
This handles the most visible startup items, but it doesn't cover everything. Many apps install background helpers called LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons that won't appear in this list.
Remove LaunchAgents
LaunchAgents are background processes that run in your user session. Apps install them as .plist files in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/. Even after you delete an app, its LaunchAgent can remain — trying to launch a process that no longer exists, or running an updater in the background.
To check your LaunchAgents, open Finder and press ⌘ Shift G, then type ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ and press Enter.
Here are some common LaunchAgent files you might find:
| File | Description |
|---|---|
com.spotify.webhelper.plist | Spotify web helper (media key integration) |
us.zoom.xos.ZoomOpener.plist | Zoom background launcher |
com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist | Adobe Creative Cloud auto-updater |
com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist | Dropbox auto-updater |
com.google.keystone.agent.plist | Google Software Update |
If you've already uninstalled the parent app, it's safe to delete the corresponding plist file. Move it to Trash and restart your Mac to confirm everything works normally.
Check system LaunchDaemons
LaunchDaemons are similar to LaunchAgents, but they run at the system level — outside any user session. They're stored in /Library/LaunchDaemons/ and often require administrator privileges to remove.
Common examples include updater services for apps like Adobe, Docker, and antivirus software. To view them, open Finder, press ⌘ Shift G, and navigate to /Library/LaunchDaemons/.
Be cautious. Unlike user-level LaunchAgents, system LaunchDaemons can affect the entire machine. Only remove items you recognize as belonging to apps you've already uninstalled. If a filename starts with com.apple., leave it alone — those belong to macOS itself.
Zapper removes LaunchAgents automatically
Manually checking ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ every time you uninstall an app is tedious. Zapper handles it automatically as part of its 11-directory scan — including LaunchAgents, Caches, Application Support, Preferences, Containers, and more.
Drop any app onto Zapper, and it finds every related file — including background LaunchAgents that would otherwise keep running silently. Everything is moved to Trash, reversible with ⌘Z.
Zapper is a native Swift app — no Electron, no bloat, no subscription. One-time purchase of $9.99 for up to 3 Macs.