How to Automatically Open Apps on Startup on Mac
Automatically opening apps on startup on your Mac can save you time and streamline your workflow. Whether you’re a professional or a casual user, this feature can be incredibly useful. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process step by step, ensuring that you can set up your Mac to open the apps you need as soon as you turn it on.
Understanding the Process
Before diving into the steps, it’s important to understand how this process works. When you turn on your Mac, it runs a list of applications that are set to open at startup. These applications are stored in a specific location on your Mac, and you can add or remove them from this list as needed.
Locating the Login Items
The first step in automatically opening apps on startup is to locate the Login Items list. Here’s how you can do it:
- Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select “System Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on “Users & Groups” or “Accounts,” depending on your macOS version.
- Click on your username on the left side of the window.
- Select the “Login Items” tab at the top of the window.
Once you’re in the Login Items tab, you’ll see a list of all the applications that currently open at startup.
Adding an App to the Login Items List
Now that you know how to access the Login Items list, let’s add an app to it:
- Click on the “+” button at the bottom of the Login Items list.
- Select the app you want to open at startup from the list of applications on your Mac.
- Click “Add” to add the app to the Login Items list.
Repeat this process for each app you want to open at startup.
Removing an App from the Login Items List
Just as easily as you can add an app to the Login Items list, you can remove one:
- Select the app you want to remove from the Login Items list.
- Click on the “-” button at the bottom of the list.
- Confirm the deletion by clicking “Delete” in the dialog box that appears.
Removing an app from the Login Items list will prevent it from opening at startup.
Customizing the Login Items List
Once you have your apps set up, you can customize the Login Items list further:
- Change the order of apps: Click and drag an app up or down in the list to change its order.
- Change the startup arguments: Some apps may require additional arguments to run correctly. To do this, select the app, click on the “Options” button, and then click on “Open at Login.” You can then enter any necessary arguments in the text field.
- Change the startup folder: Some apps may need to open a specific folder when they start. To do this, select the app, click on the “Options” button, and then click on “Open at Login.” You can then navigate to the desired folder and select it.
Using Third-Party Tools
While the built-in Login Items feature is quite useful, there are third-party tools available that can offer additional functionality and customization. Some popular options include:
Tool | Description |
---|---|
LaunchBar | A productivity app that allows you to launch apps, search for files, and more. |
Alfred | Another productivity app that offers a wide range of features, including app launching, file searching, and more. |
Quicksilver | A powerful application launcher and productivity tool that can help you automate tasks and streamline your workflow. |
These tools can provide additional functionality and customization options that may be more advanced than what the built-in Login Items feature offers.