log-in items - huH?

[wfriedwald]

this is strange. I check my log-in items in SYSTEM PREFERENCES, and NOTHING is checked.

Yet whenever I startup, I get at least four programs that start automatically. None of them seem to be checked.

Can't figure out what's going on? is there some OTHER place in preferences where these login items are set?

help!

 

[hg.wells]

All of those applications are going to open at startup. To remove them from startup select the application and click the minus button at the bottom.

The hide checkbox will let the application open on startup but hide the window.

 

[wfriedwald]

hey thanks - but it also automatically opens at least two other apps which are not in this box - so I am still confused!

But thanks for the feedback! I shall keep pursuing.

w

 

[NoBoMac]

These possibly.

Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac - Apple Support

Apps and their windows might automatically reopen when you log in to your Mac or open each app. Here's how to control this behavior.

support.apple.com

Or there might be something setup in:

• $HOME/Library/LaunchAgents
• /Library/LaunchDaemons
• /Library/LaunchAgents

 

[wfriedwald]

thank you!

there are at least two apps, TEXTY and MAIL FOR GMAIL that somehow do NOT appear in the login items window in SYS PREFs, and yet they always open whenever I start the system. (they are also not checked 'open at login' when I look at them in the dock.)



here is what I find:

Spoiler

• /Library/LaunchAgents :

com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist
com.adobe.ccxprocess.plist
com.easeus.EaseUSNotify.plist
com.google.keystone.agent.plist
com.google.keystone.xpcservice.plist
com.malwarebytes.mbam.frontend.agent.plist
com.microsoft.update.agent.plist
com.paragon-software.ntfs.notification-agent.plist
com.wdc.WD-Discovery.plist
com.wdc.WDTrashObserver.plist

• /Library/LaunchDaemons :

com.adobe.acc.installer.v2.plist
com.cleverfiles.cfbackd.plist
com.cocoatech.pathfinder.SMFHelper7.plist
com.easeus.dataprotectbackup.plist
com.easeus.ensdaemon.plist
com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
com.malwarebytes.mbam.rtprotection.daemon.plist
com.malwarebytes.mbam.settings.daemon.plist
com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist
com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist
com.microsoft.OneDriveUpdaterDaemon.plist
com.paragon-software.installer.plist
com.paragon-software.ntfs.loader.plist
com.paragon-software.ntfsd.plist
com.rogueamoeba.aceagent.plist
com.rogueamoeba.acetool.plist
com.shinywhitebox.iShowUAudioDaemon.plist
com.shinywhitebox.SWBAudioHelperTool.plist
us.zoom.ZoomDaemon.plist

lastly $HOME/Library/LaunchAgents is a repeat of /Library/LaunchAgents as far as I can tell, right?

is there anything there that looks suspicious to you?

thanks again for the help!

 

[NoBoMac]

lastly $HOME/Library/LaunchAgents is a repeat of /Library/LaunchAgents as far as I can tell, right?

Not the same. /Library applies to all users, $HOME/Library is user specific.

 

[hg.wells]

I’m not familiar with those applications, have you looked in the applications preferences menu?

 

[wfriedwald]

thank you!

so is "$HOME" a code term for something else, ie, my user name or something like that?

Thanks again!

 

[NoBoMac]

Yes, $HOME is a system variable for (generally) your account name.

If you went to a Terminal window:

% echo $HOME
/Users/myusernamehere

 

[wfriedwald]

I’m not familiar with those applications, have you looked in the applications preferences menu?

brilliant! I should have thought of that. that totally worked! thank you!

 

[wfriedwald]

Yes, $HOME is a system variable for (generally) your account name.

If you went to a Terminal window:

% echo $HOME
/Users/myusernamehere

oh thanks - I did find another LAUNCH AGENTS folder
HD / system / library / launchagents

and there are a ton of files in there:

Spoiler: Listing

com.apple.accessibility.AXVisualSupportAgent.plist
com.apple.accessibility.dfrhud.plist
com.apple.accessibility.heard.plist
com.apple.accessibility.MotionTrackingAgent.plist
com.apple.AccessibilityVisualsAgent.plist
com.apple.accountsd.plist
com.apple.AddressBook.abd.plist
com.apple.AddressBook.AssistantService.plist
com.apple.AddressBook.SourceSync.plist
com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist
com.apple.AirPortBaseStationAgent.plist
com.apple.akd.plist
com.apple.alf.useragent.plist
com.apple.amp.mediasharingd.plist
com.apple.AMPArtworkAgent.plist
com.apple.AMPDeviceDiscoveryAgent.plist
com.apple.AMPDevicesAgent.plist
com.apple.AMPLibraryAgent.plist
com.apple.AMPSystemPlayerAgent.plist
com.apple.amsaccountsd.plist
com.apple.amsengagementd.plist
com.apple.AOSHeartbeat.plist
com.apple.AOSPushRelay.plist
com.apple.ap.adprivacyd.plist
com.apple.ap.promotedcontentd.plist
com.apple.apfsuseragent.plist
com.apple.appleaccountd.plist
com.apple.appleseed.seedusaged.plist
com.apple.appleseed.seedusaged.postinstall.plist
com.apple.applespell.plist
com.apple.appsleepd.plist
com.apple.AppSSOAgent.plist
com.apple.appstoreagent.plist
com.apple.appstorecomponentsd.plist
com.apple.AquaAppearanceHelper.agent.plist
com.apple.askpermissiond.plist
com.apple.AskPermissionUI.plist
com.apple.assessmentagent.plist
com.apple.AssetCache.agent.plist
com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist
com.apple.assistant_service.plist
com.apple.assistantd.plist
com.apple.AssistiveControl.plist
com.apple.atsd.useragent.plist
com.apple.audio.AudioComponentRegistrar.plist
com.apple.AuthenticationServicesCore.AuthenticationServicesAgent.plist
com.apple.avatarsd.plist
com.apple.avconferenced.plist
com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagementuiagent.plist
com.apple.BiomeAgent.plist
com.apple.biomesyncd.plist
com.apple.bird.plist
com.apple.bluetoothUIServer.plist
com.apple.bookassetd.plist
com.apple.bookdatastored.plist
com.apple.btsa.plist
com.apple.BTServerAgent.le.plist
com.apple.cache_delete.plist
com.apple.CalendarAgent.plist
com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist
com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist
com.apple.cdpd.plist
com.apple.cfnetwork.AuthBrokerAgent.plist
com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent.plist
com.apple.ckdiscretionaryd.plist
com.apple.cloudd.plist
com.apple.cloudpaird.plist
com.apple.cloudphotod.plist
com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist
com.apple.colorsync.useragent.plist
com.apple.CommCenter-osx.plist
com.apple.commerce.plist
com.apple.contacts.donation-agent.plist
com.apple.contactsd.plist
com.apple.containermanagerd.plist
com.apple.ContextStoreAgent.plist
com.apple.controlcenter.plist
com.apple.controlstrip.plist
com.apple.CoreAuthentication.agent.plist
com.apple.coredatad.plist
com.apple.coreimportd.plist
com.apple.CoreLocationAgent.plist
com.apple.coreparsec.silhouette.plist
com.apple.coreservices.sharedfilelistd.plist
com.apple.coreservices.UASharedPasteboardProgressUI.plist
com.apple.coreservices.uiagent.plist
com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist
com.apple.corespeechd.plist
com.apple.corespotlightd.plist
com.apple.corespotlightservice.plist
com.apple.CryptoTokenKit.ahp.agent.plist
com.apple.csuseragent.plist
com.apple.ctkbind.plist
com.apple.ctkd.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent_arm64_1.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent_arm64.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent_x86_64_1.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent_x86_64.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent3425AMD_x86_64_1.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent3425AMD_x86_64.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent3600_arm64_1.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent3600_arm64.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent3600_x86_64_1.plist
com.apple.cvmsCompAgent3600_x86_64.plist
com.apple.DataDetectorsLocalSources.plist
com.apple.devicecheckd.plist
com.apple.diagnosticextensionsd.plist
com.apple.diagnostics_agent.plist
com.apple.DiagnosticsReporter.plist
com.apple.DictationIM.plist
com.apple.DiskArbitrationAgent.plist
com.apple.diskspaced.plist
com.apple.distnoted.xpc.agent.plist
com.apple.dmd.agent.plist
com.apple.Dock.plist
com.apple.donotdisturbd.plist
com.apple.dt.AutomationModeUI.plist
com.apple.dt.CommandLineTools.installondemand.plist
com.apple.dt.previewsd.plist
com.apple.dt.xcodepreviewsapp.plist
com.apple.DwellControl.plist
com.apple.email.maild.plist
com.apple.ensemble.plist
com.apple.eospreflightagent.plist
com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist
com.apple.exchange.exchangesyncd.plist
com.apple.familycircled.plist
com.apple.familycontrols.useragent.plist
com.apple.familynotificationd.plist
com.apple.FileProvider.plist
com.apple.FilesystemUI.plist
com.apple.Finder.plist
com.apple.findmymacmessenger.plist
com.apple.FolderActionsDispatcher.plist
com.apple.followupd.plist
com.apple.FollowUpUI.plist
com.apple.fontd.useragent.plist
com.apple.FontRegistryUIAgent.plist
com.apple.FontValidator.plist
com.apple.FontValidatorConduit.plist
com.apple.FontWorker.plist
com.apple.GameController.gamecontrolleragentd.plist
com.apple.gamed.plist
com.apple.geodMachServiceBridge.plist
com.apple.helpd.plist
com.apple.homed.plist
com.apple.icdd.plist
com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.findmydevice-user-agent.plist
com.apple.icloud.fmfd.plist
com.apple.icloud.searchpartyuseragent.plist
com.apple.iCloudNotificationAgent.plist
com.apple.iCloudUserNotifications.plist
com.apple.iconservices.iconservicesagent.plist
com.apple.identityservicesd.plist
com.apple.idsremoteurlconnectionagent.plist
com.apple.imagent.plist
com.apple.imautomatichistorydeletionagent.plist
com.apple.imklaunchagent.plist
com.apple.imtransferagent.plist
com.apple.installandsetup.migrationhelper.user.plist
com.apple.installd.user.plist
com.apple.installerauthagent.plist
com.apple.itunescloudd.plist
com.apple.KeyboardAccessAgent.plist
com.apple.keyboardservicesd.plist
com.apple.knowledge-agent.plist
com.apple.languageassetd.plist
com.apple.LinkedNotesUIService.plist
com.apple.LocalAuthentication.UIAgent.plist
com.apple.localizationswitcherd.plist
com.apple.locationmenu.plist
com.apple.lockoutagent.plist
com.apple.loginwindow.LWWeeklyMessageTracer.plist
com.apple.lsd.plist
com.apple.macos.studentd.plist
com.apple.ManagedClientAgent.agent.plist
com.apple.ManagedClientAgent.enrollagent.plist
com.apple.maps.destinationd.plist
com.apple.Maps.pushdaemon.plist
com.apple.mbbackgrounduseragent.plist
com.apple.mbfloagent.plist
com.apple.mbuseragent.plist
com.apple.mdmclient.agent.plist
com.apple.mdworker.mail.plist
com.apple.mdworker.shared.plist
com.apple.mdworker.single.arm64.plist
com.apple.mdworker.single.x86_64.plist
com.apple.mdworker.sizing.plist
com.apple.mediaanalysisd.plist
com.apple.mediaremoteagent.plist
com.apple.mediastream.mstreamd.plist
com.apple.menuextra.battery.helper.plist
com.apple.metadata.mdbulkimport.plist
com.apple.metadata.mdflagwriter.plist
com.apple.metadata.mdwrite.plist
com.apple.metrickitd.plist
com.apple.midiserver.plist
com.apple.mlruntimed.plist
com.apple.MobileAccessoryUpdater.fudHelperAgent.plist
com.apple.multimodalsearchd.plist
com.apple.navd.plist
com.apple.ndoagent.plist
com.apple.neagent.plist
com.apple.netauth.user.auth.plist
com.apple.netauth.user.gui.plist
com.apple.networkserviceproxy-osx.plist
com.apple.newsd.plist
com.apple.nexusd.plist
com.apple.noticeboard.agent.plist
com.apple.notificationcenterui.plist
com.apple.NowPlayingTouchUI.plist
com.apple.nsurlsessiond.plist
com.apple.NVMeAgent.plist
com.apple.OSDUIHelper.plist
com.apple.PackageUIKit.InstallStatus.plist
com.apple.parentalcontrols.check.plist
com.apple.parsec-fbf.plist
com.apple.parsecd.plist
com.apple.passd.plist
com.apple.pboard.plist
com.apple.pbs.plist
com.apple.photoanalysisd.plist
com.apple.photolibraryd.plist
com.apple.PhotoLibraryMigrationUtility.XPC.plist
com.apple.PIPAgent.plist
com.apple.pluginkit.pkd.plist
com.apple.pluginkit.pkreporter.plist
com.apple.powerchime.plist
com.apple.preference.displays.MirrorDisplays.plist
com.apple.printtool.agent.plist
com.apple.printuitool.agent.plist
com.apple.proactived.plist
com.apple.proactiveeventtrackerd.plist
com.apple.progressd.plist
com.apple.protectedcloudstorage.protectedcloudkeysyncing.plist
com.apple.quicklook.plist
com.apple.quicklook.ThumbnailsAgent.plist
com.apple.quicklook.ui.helper.plist
com.apple.rapportd-user.plist
com.apple.RapportUIAgent.plist
com.apple.rcd.plist
com.apple.recentsd.plist
com.apple.remindd.plist
com.apple.RemoteDesktop.plist
com.apple.RemoteManagementAgent.plist
com.apple.replayd.plist
com.apple.ReportCrash.plist
com.apple.ReportGPURestart.plist
com.apple.reversetemplated.plist
com.apple.routined.plist
com.apple.Safari.PasswordBreachAgent.plist
com.apple.Safari.SafeBrowsing.Service.plist
com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncAgent.plist
com.apple.SafariCloudHistoryPushAgent.plist
com.apple.SafariHistoryServiceAgent.plist
com.apple.SafariLaunchAgent.plist
com.apple.SafariNotificationAgent.plist
com.apple.SafeEjectGPUAgent.plist
com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plist
com.apple.screencaptureui.plist
com.apple.ScreenReaderUIServer.plist
com.apple.screensharing.agent.plist
com.apple.screensharing.menuextra.plist
com.apple.screensharing.MessagesAgent.plist
com.apple.ScreenTimeAgent.plist
com.apple.ScriptMenuApp.plist
com.apple.scrod.plist
com.apple.secd.plist
com.apple.secinitd.plist
com.apple.SecureBackupDaemon.plist
com.apple.security.agent.plist
com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy3.plist
com.apple.security.DiskUnmountWatcher.plist
com.apple.security.keychain-circle-notification.plist
com.apple.security.KeychainStasher.plist
com.apple.securityuploadd.plist
com.apple.ServicesUIAgent.plist
com.apple.sharingd.plist
com.apple.shazamd.plist
com.apple.sidecar-hid-relay.plist
com.apple.sidecar-relay.plist
com.apple.Siri.agent.plist
com.apple.siriactionsd.plist
com.apple.siriknowledged.plist
com.apple.sociallayerd.plist
com.apple.SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager.plist
com.apple.SpacesTouchBarAgent.plist
com.apple.speech.speechdatainstallerd.plist
com.apple.speech.speechsynthesisd.arm64.plist
com.apple.speech.speechsynthesisd.x86_64.plist
com.apple.speech.synthesisserver.plist
com.apple.spindump_agent.plist
com.apple.Spotlight.plist
com.apple.SSInvitationAgent.plist
com.apple.StatusKitAgent.plist
com.apple.StorageManagementUIHelper.plist
com.apple.storeaccountd.plist
com.apple.storeassetd.plist
com.apple.storedownloadd.plist
com.apple.storelegacy.plist
com.apple.storeuid.plist
com.apple.suggestd.plist
com.apple.swcd.plist
com.apple.symptomsd-diag.plist
com.apple.synapse.contentlinkingd.plist
com.apple.syncdefaultsd.plist
com.apple.syncservices.SyncServer.plist
com.apple.syncservices.uihandler.plist
com.apple.sysdiagnose_agent.plist
com.apple.systemprofiler.plist
com.apple.SystemUIServer.plist
com.apple.talagent.plist
com.apple.tccd.plist
com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist
com.apple.testmanagerd.plist
com.apple.TextInputMenuAgent.plist
com.apple.TextInputSwitcher.plist
com.apple.thermaltrap.plist
com.apple.timezoneupdates.tznotify.plist
com.apple.tipsd.plist
com.apple.TMHelperAgent.plist
com.apple.translationd.plist
com.apple.transparencyd.plist
com.apple.triald.plist
com.apple.trustd.agent.plist
com.apple.TrustEvaluationAgent.plist
com.apple.uikitsystemapp.plist
com.apple.universalaccessAuthWarn.plist
com.apple.universalaccesscontrol.plist
com.apple.universalaccessd.plist
com.apple.unmountassistant.useragent.plist
com.apple.UsageTrackingAgent.plist
com.apple.USBAgent.plist
com.apple.UserEventAgent-Aqua.plist
com.apple.UserEventAgent-LoginWindow.plist
com.apple.usermanagerhelper.plist
com.apple.usernoted.plist
com.apple.UserNotificationCenterAgent-LoginWindow.plist
com.apple.UserNotificationCenterAgent.plist
com.apple.UserPictureSyncAgent.plist
com.apple.videosubscriptionsd.plist
com.apple.voicememod.plist
com.apple.VoiceOver.plist
com.apple.warmd_agent.plist
com.apple.watchlistd.plist
com.apple.webinspectord.plist
com.apple.WebKit.PluginAgent.plist
com.apple.wifi.WiFiAgent.plist
com.apple.WiFiVelocityAgent.plist
com.apple.xpc.loginitemregisterd.plist
com.apple.xpc.otherbsd.plist
com.openssh.ssh-agent.plist

but I do think I have the login items problem figured out, as HG WELLS said, it was the preferences panel within the apps themselves. Glad that somebody thought of that! thank you!

w

 

[NoBoMac]

For future reference, that other list is /System, which is reserved for the OS. No user installed stuff will land in there.