Remove login items and background apps on your Mac
Many apps install helpers that start with your Mac and keep running in the background. Login & Background Items lists the launch agents and daemons on your Mac, shows who signed each one, and flags unsigned items. You can turn off the ones you don't need.
How to use Login & Background Items
Open Login & Background Items.
Review the list, and turn on Show Apple items if you want to see system entries.
Check the developer and signing status of anything you don't recognize.
Click Turn Off on items you don't need, or use Show in Finder to inspect them.
Questions about Login & Background Items
How do I stop apps from opening at startup on a Mac?
Go to System Settings, General, Login Items and remove apps from Open at Login. Background helpers are harder to trace, and this tool lists them with the developer that signed each one.
What does 'Background Items Added' mean on Mac?
macOS shows that notice when an app installs something that runs in the background, such as an updater or sync helper. You can review it here and turn it off if you don't need it.
Is it safe to turn off launch agents?
Turning off an item from an app you use may stop features like syncing or updates. Leave Apple items alone, and turn off third-party items one at a time so you can tell what changed.
What does unsigned mean for a background item?
It isn't signed by an identified developer. That isn't always harmful, but if you don't recognize it, look it up before leaving it running.
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