Summary
Computer apps can be configured to open at login, so they’re ready when the machine starts. On macOS, you used to be able to make an app launch quietly in the background, using the “Hide” option. Apple removed this in Ventura, but you can (sort of) have it back. Here’s how.
What Are Login Items, and Why Do They Show at Launch?
In macOS, apps that launch when you log onto your computer are called Login Items. Many of those don’t need to announce themselves when starting, but some do exactly that anyway.
Grammarly users, for example, are always shown a window that simply states that the app is running. Rectangle, a window manager that’s among thebest productivity apps for macOS, insists on launching its Preferences screen at every boot.
Neither app really needs to display a window at boot. Both apps, when running, show a persistent icon in the menu bar—though you’re able to thoroughlycustomize the macOS menu barif you don’t want them either.
At first, that may seem just a minor annoyance. As time passes, however, and installed apps start to pile up, you may end up with a somewhat chaotic situation every time you log in. The screenshot below shows all the apps that launch (showing a window) at boot, on my computer.
They look almost organized when youuse Mission Control, but remember: their windows pop up atop one another. If you struggle to maintain focus, this type of thing can really break your flow.
How to Hide Login Items on macOS Ventura and Later Using Autostarter
Unfortunately, there’s no native way to make Login Items launch without displaying their windows in macOS Ventura or newer. You’ll need a third-party app that works similarly, though not the same, as the previously built-in option.
Some macOS features that get removed, likedefining which Wi-Fi network to prioritize, may still be accessible by other means—like a command-line tool, for this example, according toApple’s support forums.
But to open Login Items silently, as of December 2023, your only option is an app calledAutostarter. It’s available through the Mac App Store and costs $0.99.
Using Autostarter on macOS
Autostarter allows you to select which apps you want to launch at boot, and whether they should show a window or not. You do this by clicking the Plus ("+") button below the list and selecting the apps—one or more at a time.
If you want a Login Item to start silently, just select the “Hide” checkbox. Since Autostarter and the native Login Items feature conflict with each other, you need to remove the apps from the built-in startup list. Click the “Open Login Items in System Settings” button to go straight to that menu.
Select all the apps from the list and click the Minus ("-") button. There’s no “Apply” button, this setting changes instantly.
Autostarter Advanced Options
Autostarter also comes with advanced options, one for apps that need to be shown for a few seconds, and another for stubborn apps that refuse to be hidden at startup. you’re able to view the options by clicking the down arrow button on the lower left.
The first one, Delayed Start, helps with apps that don’t fully openinstantly, requiring a few seconds before hiding, so they can access “external resources” (say, a USB drive that takes a while to be mounted). You can drag the slider to set a time interval before Autostarter sends the hiding command, so you can be sure everything went as intended before dismissing the app window.
Aggressive Hide, as the name implies, uses a more energetic approach to hiding apps. Once again, you define a time interval by dragging the slider, but in this case, Autostarter keeps sending repeated hiding commands for that many seconds. Use this for any apps that normally ignore any hide commands.
Lastly, Autostarter has the option of showing, during startup, a status window with all the Login Items. It shows which apps have already launched (the list on the left) and whether they were hidden successfully or not (the list on the right).
Replacing macOS' Native Login Items with Autostarter
Since it’s not a native tool, Autostarter has its limitations compared to the option of hiding Login Items that existed until macOS Monterey. Some apps will refuse to hide no matter how you set them up, while others may start silently, but their icons will show in the Dock.
Apple didn’t provide a reason for removing the ability to launch Login Items hidden in Ventura. Unfortunately, if you were a fan of this feature, you have only a few options. You can use a macOS version prior to Ventura, or just live without it. Or you can use Autostarter to get at least some of the functionality back.
