OS X Tip #88
Starting applications when you login is very easy in OS X. Let’s say you want a certain application to be running as soon as you turn on your Mac and login. For example I have Sidenote, Quicksilver, GMail Notifier, PodQuest, and Sticky Brain starting automatically every time I login on my PowerBook. I use these “helper” applications a lot, so I do not want to have to start each one up just to use them. So having them start up automatically is very handy.

Some applications ask you when you install them if you want them to start on login, some do not. So what if you want one to start up on login, or if you decide you want an application to run only when you launch it and not automatically.

Here’s how:
Go to the Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Accounts

Then go to the Login Items tab. You will find a list of applications that are set to run on login.

Some will have a check on the “Hide” box that indicates that the applications will run without showing up in the Finder. Many of these applications may look unfamiliar to you as they may be “helper” or daemons needed for your main applications to work well. So do not let this disturb you.

Add a New App
Simply click on the “+” button toward the bottom and navigate to your Application folder (or where ever the app is located) and select the application you want to start at login. The next time you login it should start at login.

Remove an application
Highlight the application you want to stop launching at login and click on the “-” button toward the bottom to remove the app from the list. Next time you login that application should not start automatically.

    | Tags: login, mac tips, startup items