How To Prevent Apps From Opening Automatically On Mac

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Are you facing issues with the Mail app opening randomly on your Mac? You are not alone. It could pop up while you are in the midst of work to display a new email. Or it could bug you for no obvious reason at all. Annoying. So, can you do anything to stop that from happening?

  1. Mac OS X Tutorials and App reviews from HowTech 33,160 views 0:34 How to stop a program from running automatically when computer starts (Windows) - Duration: 2:15.
  2. How to stop Mac apps from opening automatically on startup or login There are some apps that you might like to have open automatically each time you start or log into your Mac. For instance, if you use a Mac for work, you might like Slack to open right up for quick communications.
  3. And this works with all installed Apps (well all the ones I’ve tried so far). Open the program you want to start or stop and locate it in your Dock. Right Click on the icon then highlight the Options menu. Tick or untick Open at Login.
  4. I had to ensure skype for Business running on my PC does not start automatically. Here are the steps to follow: Open System Preferences.Click Users & Groups.Click Login Items. Select the app or apps you do not want to start automatically andClick on the minus '-' symbol to remove the app(s). Note: You can also.

This will stop the problem if, for example, a remote is causing this problem. When you turn on IR reception for your Mac, any IR device close to your Mac can control it. You can turn IR reception off to prevent unwanted control of your Mac or to prevent pairing with an IR remote control.

Connectivity issues with certain email accounts (such as Gmail) can trigger the Mac's Mail app to open randomly. So far, Apple has not released a permanent fix to this issue. But thankfully, there are a few fixes that you can apply to patch things up. Without any further ado, let's get started.

Minimize Instead of Close

If the Mail app opens without warning while running in the background, try minimizing the app instead of closing it—click the orange-colored icon to the top-left of the window to do that. You can also use the Command+H keyboard shortcut to minimize the Mail app quickly.

That isn't a permanent fix by any means and could take some getting used to. But it's a surprisingly quick way to put a pause to the Mail app's odd behavior.

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Use Gmail App Password

Are you using Gmail on the Mac? At times, the Mail app may fail to connect to your Google Account, especially if it's secured with two-factor authentication. That could result in the app opening automatically whenever it re-establishes the connection.

Thankfully, you can fix this issue with an App Password.

Step 1: Use a web browser to sign in to your Google Account. Click the Security side-tab, and click App Passwords (located within the 'Signing in to Google' section).

Step 2: Generate an App Password for the Mac's Mail app. Copy it to your clipboard.

Step 3: Open the Mail app. Next, click Mail on the menu bar, and then click Preferences. Switch to the Accounts tab, and then remove your Gmail account.

Step 4: Re-add the Gmail account.

Step 5: When prompted for your password, add the App Password instead of your Google Account password.

That should likely stop the Mail app from facing connectivity issues with Gmail going forward.

Note: If you want to revoke the App Password for the Mail app, re-visit your Google Account and click Security > App Passwords.

Use a Separate Space

Give the Mail app a separate desktop space. Open Mission Control, create a new space (click the Add icon to the top right), and then drag the Mail app into it. That should prevent the Mail app from opening randomly and interrupting you.

Click the Mail app on the dock whenever you want to check your email. Alternatively, you can visit the desktop space manually via Mission Control.

Check for New Messages Manually

Are you still having issues with the Mail app opening randomly on your Mac? Try checking for new messages manually. To do that, go to the Mail app's Preferences screen (Mail > Preferences), and then set 'Check for New Messages' to Manually.

Click the Get Mail icon—located to the top-left corner of the Mail app window—whenever you want to fetch new messages manually.

Note: This isn't a viable fix for most and isn't recommended if you receive urgent emails frequently.
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Disable Messages in Split-View

Is the Mail app opening new emails automatically in Split-View while using another app in full-screen mode?

To stop that from happening, open the Mail app's Preferences screen (Mail > Preferences), and then disable the 'Prefer opening messages in split view when in full screen.'
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Delete non-Essential Email Accounts

Try removing non-essential email accounts from the Mail app. That should further reduce odd connectivity issues from causing the Mail app to pop up on your screen randomly. To do that, go to Mail > Preferences.

Disable Open at Login

Is the Mail app only opening automatically while booting up your Mac? That isn't an issue, but rather happens when the app is configured to open at startup.

To stop the Mail app from doing that again, simply right-click the Mail icon on the dock, point to Options, and then uncheck Open at Login.

Alternatively, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items, and then remove Mail from the list of startup items.

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Bottom Line

Most fixes that stop the Mail app from opening randomly aren't very practical, but they should help you until Apple resolves this issue for good. Hence, make it a point to install the latest updates for your Mac whenever they become available—to do that, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update.

So, know of any other fixes that can stop the Mail app from popping up on the screen all the time? Drop in a comment and let us know.

Apps

Next up:Getting bombarded with spam on your Mac? Check out what you can do to protect yourself from that.


The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read Next

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Use the setting in the log out or restart dialog

When you log out of your Mac or restart it, deselect ”Reopen windows when logging back in” when prompted.

Automatically

Or start up in safe mode, then restart normally. This doesn't change the setting, but your Mac forgets any windows that were open the last time you logged out or restarted.

If you deselect this setting and an app continues to open automatically:

  • The app might be a login item. You can add or remove login items in Users & Groups preferences.
  • The app might have installed its own startup software. Often this is controlled by a setting within the app. Check the app's preferences or documentation, or contact the app's developer.

Use the setting in General preferences

To prevent apps from remembering the windows they had open, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click General, then select ”Close windows when quitting an app.”

Or press and hold the Shift key while opening an app. This doesn't change the setting, but the app forgets any windows that were open the last time you quit the app.

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If these steps don't work for an app, the app might have its own setting for reopening windows. Check the app's preferences or documentation, or contact the app's developer.