Autostarter
Autostarter is a macOS utility that launches selected apps automatically at login while keeping their windows hidden.
What is Autostarter?
Autostarter is a macOS utility for managing which apps open automatically when you sign in. It is designed for users who want common login apps to be ready in the background without filling the screen with windows right away. The app lets you create and manage a list of applications that should launch at login, and it includes an option to start those apps hidden. It can also save a configured list to a file so the same setup can be reused on another Mac or for another user account. Autostarter is published by Bresink and is intended as a focused replacement for the older hidden-login-app workflow many Mac users preferred.
Key features
- Launch selected applications automatically when you log in
- Start login apps without showing their windows immediately
- Manage a dedicated list of apps that should open at sign-in
- Save your login app configuration to a file for reuse
- Transfer a prepared startup app setup to another Mac or user account
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Inspect caches, support files, containers, and login items before cleaning.
Safety overview
Status: Safe
Autostarter performs a normal system-management task for its purpose: controlling which apps open when you log in. Its background behavior is expected because it is meant to start other apps automatically at sign-in. Removing it will stop any login setups you created in the app, so keep it if you rely on hidden startup behavior for your regular workflow.
Recommendation: Keep Autostarter if you use it to open work, communication, or utility apps automatically at login. If you no longer use that setup, you can remove it; your apps simply will not be launched by Autostarter anymore.
Common paths
/Applications/Autostarter.app
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