How to stop Google Chrome from automatically launching on your Mac

By Allyson Kazmucha
last updated

The Dock on Mac
The Dock on Mac (Image credit: iMore)

If Chrome is your browser of choice, it can be convenient. If you tried Chrome but switched back to Safari, like I recently did, it can be annoying. I still want to be able to use Chrome from time to time, but I don't want it opening on login or launching on startup. Luckily, there's a super simple way to get Chrome to stop launching automatically, and it only takes a few clicks!

How to stop Chrome from automatically opening at login

  1. Launch Chrome if it isn't running already, or hasn't been set to stay on your Dock.
  2. Right click on the Chrome icon on your Dock.
  3. Hover over the Options menu in the popup.
  4. Uncheck the option to Open at Login.

How to stop Google Chrome from automatically launching on your Mac

Note: These same steps will also work for any other app you want to prevent opening at login.

Allyson Kazmucha
Allyson Kazmucha

iMore senior editor from 2011 to 2015.

15 Comments
  • Avoid the Chrome plague .. it's an major, evil, resource hog.. Takes them forever to plug security holes. Firefox 4tW!!
  • Easier fix. DON'T INSTALL IT. HEHEHE
  • Was wondering why this was happening....
  • I only use Chrome for Google Hangout and for Flash-dependent websites. Otherwise I use Safari because of its superior efficiency and speed.
  • Thank you!!! This has been bugging me forever! I only use Chrome, but it still bugged me that it would always open at login.
  • Or just uninstall Chrome, awful web-browser. Sent from the iMore App
  • Good tip. I've been meaning to do this, but kept putting it off. Fixed now.
  • Hey, Any more ideas. It's not clicked and it still opens every time?
  • Same here. I've already unchecked that. And in system settings where you can choose which app to start at login, chrome isn't even selected. But it still opens up every time I reboot. So annoying.
  • I think I was mistaken. I'm not supposed to unselect chrome in system settings, login items. I'm supposed to remove chrome by using "-" button. I think doing this will work. Although on El capitan, login items setting keeps freezing, and it's taking forever to remove multiple chromes I have in that settings, for some reason.
  • chrome is not listed in my 'login in items'. also the check 'open at login' is not checked
  • Yeps its in the Mac OS X settings, I just posted how
  • And when that isn't enough (Yosemite, El Capitan) you can remove it from the OS X settings: System Preferences (settings) > Users and Groups > -You- > Login Items tab > Remove Chrome and anything else you don't need. Presently, every update Chome does, will re-add itself to the start up, so you have to remove it every time it comes back.
  • None of these solutions have worked for me. In fact, everything I try makes things worse. Now, instead of simply launching, it comes up in all it's full blown, full screen glory whenever my computer starts up. I absolutely HATE Chrome. I've tried everything and nothing works. Chrome is bound and determined to dominate my Mac. My only solution is to uninstall it.
  • If you are using Windows 10, Start you compter, Go to Windows System on your start menu. Click onto Task Manager. A small window will come up with the running apps listed. Right click on Windows Chomium or Windows Chrome, Chromium is usually the culprit, and delete it. The Google Chrome page will turn off, and it won't come back on until you hit the Chrome app button on your task bar.