Login items - Hide?

[bogdanw]

tried this with redquits

For RedQuits, you can try to tell it with AppleScript to launch and close the window
It should be barely visibile.

tell application "RedQuits"
    launch
    close window 1
end tell

 

[dacrone]

For RedQuits, you can try to tell it with AppleScript to launch and close the window
It should be barely visibile.

tell application "RedQuits"
    launch
    close window 1
end tell

I kept getting back that the program didn't understand "close window 1", but thanks for the reply. Using an idea based on your comment, I got the desired result for Webroot, AnyDesk and Requits:

tell application "AnyDesk" to activate
tell application "Finder"
set visible of process "AnyDesk" to false
end tell

save that as an app - set to run in settings > general

*for anydesk, go to Library > LaunchAgents AND LaunchDaemons > delete the 3 (total between both folders) AnyDesk files that make it run at boot, then set that script app to run at boot.

 

[bogdanw]

I kept getting back that the program didn't understand "close window 1",

I didn’t have RedQuits installed, but it worked for Chrome.

tell application "Finder"
set visible of process "AnyDesk" to false

Interesting, I didn’t know Finder could do that.

 

[mat1696]

Maybe they gave up on hiding the windows since it didn't work correctly half the time.

That exactly how Apple works now:
- Hidden login items are broken ? Okay, let's remove it. Fixed.
- iOS 16 parallax effect doesn't work correctly ? Okay, let's remove it. Fixed.
- iOS 16 dark/light wallpapers interfere with AOD mode and would require work to have dark/light mode support? Okay, let's remove that feature completely. Fixed.

So disappointing to see such great features that were real highlight of Apple ease of use and attention to detail being removed release after release... And needless to speak about feature that are removed for absolutely no reason, as they continue working using Terminal (Hi power schedule options...)...

 

[coltwest]

As a workaround, I have found that StartupIzer 2 will hide apps on login and works with OSX Ventura 13.1

 

[Ryox]

There is an easy way to launch an app hidden now: create a plist file in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ and the Background item added message will be displayed.
Example plist for launching Terminal hidden:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>terminal.LaunchAtLogin</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>open</string>
        <string>-j</string>
        <string>/System/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

what do you name the plist?

 

[Feek]

what do you name the plist?

You can call it absolutely anything you want. I have a little app that runs to upload images to imgur and I've called the one that hides it imgurls.plist

 

[bogdanw]

what do you name the plist?

Whatever you like, but I recommend to be something meaningful, that you can easily recognise in the future.
Ex. MyLaunchAgentForCalendar.plist

 

[kenking]

Here we go, this is the easy way to do it. Only cost $0.99.

‎Autostarter

‎Autostarter is a small app that makes it possible to launch applications automatically during login without letting the applications show windows, even with macOS Ventura or later. This feature, which Mac users loved, can now still be used, although it had been dropped with the introduction of...

apps.apple.com

 

[gank41]

Here we go, this is the easy way to do it. Only cost $0.99.

‎Autostarter

‎Autostarter is a small app that makes it possible to launch applications automatically during login without letting the applications show windows, even with macOS Ventura or later. This feature, which Mac users loved, can now still be used, although it had been dropped with the introduction of...

apps.apple.com

This looks interesting. And from a privacy standpoint, it looks like a good app. It’s a shame that Apple has to remove this feature only for a third-party to charge for it later.

 

[Feek]

Bought it, it works so I've blitzed the plist files I wrote.

 

[bogdanw]

Here we go, this is the easy way to do it. Only cost $0.99. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/autostarter/id6444444273?mt=12

Does it work for Chrome?

 

[Feek]

Does it work for Chrome?

Just tested it for you, yes. It does work. Chrome opens and then it minimises itself.

 

[bogdanw]

Similar app - Startup Applications https://apps.apple.com/app/startup-applications/id1594227128
Free & three months trial for the hide function

 

[gank41]

Here's a great article that explains how to create a more descriptive (yet still convoluted) text file list of all login items. I've had a few items labeled as "sh" that I've been unable to figure out what it is.. Turns out it's the app Amphetamine & its helper app. At least I know now..

Controlling Login and Background Items in Ventura

Login Items can cause many unwanted notifications when you log in. Here’s how to gain control over them, including use of an undocumented command tool.

eclecticlight.co

The tl;dr is you run this in Terminal:

sudo sfltool dumpbtm > ~/Documents/btmdump.text

That puts a text file in your Documents Folder with everything. Very helpful.

 

[bogdanw]

Another way, useful for setting up multiple Macs or for a quick configuration after a fresh install:
a configuration profile with com.apple.loginitems.managed as the payload type.
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/loginitemsmanageditems
https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/managed-login-items-payload-settings-dep07b92494/web

Can be created with iMazing Profile Editor https://imazing.com/guides/getting-started-with-imazing-profile-editor
or ProfileCreator https://github.com/ProfileCreator/ProfileCreator

 

[Ward Clark]

/edit 13th February 2023 - If you don't want to faff with creating plist files, there's now an app that adds this functionality.

‎Autostarter

‎Autostarter is a small app that makes it possible to launch applications automatically during login without letting the applications show windows, even with macOS Ventura or later. This feature, which Mac users loved, can now still be used, although it had been dropped with the introduction of...

apps.apple.com

Thanks for the link to Autostarter, which is launching 18 apps at login. I've set 5 to Hide, including 3 that ignored my Hide settings in earlier macOS releases. Highly recommended!

 

[Ben J.]

I don't restart unless there's a specific reason, so, not often, but when I do I don't get all my startup items showing. I use Stage Manager, and all active apps are there and not visible all at once. Also, in Ventura, most apps remember when they were fullscreen in Spaces, so verything is very tidy after a reboot.

 

[Feek]

One of my items stopped autohiding after the 13.3.1 update, I had to deselect the 'hide' box and reselect it in Autostarter.

 

[jagooch]

Hmm. Autostarter is 4 years old and only has 1 review. That seems pretty dodgy.

 

[bogdanw]

Hmm. Autostarter is 4 years old and only has 1 review. That seems pretty dodgy.

Probably because nobody really needed the app before Apple's dumb decision to remove hide from Ventura's System Settings.
The developer is generally well known https://www.bresink.com/products.html

 

[Feek]

Autostarter has been failing intermittently for me recently for a couple of apps. I've gone back to the plist method as described here.

 

[bogdanw]

The solution from post #66 (.mobileconfig profile) does not work in Ventura 13.4. Apps are added to the Login Items by the profile, but the Hide key is ignored.

 

[jagooch]

The solution from post #66 (.mobileconfig profile) does not work in Ventura 13.4. Apps are added to the Login Items by the profile, but the Hide key is ignored.

That stinks. I’m experimenting with using Keyboard Maestro to replace login items.

The way I have it configured now is it launches apps when I log in, and then hides all of them.

The desktop is cluttered for a bit as apps launch and then suddenly all the windows are hidden.

 

[Feek]

The solution from post #66 (.mobileconfig profile) does not work in Ventura 13.4. Apps are added to the Login Items by the profile, but the Hide key is ignored.

The plist method still works perfectly.