Start at login only after the user turns it on

How to do it

Apple's App Review Guideline 2.4.5(iii) forbids Mac App Store apps to launch at login without consent. It also forbids processes that keep running after the user quits. People who find an unwanted startup entry often uninstall the app. On macOS 13 and later, register the app with SMAppService.mainApp. Electron offers app.setLoginItemSettings, and Windows packaged apps declare a startup task. Show the switch from the system's own state, since users can remove the entry in system settings. Remove the entry when the app is uninstalled. A helper that must keep running also follows Check who is calling before a privileged helper acts.

Examples

JavaScript example

import { app } from 'electron';

export const setOpenAtLogin = enabled => app.setLoginItemSettings({ openAtLogin: enabled });
export const opensAtLogin = () => app.getLoginItemSettings().openAtLogin;

Plain text example

import ServiceManagement

func setOpenAtLogin(_ enabled: Bool) throws {
    if enabled { try SMAppService.mainApp.register() } else { try SMAppService.mainApp.unregister() }
}

var opensAtLogin: Bool { SMAppService.mainApp.status == .enabled }

How to check

On a fresh install on each platform, the login items and startup lists hold no entry for the app. Turning the switch on adds one, and turning it off or uninstalling removes it. After the user quits, no process of the app is left running.

Sources

• Apple App Review Guidelines, 2.4.5

Related rules

• DSK-28 Check who is calling before a privileged helper acts in Desktop apps and extensions