macOS Swift: How to properly add application as Login Item

Question

I have spent about one day (maybe a little more) on trying to add my application to Login Item in the order it starts up at macOS launch (user login).

1. The fir

Answer 1

For the ServiceManagement approach, sometimes it doesn't work in your development machine because there is another copy of the app in your Xcode's DerivedData. The system don't know which app to launch. So go to ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData and delete your development copy could help.

Answer 2

The above solution of Login Item programming problem works correctly both using modern approach with ServiceManagement.framework, and old (deprecated) approach with inserting Login Item into System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items. See my UPDATE 1 and UPDATE 2 remarks.

Answer 3

I also struggled with this a few years ago and ended up making a package for it that makes it much easier to add "launch at login" functionality for sandboxed apps.

Instead of lots of manual steps, you just need:

import LaunchAtLogin

LaunchAtLogin.isEnabled = true

Answer 4

Dear Michal I have had the same problem about log in items. Log in items can be added in two ways; one from LSSharedFileListItemRef which will be shown in Login item of preferences but this approach will only work for non-sandboxing app and if you are making sandbox app then you should go for another way of using ServiceManagement framework.

You can have look over below link which specify everything - : Launching your app on system start

I am adding another reference of adding app on log in - : Approach for sandbox app with helper application

May be you are having trouble implementing app on log in item but follow the steps appropriately and you will succeed.