finder window keeps opening on startup

On macOS 27.2, Firefox, Messenger, and a Finder window showing Macintosh HD reopen at every login. They are not in Login Items. ‘Reopen windows when logging back in’ is unchecked, and ‘Close windows when quitting an application’ is on. Quitting the apps from the Dock before restarting did not help. The same behavior occurred in Safe Mode and after restarting normally.

Posted on Oct 29, 2026 8:12 AM

1 reply

leroydouglas

Level 10 (208,430 points)

Oct 29, 2026 11:00 AM in response to chkster

chkster wrote:

On macOS 27.2, Firefox, Messenger, and a Finder window showing Macintosh HD reopen at every login. They are not in Login Items. ‘Reopen windows when logging back in’ is unchecked, and ‘Close windows when quitting an application’ is on. Quitting the apps from the Dock before restarting did not help. The same behavior occurred in Safe Mode and after restarting normally.

A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Finder is fundamental to your macOS— hard to see that as an issue(?)

You can close a a Finder Window using Command W (or the red pill button.) You can not Quit the Finder.

Finder>Settings>General>> you can set the new Finder to open to your preferred location