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I installed Docker on OS X, and now it automatically loads every time I log in. Is there a way to stop this?

Flimm
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2 Answers2

76

Click the Docker icon in the right hand side of the menu bar, and click "Preferences". In the dialog that appears, untick "Automatically start Docker when you log in".

Screenshot

Flimm
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    Do you know what's causing it to run? It's not one of the Login Items (in System Preferences). – mjs Sep 09 '16 at 22:20
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    @mjs It's a launchd service. You'll see two Docker services when running launchctl list | grep docker. – kba Jan 14 '18 at 05:44
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    Do you know where its plist is stored? Can't find it on my system. – not2savvy Mar 18 '18 at 15:11
  • I had both 'Docker' And 'Docker Desktop' installed. I had to open the one called 'Docker' and then click the cog-wheel symbol, in the top right. There was no 'Preferences' if I clicked on 'Docker' in the top bar. – Zeth Jul 30 '21 at 11:57
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    None of these solutions work for me. The option under "Preferences" is definitely not checked, and I've done a launchctl remove on both the entries, but after a reboot it comes back! – stevec Aug 24 '21 at 18:59
  • It looks like disabling "checking for updates" is only available on paid plans now: "Paid Team plans allow IT-managed organizations to disable checking for updates." – paulvs May 03 '22 at 13:00
15

The locations are 

cd ~/Library/LaunchAgents
cd ~/Library/LaunchDaemons

cd ~/Library/LaunchAgents
cd ~/Library/LaunchDaemons

But I recommend you just remove using launchctl remove

launchctl list | grep docker

launchctl remove com.docker.helper
launchctl remove com.docker.docker.11008
wilo087
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    I think this is a better approach, because I also have other application having the same issue. and I don't need to go to each application to remove them from launch. I was able to remove my another application by removing it in LaunchAgents but I can't do it with launchctl remove though, they will still launch on startup after i restart my laptop – Peter Paul Nov 30 '20 at 15:27