Mac OS X: Startup/Login Options and Features

You may enable or invoke several useful Mac OS X features during the startup and login sequences. They may be used to change the way you log in, open items when you log in, update your software, or perform other tasks.
The following items may be referred to as "startup" or "login" features. A "startup" feature is one that occurs while the computer is starting up, but before you log in. A "login" item or feature is one that occurs immediately after you log in to Mac OS X with your user name and password. These features are available:

Automatic login

You may set up Mac OS X to automatically log in a particular user after startup. See technical document 106164: "Mac OS X 10.0: How to Log In Automatically at System Startup Time"

Log in by list or by text entry

The Mac OS X login window allows you to log in by choosing your name from a list of the computer's users, which includes pictures in Mac OS X 10.1 and later. Alternatively, you may choose to type your name and password instead of displaying a list. See technical document 61337: "Mac OS X: How to Set up a Login List"

Hide/Suppress previous user's login name

When logging in by text entry, Mac OS X displays the name of the last user that logged in. You may turn off this feature by following the steps in technical document 106691: "Mac OS X 10.1.2: How to Prevent Prior User Name from Appearing During Login"

Login items

To set up login items, see technical document 106146: "Mac OS X: How to Set up Login Items"

Automatic Classic startup

You may set up Classic to start up automatically after you log in. See technical document 106701: "Mac OS X: Automatic Classic Startup"

Changing the startup volume

You can change your startup volume at system startup time. See technical document 106178: "Startup Manager: How to Select a Startup Volume "

Software Update

Software Update may periodically open after you log in to your computer. If so, it is set to automatically check for updates. You can set this up in the Software Update pane of System Preferences. See technical document 106704: "Mac OS X: How to Update Your Software"

Note: This list covers common startup/login item and features. It is not an exhaustive description of what Mac OS X could be configured to do during the startup and login sequences.
Published Date: Feb 17, 2012