# Configuration profile to create managed login items on macOS

This document will help you create managed login items on macOS devices using a configuration profile.

Organizations may require specific applications to be available to its users immediately after login, such as communication tools, project management software, or security applications. Using Hexnode’s [Custom Configuration](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/how-to-deploy-custom-configuration-profiles-to-macos-devices/) feature, administrators can deploy a configuration profile to configure managed login items for macOS users and thus specify the applications, files/folders, etc., that should open when they log in.

 Disclaimer: 
The sample configuration profiles provided below are created using various profile creator applications.

 

 Note: 
This configuration profile is supported on **macOS 10.13 or later**.

 

Managed Login Items – Launch apps at login
------------------------------------------

Provide the path to the application for the key **Path**. For example, to launch the **Microsoft Word** app and the **Mail** app at login.

Configuration profile to launch applications at startup

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>PayloadContent</key> <array> <dict> <key>AutoLaunchedApplicationDictionary-managed</key> <array> <dict> <key>Path</key> <string>/Applications/Microsoft Word.app</string> <key>Hide</key> <false/> </dict> <dict> <key>Path</key> <string>/System/Applications/Mail.app</string> <key>Hide</key> <false/> </dict> </array> <key>PayloadIdentifier</key> <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed.1EE03C59-90B0-4819-B00E-3BEB3C70BCD9</string> <key>PayloadType</key> <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed</string> <key>PayloadUUID</key> <string>1EE03C59-90B0-4819-B00E-3BEB3C70BCD9</string> <key>PayloadVersion</key> <integer>1</integer> </dict> </array> <key>PayloadDisplayName</key> <string>Login Items Managed Items</string> <key>PayloadIdentifier</key> <string>MacBook.05036591-7C98-46A4-8028-C8FC1D528149</string> <key>PayloadType</key> <string>Configuration</string> <key>PayloadUUID</key> <string>9F6C8F8C-83CF-4DEC-A1D0-EEE33F711CC7</string> <key>PayloadVersion</key> <integer>1</integer> </dict> </plist>

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  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

 <key>PayloadContent</key>

 <array>

 <dict>

 <key>AutoLaunchedApplicationDictionary-managed</key>

 <array>

 <dict>

 <key>Path</key>

 <string>/Applications/Microsoft Word.app</string>

 <key>Hide</key>

 <false/>

 </dict>

 <dict>

 <key>Path</key>

 <string>/System/Applications/Mail.app</string>

 <key>Hide</key>

 <false/>

 </dict>

 </array>

 <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>

 <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed.1EE03C59-90B0-4819-B00E-3BEB3C70BCD9</string>

 <key>PayloadType</key>

 <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed</string>

 <key>PayloadUUID</key>

 <string>1EE03C59-90B0-4819-B00E-3BEB3C70BCD9</string>

 <key>PayloadVersion</key>

 <integer>1</integer>

 </dict>

 </array>

 <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>

 <string>Login Items Managed Items</string>

 <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>

 <string>MacBook.05036591-7C98-46A4-8028-C8FC1D528149</string>

 <key>PayloadType</key>

 <string>Configuration</string>

 <key>PayloadUUID</key>

 <string>9F6C8F8C-83CF-4DEC-A1D0-EEE33F711CC7</string>

 <key>PayloadVersion</key>

 <integer>1</integer>

</dict>

</plist>

   

 

  

This will add the applications as login items, and they will be launched every time a user logs in to their account.

Managed Login Items – Open file at login
----------------------------------------

Provide the [path to the file](https://www.hexnode.com/mobile-device-management/help/script-to-find-file-path-on-mac/) for the key **Path**.

Configuration profile to open file at startup

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>PayloadContent</key> <array> <dict> <key>AutoLaunchedApplicationDictionary-managed</key> <array> <dict> <key>Path</key> <string>/path/to/file.txt</string> <key>Hide</key> <false/> </dict> </array> <key>PayloadIdentifier</key> <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed.AE924980-4849-4D92-ACB0-289269B4D780</string> <key>PayloadType</key> <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed</string> <key>PayloadUUID</key> <string>AE924980-4849-4D92-ACB0-289269B4D780</string> <key>PayloadVersion</key> <integer>1</integer> </dict> </array> <key>PayloadDisplayName</key> <string>Login Items Managed Items</string> <key>PayloadIdentifier</key> <string>MacBook.8D0A9509-A0A5-42E7-A779-1D28CACE80E4</string> <key>PayloadType</key> <string>Configuration</string> <key>PayloadUUID</key> <string>89BE36B0-4D21-43E2-A232-AE01B791B79D</string> <key>PayloadVersion</key> <integer>1</integer> </dict> </plist>

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  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

 <key>PayloadContent</key>

 <array>

 <dict>

 <key>AutoLaunchedApplicationDictionary-managed</key>

 <array>

 <dict>

 <key>Path</key>

 <string>/path/to/file.txt</string>

 <key>Hide</key>

 <false/>

 </dict>

 </array>

 <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>

 <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed.AE924980-4849-4D92-ACB0-289269B4D780</string>

 <key>PayloadType</key>

 <string>com.apple.loginitems.managed</string>

 <key>PayloadUUID</key>

 <string>AE924980-4849-4D92-ACB0-289269B4D780</string>

 <key>PayloadVersion</key>

 <integer>1</integer>

 </dict>

 </array>

 <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>

 <string>Login Items Managed Items</string>

 <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>

 <string>MacBook.8D0A9509-A0A5-42E7-A779-1D28CACE80E4</string>

 <key>PayloadType</key>

 <string>Configuration</string>

 <key>PayloadUUID</key>

 <string>89BE36B0-4D21-43E2-A232-AE01B791B79D</string>

 <key>PayloadVersion</key>

 <integer>1</integer>

</dict>

</plist>

   

 

  

The file will be added as a login item and will open every time a user logs in to their account.

 Notes:- To create and customize configuration profiles, you can use tools like Apple Configurator, Profile Manager or manually create them using text editors.
- Use non-encrypted .mobileconfig, .xml, or plist files to deploy profiles across devices.
- Ensure that you do not associate conflicting configurations with the devices.
- Use wildcards to fetch key values from the portal.
- It is recommended to manually validate the configuration profile on a system before executing it in bulk.
- Hexnode will not be responsible for any damage/loss to the system on the behavior of the configuration profile.