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launchctl — Control Apple's `launchd` manager for launch daemons (system-wide services) and launch agents (per-u

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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commandlaunchctlclicontrolappleformanagerlaunchd

macos

Problem

How to use the launchctl command: Control Apple's launchd manager for launch daemons (system-wide services) and launch agents (per-user programs). launchd loads XML-based *.plist files placed in the appropriate locations, and runs the corresponding commands according to their defined schedule. More information: <https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/launchctl.1.html>.

Solution

launchctl — Control Apple's launchd manager for launch daemons (system-wide services) and launch agents (per-user programs). launchd loads XML-based *.plist files placed in the appropriate locations, and runs the corresponding commands according to their defined schedule. More information: <https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/launchctl.1.html>.

Activate a user-specific agent to be loaded into launchd whenever the user logs in:

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/{{my_script}}.plist

Activate an agent which requires root privileges to run and/or should be loaded whenever any user logs in (note the absence of ~ in the path):

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/{{root_script}}.plist

Activate a system-wide daemon to be loaded whenever the system boots up (even if no user logs in):

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/{{system_daemon}}.plist

Show all loaded agents/daemons, with the PID if the process they specify is currently running, and the exit code returned the last time they ran:

launchctl list

Unload a currently loaded agent, e.g. to make changes (Note: The plist file is automatically loaded into launchd after a reboot and/or logging in):

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/{{my_script}}.plist

Manually run a known (loaded) agent/daemon, even if it is not the right time (Note: This command uses the agent's label, rather than the filename):

launchctl start {{script_file}}

Manually kill the process associated with a known agent/daemon, if it is running:

launchctl stop {{script_file}}

Code Snippets

Activate a user-specific agent to be loaded into `launchd` whenever the user logs in

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/{{my_script}}.plist

Activate an agent which requires root privileges to run and/or should be loaded whenever any user logs in (note the absence of `~` in the path)

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/{{root_script}}.plist

Activate a system-wide daemon to be loaded whenever the system boots up (even if no user logs in)

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/{{system_daemon}}.plist

Show all loaded agents/daemons, with the PID if the process they specify is currently running, and the exit code returned the last time they ran

launchctl list

Unload a currently loaded agent, e.g. to make changes (Note: The plist file is automatically loaded into `launchd` after a reboot and/or logging in)

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/{{my_script}}.plist

Context

tldr-pages: osx/launchctl

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