How can I stop Microsoft SharePoint keeps adding itself to my Login Items

Question

My office uses a software suite created by an independent developer called Microsoft.

An app within this suite keeps adding itself to my Ventura 13 startup items. I neither asked for nor approved this system-level change on my Mac.

I previously solved this with another app in the same suite by opening the app, then changing some settings in the applications preferences; however, this "SharePoint" app can not be found in the apps folder or by using the Spotlight search tool on the Mac. Additionally, I can not see that the app has ever started, disallowing me to access it as an open app.

Apple usually does a very good job of controlling renegade developers like this—at least offering tools to allow users like us to exercise our choice—but this one has me confounded.

Does anyone know how to prevent the addition of Microsoft SharePoint to our LogIn items?

Answer 1

This is very annoying for me too. I may try altering the OneDrive client using a script as described above. For my solution, I created an AppleScript that I put in my Login Items to clean up after Microsoft. Feedback welcome via GitHub.

https://github.com/xevious/LoginItemsCleaner

Answer 2

OneDrive is the application that keeps adding another hidden app to your Login Items¹. May I suggest reporting this to Apple. The more people who report it, the more likely Apple is to pressure Microsoft into changing this behaviour.

1. Obtain OneDrive from the App Store [if not done so already - e.g. OneDrive was originally installed outside the App Store]
2. Log in to https://reportaproblem.apple.com using the same Apple ID you "purchased" OneDrive with
3. Choose "Report offensive, illegal or abusive content" from the I'd like to menu (in case that sounds a bit extreme, it's the correct category for privacy concerns)
4. Politely but firmly express your privacy concerns with a piece of software repeatedly adding another hidden piece of software to your login items

---

Footnotes:

^1: You can find the original app for any login item by right-clicking it and choosing "Show in Finder"

Answer 3

Microsoft's SharePoint app is contained within the OneDrive app's container, and is loaded into Login Items without the expected user control or authorization. Whether or not this violates Apple's Developer agreement is beyond the scope of this answer.

There are several ways one can attempt to control this behavior. I have not tried any of these methods because, fortunately, I do not need to use OneDrive nor SharePoint.

1. Delete the SharePoint app from within OneDrive app container and replace it with an identically named file (perhaps a text file) and then lock the file from modification with the Finder's Get Info GUI.

2. Remove the ability for the SharePoint app to be executed by using the Terminal command chmod and remove the execute flag.

3. Execute chflags uchg on the SharePoint app. You may need root or superuser access.

Note: executing any of the previous commands on preventing SharePoint from loading into Login Items may break OneDrive, or prevent OneDrive from being updated. Experiment at your own risk.

Lastly, just live with it in Login Items and move on.

You could also email Bill Gates here: [email protected]