launchctl
A command-line interface to Apple'slaunchd
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://manned.org/launchctl.
- 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 {{my_script}}
- Manually kill the process associated with a known agent/daemon, if it is running:
launchctl stop {{my_script}}
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