noTunes
Open-source macOS utility that stops Apple's Music app (formerly iTunes) from launching automatically.
HN commenters recommend it as a tool they have relied on for years1234, calling it the original app of its kind and easy to install via Homebrew.56 The only caveat raised is that an alternative app says it blocks the launch outright rather than killing it after it starts, and it uses no menu bar icon.7
Why people recommend it
Long-term reliability · 3
Several commenters say they have used it for years and it works like a charm.
“I've been using noTunes to do this for years, works like a charm”
“I'be been using a tool called NoTunes for years.”
Show 1 more
“There is another app called notunes that I have been using for ages.”
Original tool · 1
One commenter calls it the OG app for this job.
Easy install · 1
It installs with brew install notunes and can be added to Login Items.
Caveats and dissent
Launch handling · 1
An alternative's page claims it is better to stop the launch altogether than to watch for it and kill it.
“Yeah, I used that too on my last Mac.”
Menu bar space · 1
A commenter preferred an alternative that adds no menu bar icon, given the limited space.
“Yeah, I used that too on my last Mac.”
Threads where it came up
- Stop the Apple Music app from launching 8 mentions
Data: notunes.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 8
“I've been using noTunes to do this for years, works like a charm”
“brew install notunes”
“I'be been using a tool called NoTunes for years.”
“Yeah, I used that too on my last Mac.”
“There is another app called notunes that I have been using for ages.”
“this is the OG app.”
“I use https://github.com/tombonez/noTunes”
“I've been using this for a while now”