<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "macOS: -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "AppKit",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/AppKit/NSApplication/finishLaunching()",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Method",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Instance Method",
    "modules" : [
      "AppKit"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:objc(cs)NSApplication(im)finishLaunching"
  },
  "title" : "finishLaunching()"
}
-->

# finishLaunching()

Activates the app, opens any files specified by the `NSOpen` user default, and unhighlights the app’s icon.

```
func finishLaunching()
```

## Discussion

The [`run()`](/documentation/AppKit/NSApplication/run()) method calls this method before it starts the event loop. When this method begins, it posts an [`willFinishLaunchingNotification`](/documentation/AppKit/NSApplication/willFinishLaunchingNotification) to the default notification center. If you override [`finishLaunching()`](/documentation/AppKit/NSApplication/finishLaunching()), the subclass method should invoke the superclass method.

## See Also

[`func applicationWillFinishLaunching(Notification)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSApplicationDelegate/applicationWillFinishLaunching(_:))

Tells the delegate that the app’s initialization is about to complete.

[`func applicationDidFinishLaunching(Notification)`](/documentation/AppKit/NSApplicationDelegate/applicationDidFinishLaunching(_:))

Tells the delegate that the app’s initialization is complete but it hasn’t received its first event.


---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)