diff --git a/docs/manage/reference/viam-agent/manage-viam-agent.md b/docs/manage/reference/viam-agent/manage-viam-agent.md
index 0d4cb6817a..0b1cb6fa1d 100644
--- a/docs/manage/reference/viam-agent/manage-viam-agent.md
+++ b/docs/manage/reference/viam-agent/manage-viam-agent.md
@@ -106,14 +106,45 @@ You can only restore this file if you have access to the machine configuration.
   sudo launchctl kickstart system/com.viam.agent
   ```
 
+  If the service fails to start, make sure it is bootstrapped. The following command will
+  print an error message if the service is NOT bootstrapped.
+
+  ```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
+  sudo launchctl print system/com.viam.agent
+  ```
+
+  The following command will bootstrap the service.
+
+  ```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
+  sudo launchctl bootstrap system /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.viam.agent.plist
+  ```
+
+  If the service STILL fails to start, ensure that it is enabled. The following command
+  will enable the service.
+
+  ```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
+  sudo launchctl enable system/com.viam.agent
+  ```
+
 - To stop `viam-agent`:
 
   {{< alert title="Alert" color="note" >}}
   When you stop `viam-agent`, the agent will stop `viam-server` as well.
   {{< /alert >}}
 
+  `sudo launchctl kill` and `sudo launchctl stop` will NOT fully stop `viam-agent`, as
+  launchd will automatically resurrect it. You can use the following to "boot out" the
+  service and fully stop it.
+
+  ```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
+  sudo launchctl bootout system/com.viam.agent
+  ```
+
+  If you would like to start `viam-agent` again after this command, you will need to
+  bootstrap it again.
+
   ```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
-  sudo launchctl kill SIGTERM system/com.viam.agent
+  sudo launchctl bootstrap system /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.viam.agent.plist
   ```
 
 - To completely uninstall `viam-agent` and `viam-server`, run the following command:
diff --git a/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/_index.md b/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/_index.md
index f5f71ae54c..2429214255 100644
--- a/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/_index.md
+++ b/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/_index.md
@@ -358,17 +358,9 @@ brew tap viamrobotics/brews && brew install viam-server
 
 The `viam-server` binary is installed at <FILE>/opt/homebrew/bin/viam-server</FILE>.
 
-You can optionally run `viam-server` as a background service with Homebrew:
-
-1. Place your machine configuration at <FILE>/opt/homebrew/etc/viam.json</FILE>.
-
-1. Start the service with:
-
-   ```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$" data-output="5-10"}
-   brew services start viam-server
-   ```
-
-For more information about brew services, run `brew services --help`.
+The brew installation of `viam-server` CANNOT be run as a system service in the
+background. If you would like to run `viam-server` in the background, install
+[`viam-agent`](/manage/reference/viam-agent/) instead.
 
 {{% /tab %}}
 {{% tab name="Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)" %}}
diff --git a/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/manage-viam-server.md b/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/manage-viam-server.md
index 747e2a91ed..0439fc21b1 100644
--- a/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/manage-viam-server.md
+++ b/docs/operate/reference/viam-server/manage-viam-server.md
@@ -127,29 +127,9 @@ Type **Ctrl + C** on your keyboard within the terminal session where you are run
 
 ### Run as a system service
 
-Installing `viam-server` as a system service is not recommended for most use cases on macOS.
-However, if you are looking to create a machine that runs on macOS and you want it to run `viam-server` automatically when your macOS system boots, then you will need to run `viam-server` as a service.
-
-Once you have [installed `viam-server`](/operate/install/setup/) on your macOS computer, use the following commands to control the service.
-These commands require that you store your machine cloud credentials file at <file>/opt/homebrew/etc/viam.json</file>.
-
-#### Start
-
-```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
-brew services start viam-server
-```
-
-#### Stop
-
-```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
-brew services stop viam-server
-```
-
-#### Restart
-
-```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
-brew services restart viam-server
-```
+The brew installation of `viam-server` CANNOT be run as a system service in the
+background. If you would like to run `viam-server` in the background, install
+[`viam-agent`](/manage/reference/viam-agent/) instead.
 
 {{% /tab %}}
 {{< /tabs >}}
@@ -326,12 +306,6 @@ grep viam-server /var/log/syslog
 
 When running `viam-server` on macOS, log messages are written to standard out (`stdout`) in the same terminal session you started `viam-server` in.
 
-You can also access the local `viam-server` log file using the following command:
-
-```sh {class="command-line" data-prompt="$"}
-cat $(brew --prefix)/var/log/viam.log
-```
-
 {{% /tab %}}
 {{< /tabs >}}