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User profile for user: antoniofromthemead
antoniofromthemead Author
User level: Level 1
17 points

Uninstall select Mac Apps (GarageBand,Pages,Numbers,Keynote, iMovie)

Hi,


I was wondering whether one can uninstall GarageBand,Pages,Numbers,Keynote, & iMovie) ?


I don't use these applications and never have in 6 years of having a MacBook.


My main reason is the fact that updates to these application keep popping up on the App Store even though I have these apps hidden in the App Store.


I came across a 2 year old post when a user was asking specifically whether he could uninstall GarageBand and he got this response:


Yes, you can uninstall it. Move the GarageBand.app from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Most of the storage needed by GarageBand is occupied by the Instrument Library, also by the Apple Loops. These items are shared with Logic Pro or MainStage however. Are you using one of these applications? Then keep the instruments and loops installed.


If not, you can also remove the folder /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/ from the /Library folder to uninstall the sound library, and the folder /Library/Audio/Apple Loops/Apple/

Some of the Loops may be used by iMovie as well, so you may want to keep them installed.


So, any concerns about uninstalling these applications?


Thanking you...


Kind regards,

Antonio

MacBook Air

Posted on Jan 24, 2020 11:52 AM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
194,377 points

Posted on Jan 26, 2020 3:44 AM

You can simply save the apps in question on an external volume (just in case you may want to use them later), then drag them from your Applications folder to the Trash and empty the Trash. This will remove the applications from the Applications folder.

GarageBand has additional content stored in the Library folder on your system volume:

  • The Instrument Library: /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/
  • The Loops: /Library/Audio/Apple Loops/

If you are not using MainStage or Logic Pro, you may want to delete these folders as well. They can be quite large. But keep them, if you are using other audio applications, where you may want to use them.



There some applications that have a special protection, because they are a part of the system (Photos, Mail, Contacts, etc). These applications should be kept installed, but the applications sold from the AppStore can be uninstalled, no problem. It may just be hard to get them back, because Apple may remove them from the App Store, like it happened with iPhoto. And the older versions (compatible with older system versions may be removed) and only the current version kept available at the APpStore. That is why it is recommended to keep a copy of the application on an external volume.


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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
194,377 points

Jan 26, 2020 3:44 AM in response to antoniofromthemead

You can simply save the apps in question on an external volume (just in case you may want to use them later), then drag them from your Applications folder to the Trash and empty the Trash. This will remove the applications from the Applications folder.

GarageBand has additional content stored in the Library folder on your system volume:

  • The Instrument Library: /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/
  • The Loops: /Library/Audio/Apple Loops/

If you are not using MainStage or Logic Pro, you may want to delete these folders as well. They can be quite large. But keep them, if you are using other audio applications, where you may want to use them.



There some applications that have a special protection, because they are a part of the system (Photos, Mail, Contacts, etc). These applications should be kept installed, but the applications sold from the AppStore can be uninstalled, no problem. It may just be hard to get them back, because Apple may remove them from the App Store, like it happened with iPhoto. And the older versions (compatible with older system versions may be removed) and only the current version kept available at the APpStore. That is why it is recommended to keep a copy of the application on an external volume.


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Uninstall select Mac Apps (GarageBand,Pages,Numbers,Keynote, iMovie)

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