How to delete install macOS Monterey file

I've just been on Apply support chat about this. Apparently it's a known issue and Apple are addressing it. However, I did the following which worked for me:

1 Open Launchpad.

2 Click on Install macOS Monterey. Nothing will happen.

3 Open Launchpad again. The Install macOS Monterey icon should show a question mark over it, indicating that the app could not be found.

4 Hold the Option key and click the X button that appears above Install macOS Monterey, to remove this app from Launchpad.

Try finding it with Spotlight.

Type "Install" in Spotlight and in the "Applications" section of the results you should see "Install macOS Monterey".

Select it (using mouse, keyboard or touchscreen).

Once it is highlighted, press the Command (⌘) key. This will display a line at the bottom of the dialog showing the path to the app.

Keeping the Command key pressed, double-click on it. That will open a Finder window with the installer selected.

Drag it to the Trash.

If you can't do that either, you need to provide more information about what you've done and what you're seeing.

Have you tried the steps mentioned in the URL I gave 👆? Worked fine for me.

1. Click the  symbol in the Menu bar.
2. Click Restart….
3. Hold down Command + R to boot into Recovery Mode.
4. Click Utilities.
5. Select Terminal.
6. Type csrutil disable. This will disable SIP.
7. Press Return or Enter on your keyboard.
8. Click the  symbol in the Menu bar.
9. Click Restart….
10. Log in / boot up the Mac.
11. Empty Trash.
12. Hold down Command + R to reboot into Recovery Mode.
13. Click Utilities.
14. Select Terminal.
15. Type csrutil enable. This will enable SIP.
16. Press Return or Enter on your keyboard.
17. Click the  symbol in the Menu bar.
18. Click Restart….

This is an app bundle which, just like any other available to all users, is in the /Applications folder. You can delete it from there.

This will remove it from Launchpad but you'll continue to get upgrade notifications through Systems Preferences. There's no longer any way to stop those.

I was able to send both macOS Catalina and macOS High Sierra installers to the trash. These OS have been installed ages ago on an older unit. I am unable to delete them from the trash as it says they can't be deleted because they are in use. I even moved them to Dropbox and sent them to the trash on my latest iMac M1, and get the same annoying prompt.

thanks, Tom

While in Launchpad use the Option key and notice the Icon in question will appear to shack and have a X top Left of Icon. Click the X and it should disappear.

While in Launchpad use the Option key and notice the Icon in question will appear to shack and have a X top Left of Icon. Click the X and it should disappear.

P. Phillips wrote:

While in Launchpad use the Option key and notice the Icon in question will appear to shack and have a X top Left of Icon. Click the X and it should disappear.

FWIW, only apps downloaded from the App Store have X's.

I have the exact same problem. I have Install macOS Mojave.app, Catalina, and High Sierra in the trash, and nothing seems to work to delete them, even running some of the Terminal scripts that I've found online. Supposedly the OS thinks they are "in use". Any suggestions would be appreciated!

That did it, thank you!!!!

One clarification for those of us who are not familiar with Recovery Mode, in Step 4 use the Utilities tab in the upper left, not the Disk Utilities in the center of the screen.

When going through the steps you will know it has worked when, in Step 11, you empty the trash, it actually empties.

Thank you c_chau.

It worked for me as well, thanks so much!!! I have an older iMac that I deleted some Time Machine backups and they can't be emptied from the trash.... Folders is in use - System files are in use, etc... I tried this method and the command was not recognized.

I have the same problem. Install macOS Monterey not show in applications folder. Neither in spotlight and can't removed in launchpad.

Daniel! wrote:

I have the same problem. Install macOS Monterey not show in applications folder. Neither in spotlight and can't removed in launchpad.

See: https://www.imore.com/how-reset-launchpad

Yes you are right.

In this specific case - appropriate

" I have the same problem. Install macOS Monterey not show in applications folder. Neither in spotlight and can't removed in launchpad. "