Title says it all. I want to delete stock apps from MacOS. How do I accomplish this. I don't care if the "icon" only take up 1KB of space, i don't want the icon cluttering my system. Apple once locked down iOS/iPadOS but we have the ability to remove *most* stock apps. Why is this option not extended to MacOS? This is ridiculous, and infuriating.
Mac mini (M2, 2023)
You cannot remove the Stocks app on MacOS. While there are many similarities between iOS and MacOS by using the same Frameworks, the installation on both platforms is very different for security reasons. On the Mac, the provided applications along with the OS are installed on a locked portion of your HD and is read only. There are no changes that any User, Admin, or Application can make to any of those files. This prevents any virus/malware from altering the System files by installing unsigned software and offers SIP (System Integrity Protection). You do not have these same concerns on iOS as the installation of software is much different on that platform.
There may be a time where there is a complete change in how MacOS is installed, but it is not today. You can send feedback to Apple if you wish.
You cannot remove the Stocks app on MacOS. While there are many similarities between iOS and MacOS by using the same Frameworks, the installation on both platforms is very different for security reasons. On the Mac, the provided applications along with the OS are installed on a locked portion of your HD and is read only. There are no changes that any User, Admin, or Application can make to any of those files. This prevents any virus/malware from altering the System files by installing unsigned software and offers SIP (System Integrity Protection). You do not have these same concerns on iOS as the installation of software is much different on that platform.
There may be a time where there is a complete change in how MacOS is installed, but it is not today. You can send feedback to Apple if you wish.
Feedback is a valuable tool. While you do not get any follow up and it seems you are not heard, they are read. There are many examples of requests by users that have eventually found their way into updates. Some examples include adding features to the calculator app, larger emoji sizes in iOS, Dark Mode for eye strain, RCS Messaging, and many Accessibility features.
I do now understand your meaning of "stock" apps. There may be a change in the future, but not sure what that would look like and the effects on security. As you know you can't go to a website and download an app on iOS or allow apps to be installed to launch on startup, or even assign users with the ability to access certain files like you can on the Mac. The Mac has much more flexibility and currently the only way they have protected the System is to package the installation including "stock" apps into the Read Only partition. I am not saying it is impossible, but would suggest that the vast majority of development resources are simply allocated where the majority of sales come from.
I understand where you are coming from and don't disagree with you at all. Just not able to jump aboard the conspiracy train that many follow claiming it is due to force us to upgrade storage requirements. I would suspect there is much more to it than that.
App's that are built into the macOS can not be removed.
If you do not want to use the Stock or others built-in App's, then do not open them.
that's a bummer on two accounts...
1) apple's decision to put stock apps on a r/o file system. not sure why apple thinks that's a good idea (of placing stock apps on the r/o filesystem).
2) i've sent feedback but i'm sure it just goes into the bit bucket. sending them feedback feels useless.
as customer and users of apple/ apple products, it feels like we do not own or control the devices we pay for. feels like Microsoft of the 90s.
btw, i literally mean all stock apps, not the "stocks app" but that is one i want gone too.
thanks for the input.
Delete Stock Apps (MacOS)
