Is there any way to remove CLT updates?

Question

Is there any way to remove CLT updates?

I encountered this a month ago. At the time, I didn’t understand why I received an update for CLT since I hadn’t installed Xcode. Without figuring it out, I started searching online and found a way to remove CLT. I deleted the /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools folder and thought that after a reboot or some time, this annoying notification would disappear. But it's been about two weeks now, I've restarted my MacBook many times, and the notification still hasn’t gone away.

Is there any way to get rid of this, or will only a full system reset help?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jun 18, 2025 11:09 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

102,643 points

Jun 19, 2025 2:34 AM in response to madloriure145

From and older similar question dating back to 2021

Command line tools for Xcode 13.0 - how t… - Apple Community

Judging from Author's experience

Ok, i just ran the update, then i did uninstall procedure again. Looks like that resolved it.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,290 points

Jun 19, 2025 7:15 AM in response to madloriure145

Apple does not install Python or Python3 as part of the operating system after Monterey 12.3. Apple's Command Line Tools for Xcode will install /usr/bin/python3 and it is (v3.9.6) that is years out of date.

If you know that you will be needing Python3, or a VSC add-in requires it, then download and use the installer directly from Python.org. That should circumvent the dialog that you see, provided that your Shell PATH environment variable points to the installed Python3 binaries (/usr/local/bin) and (/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/Current/bin) prior to /usr/bin. You may also need to inform VSC in its configuration where the Python3 binary is located.

When you install the homebrew package manager, it will also install the Command Line Tools and then begins your Software Update notices when newer versions of Command Line Tools become available.

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Answer 3

Jun 20, 2025 1:20 AM in response to madloriure145

What ultimately worked for me:

uninstalling Homebrew:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/uninstall.sh)"
sudo rm -rf /opt/homebrew

installing Command Line Tools for Xcode update from Settings
uninstalling it:

sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

But the pop-up window prompting me to install CLT for Python3 still persists. It seems the issue is ultimately tied to VSC after all.

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Answer 4

Jun 19, 2025 3:20 AM in response to madloriure145

I used to have an old app that out of the blue caused a CLT download to be instigated.

When I uninstalled the app, it stopped happening. 🤷‍♂️

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Answer 5

Jun 19, 2025 5:55 AM in response to Owl-53

Owl-53 wrote:

From and older similar question dating back to 2021

Command line tools for Xcode 13.0 - how t… - Apple Community

Judging from Author's experience

Ok, i just ran the update, then i did uninstall procedure again. Looks like that resolved it.

I saw it and already tried.

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Answer 6

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,290 points

Jun 19, 2025 8:58 AM in response to madloriure145

As part of the homebrew installation, it automatically checks to see if you have the Command Line Tools installed (or Xcode) and if you do, then it proceeds with the installation, otherwise it will install the CLT as it is required to provide the clang/clang++ compiler and libraries necessary to build any package installs from their source.

With no Python3 installed after Monterey 12.3.1, all you have to do is attempt to run Python3 from the Terminal (or reference it from a script) and that will trigger a dialog offering to install the Command Line Tools (but not Xcode) that is compatible with the current operating system.

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Answer 7

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,290 points

Jun 19, 2025 11:41 AM in response to madloriure145

I don't use Microsoft's Visual Studio Code. I use a paid version of Sublime Text 4 (4200) which is syntax aware and if I installed them, the linting packages for C/C++. I do have the syntax checking tools installed for Python3, Ruby, and Swift. I use the asdf-vm version manager to maintain a separate and current version of Ruby, though it supports many other languages.

The CLT tools take up 3+ Gb of storage, and once Apple ceased installing Python 2 in Monterey 12.3.1, they made entering Python3 in the Terminal a trigger to launch a CLT installation query dialog. Even running a Python3 script with the #!/usr/bin/python3 or #!/usr/bin/env python3 prefix would trigger that dialog.

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Answer 8

Jun 19, 2025 5:57 AM in response to Robbbbbbbbiiiiiiieeeeee

It seems the issue really is related to this. I'm using VSC (the latest version, with auto-updates enabled), because this window pops up as soon as I start editing .py files.

What's strange is that I'm not even trying to run the file—just editing it.

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Answer 9

Jun 19, 2025 7:50 AM in response to VikingOSX

I’m not entirely sure what’s triggering this popup and update notification, but yes, I do have Homebrew installed. As far as I understand, there’s no way to use Homebrew without the Command Line Tools (CLT), right?

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Answer 10

Jun 19, 2025 9:16 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for the detailed answer.

It’s a very odd approach to immediately prompt for package installation before even executing anything. I’m just editing configuration files for scripts that run on my VDS, and I have absolutely no need to install Python on my already cramped 256GB storage. What’s especially strange is that I’ve done this before without issues – the problem only appeared recently. Maybe it’s a change in the updated macOS version or some integration with the system terminal in VSC (where, as far as I know, you can open a terminal session and, with proper permissions, it functions like the system’s built-in version). Previously, I used a much simpler and more minimalist text editor without any plugins at all.

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