How to permanently remove the Preview app on iMac?

+1

Preview is the macOS default App for opening PDF's and Images.

Preview User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

It is integrated into the macOS and can not be deleted from your Mac.

If you do not want to use Preview, then you need to select a different App for opening PDF's and Image's.

For a single PDF or Image, Control (right) click on the PDF or Image and select Open With.

For a group of PDF's or Image's, see > Choose an app to open a file on Mac - Apple Support

YdontUhirestaff wrote:

You have to open a jpg/jpeg with some app, which one do you want to use? All data files are useless without an app to open them. It actually works the same way on Windows machines where a jpg/jpeg by default will open with Microsoft Photos, but just like on the Mac you can change the default app to open them.

Once you decide what app you want to use to open the jpg/jpeg, all you have to do is select it in the Finder, go to the File menu item and choose Get Info. Toward the bottom of the info for the file, you will see a section with the title Open with: where you can choose the app you want to use and after you do that the button below it called "Change All" can be clicked so every jpg/jpeg will open with the same app.

It really is that simple and now the jpg/jpeg will not open using the default Preview app. No you can't delete the Preview app, but you also don't have to use it. The screenshot the OP provided wasn't even the Preview app, so even if they were able to delete the Preview app, it would have had no effect for them.

Problem solved!

Preview can't be deleted as it's part of the system.

How is it intrusive? Can you describe what is bothering you?

Can't you just ignore it and set the app to open PDFs to something else?

OT

Is it possible you are describing something other than the Preview app? Preview will only open certain file types. What files are you opening what that occurs?

If you do not want Preview to open that file, select (single-click) it in the Finder, then select the File menu > Get Info.

Under Open With, choose something other than Preview.

Preview User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

To add to what den.thed wrote,

If you do not want a shortcut to the Preview application in the Dock, simply click on the Preview icon in the Dock, and drag-and-drop that icon to the Trash. This will not remove the Preview application from the Mac – but it will remove Preview from the Dock.

dStorke wrote:

My problem on the iMac with this is that every time open a file, the large preview icon pops up and predominates the field and the options for viewing are never needed by me. I have to eliminate the icon to see my file and it also displays its icon at the bottom dock of my screen. I have to delete it above my open file and then delete the icon on my dock. It seems to be unnecessary steps and a hassle.

Hmm... now it sounds more like you need to change the way that "Finder" opens and views files..?

For some tips on using Finder

see > Use the Finder on Mac - Apple Support

plus > Change Finder settings on Mac - Apple Support

and > Ways to organize files on your Mac desktop - Apple Support

YdontUhirestaff wrote:

Wow, I am having the same problem with my Mac. I was hoping to find a way to delete Preview so that when I open a picture or a jpeg I just get a picture or a jpeg, not a preview of it.

So with 50 years of experience you cannot understand how to specify which app a file is opened with when you double click it? Really? This feature has been with macOS since the very beginning... and you know nothing about it? Really?

p.s. You cannot delete the Preview app as it is considered part of macOS, period, end of story, that's all she wrote. But since you are leaving the platform because of reading comprehension issues I guess good luck.

A slight addition to Servant of Cats note. Removing the Preview icon from the Dock (while it is NOT running), will permanently remove that icon from the Dock, unless you choose to add it again.

BUT, when Preview is opened in any manner, its icon will show on the Dock while it is running, as will any other app. That doesn't mean it's back on the Dock in a way that you need to remove it. The icon will disappear when you close the app.

Instead of posting this (apparently) found image, it would be best if you would post a screenshot from your own Mac so that we can see exactly what it is you are experiencing.

I have my own suspicion that you are maybe using the space bar to open a Quick Look at the files you are working with, but certain aspects of your post don't jibe with that. Without seeing exactly what you see, our responses here are limited and we can only guess.

every time open a file, the large preview icon pops up and predominates the field and the options for viewing

I truly have no idea how to interpret that. For my first question, I know you mean Preview, but what large icon? What field (whatever that is). What options for viewing (another entirely vague description)?

Can you take a screen shot, or several and post them here so we can see what you mean? Make sure any personal information is removed from the images before posting.

dStorke wrote:

My problem on the iMac with this is that every time open a file, the large preview icon pops up and predominates the field and the options for viewing are never needed by me. I have to eliminate the icon to see my file and it also displays its icon at the bottom dock of my screen. I have to delete it above my open file and then delete the icon on my dock. It seems to be unnecessary steps and a hassle.

This makes very little sense.

Please post a screenshot of what you're seeing.

And I now don't believe a word of this. I not only found an EXACT duplicate image of what you posted here, including where the text in the background window is cut off to the pixel, but it's on a lot of different sites.

Here's one example of your bogus claim, halfway down the page.

Not only that, your image is from iPadOS. You won't see Preview displayed like this on any Mac.

You were asked to post a screenshot of what you were seeing. You posted an image you found on the internet that doesn't even come from a Mac.

You expect us to believe you're legit?

Sorry. You blew it.