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How to uninstall iTunes for Mac OS X?

Online it says I can unistall iTunes for my Mac but I have to have iTunes for OS X so it will not let me delete the application & uninstall it.

How do you get past this step?

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 21, 2013 12:38 PM

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Posted on Jul 21, 2013 12:39 PM

Welcome to Apple Support Communities


iTunes is part of OS X, so you can't uninstall it through Finder. You have to uninstall it through Terminal, and it's not recommended because of the risk of the "rm" command. Also, iTunes doesn't take a lot of storage, so there's no reason to uninstall it

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Jul 21, 2013 12:39 PM in response to Dbearr22

Welcome to Apple Support Communities


iTunes is part of OS X, so you can't uninstall it through Finder. You have to uninstall it through Terminal, and it's not recommended because of the risk of the "rm" command. Also, iTunes doesn't take a lot of storage, so there's no reason to uninstall it

Oct 8, 2013 3:06 AM in response to mende1

I use my Mac for work purpose only, and don't need any iTune.

And no sync with any (only android) smartphones.

I like to uninstall iTunes because I got sick of the annoying nag pop-ups that keep telling me to update it !

Doesn't matter how small it is, for some folks, iTunes is a PITA.

Thanks for this post showing how to nuke it. 😀

I already removed garageband and saved a ton of space. That monster is seriously bloated.

Oct 16, 2013 6:25 PM in response to mende1

Also, iTunes doesn't take a lot of storage, so there's no reason to uninstall it


Don't you love it when someone tries to solve your problem by telling you that your problem isn't a problem? How's this for a reason to uninstall it.... I never use iTunes anymore yet I'm constantly nagged with iTunes updates from Apple that require a reboot? Wasn't that one of the reasons many of use got annoyed with Windows years ago and moved to a Mac... because reboots were required every time you updated IExplorer?

Oct 17, 2013 12:43 AM in response to kroyster

You can remove it, all 300+ MB of the app, but it is an integral parat of the Mac OS X, and affect many other areas of the OS. So, if you remove it and have problems, remember you have been warned.


Garage Band is and additional Apple App, so it does not cause a problem to remove it.


You can turn off the update notices for individual parts of the OS. The next time you get a update notice or if you tell it to check for updates, highlight iTunes, click on Update in the Menu Bar, then click on Ignore update. That should take care of it for you.

Oct 17, 2013 1:42 PM in response to nbar

First, that is the jist of the message if you try to delete it. After that it is speculation.


After that, you can't sync your iDevices, but the OP doesn't care about that. It also is linked closely with displaying and playing various media on the Mac.


But then again, I don't think either of us are Apple developers. So why are you trying to bully your opinion on me, without offering any proof of your opinion?


And you are the one who stated your position was an opinion


I took the stance that we had opposing opinion.


You have shown a way to do it, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should.


Message was edited by: MacinNW_Brent

Oct 17, 2013 2:19 PM in response to nbar

And I apologize that I took it wrong.


I thought that stating we had opposing opinions was enough, because at your point level, you have seen a bit, as have I.


Do you have any experience with a Mac with the iTunes.app removed?


After 15 years of using a Mac, I find it easiest to keep it simple and clean. The fewer tweeks, the less headaches. Use the setting options provided, rahter than a 3rd party app to change the OS's behavior. I have not bought a maintenance app since I moved to OS X. I let the OS do it, without me even trying to trigger it.


300+ MB for iTunes.app on a 200+ GB HD is not much to ignore. I could probably save more space if I deleted emails.

Oct 30, 2013 3:05 PM in response to MacinNW_Brent

I have removed iTunes several times with no ill effects. The problem I have is that every update reinstalls the stupid thing.


Personally I would prefer to remove iTunes, iBooks, maps and all the other stuff that Apple force upon us. I spent £2000 on a Macbook pro retina that only has 500GB SSHDD and would like to choose what stuff I decide is important but no I have to have what Apple think I should have.

Oct 30, 2013 4:02 PM in response to Gobsmack

OK, so I guess it is possible to remove iTunes with no ill effects.


There are things you can change and things you can't.


You can keep removing iTunes etcetera, but you can not get Apple to change and not include them in every update.


IMO, it is not worth the fight. It is going to take a lot more than £2000 to get Apple to change it. So keep doing what you are doing, and be happy for the option.


Brent


PS, I like your user name.

How to uninstall iTunes for Mac OS X?

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