How can I remove stock mac apps from my device?
How can I remove stock mac apps from my device?
I’ve noticed that my Mac comes with a variety of pre-installed applications, many of which I do not use. These stock apps seem to be taking up valuable space on my device and cluttering my applications folder. I feel like my Mac would run more efficiently and be better organized if I could get rid of these default apps that I have no use for. I have tried to delete them the same way I would remove other downloaded applications, but it doesn’t seem to work. This has left me feeling frustrated and unsure of how to proceed. I’m looking for some guidance on how to effectively remove these stock Mac apps, so I can optimize my device’s performance and storage.
7 Answers
Using the Terminal can be a powerful solution to remove stock Mac apps. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
2. Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP): Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to enter Recovery Mode. Then go to Utilities > Terminal and type csrutil disable. Restart your Mac normally.
3. Navigate to the Applications directory by typing cd /Applications in Terminal.
4. Use the sudo rm -rf [AppName].app command to remove a specific app, replacing [AppName] with the name of the app you want to delete.
5. Re-enable SIP by restarting in Recovery Mode again and typing csrutil enable in Terminal. Restart your Mac normally.
Use this method with caution, as deleting system apps can affect the overall functionality of macOS.
To keep your Mac’s cleanup minimal, you can remove stock apps from the Dock and disable notifications:
1. Right-click on the unwanted app in the Dock and select Options > Remove from Dock.
2. Go to System Preferences > Notifications and disable notifications for the app.
3. Additionally, unpin these apps from the Finder sidebar if they appear there.
This approach doesn’t impact the system and is perfect if you simply want a tidier interface without modifying core files.
Hiding apps using Terminal is another non-invasive method to keep your applications folder clean:
1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
2. To hide an app, type chflags hidden /Applications/[AppName].app, replacing [AppName] with the name of the app.
3. Restart Finder by typing killall Finder in Terminal.
This won’t free up space, but it will make the apps invisible and declutter your workspace.
Renaming app extensions through Terminal can deactivate stock apps without deleting them:
1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
2. Navigate to the Applications directory with cd /Applications.
3. Change the app extension with sudo mv [AppName].app [AppName].bak, replacing [AppName] with the name of the app.
This way, the apps are rendered inactive and reduce clutter while avoiding system instability.
I found that third-party tools like CleanMyMac X make removing stock apps straightforward and safe:
1. Download and install CleanMyMac X from their official website.
2. Launch the application and navigate to the Uninstaller tool.
3. The interface will display all installed applications, including pre-installed ones.
4. Select the apps you wish to remove and click ‘Uninstall’.
This method avoids the complexity of using Terminal and ensures that no critical system components are accidentally removed.
To declutter your Mac without risking system stability, simply moving unwanted apps may be the best approach:
1. Create a new folder on your desktop called ‘Unused Apps’.
2. Drag all the unwanted stock apps into this folder.
3. Compress the folder by right-clicking it and selecting ‘Compress’.
This keeps the unwanted apps out of sight without technically deleting them from the system.
macOS has a built-in method for removing certain stock apps through Launchpad:
1. Open Launchpad from the Dock.
2. Click and hold any app until they start to jiggle.
3. Some apps will display an ‘X’ that you can click to remove them. Note that not all stock apps can be removed this way.
This is a simple method and doesn’t require any advanced steps, making it suitable for users who prefer a quick and easy solution.