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Safe to remove Apple apps that come preinstalled? If so, best way?

GhostMac24

GhostMac24

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 27, 2011
322
5
NC
Just picked up a MBA with a 128GB SSD and don't anticipate having and issues with space as it is not my primary (new 27" iMac does that) but just figured I'd remove the stuff I will NEVER use and need to know (1) If it's safe to do that; and (2) Best way to do it.

For Example, I'll never use:
Automater (15MB)
Chess (11MB)
Garage Band (375MB)
iMovie (1.45GB)
iPhoto (1.42GB)


Thanks in advance for any replies!
 
GhostMac24 said:
Just picked up a MBA with a 128GB SSD and don't anticipate having and issues with space as it is not my primary (new 27" iMac does that) but just figured I'd remove the stuff I will NEVER use and need to know (1) If it's safe to do that; and (2) Best way to do it.
Click to expand...
Some apps are integrated into other aspects of Mac OS X. I don't recommend deleting any apps that came with your Mac. Instead, look for other ways to save space.

Freeing up space in Mac OS X
 
I'd say iMovie, iPhoto, GarageBand and Chess are safe to delete. I wouldn't get rid of Automator.
 
GhostMac24 said:
Just picked up a MBA with a 128GB SSD and don't anticipate having and issues with space as it is not my primary (new 27" iMac does that) but just figured I'd remove the stuff I will NEVER use and need to know (1) If it's safe to do that; and (2) Best way to do it.

For Example, I'll never use:
Automater (15MB)
Chess (11MB)
Garage Band (375MB)
iMovie (1.45GB)
iPhoto (1.42GB)


Thanks in advance for any replies!
Click to expand...

This will work for any app that you've installed via App Store:
  1. Open up Launchpad.
  2. Click and hold an icon till they start shaking.
  3. Delete the ones you don't want by clicking on the X that's on the top right of the icon.
You can't delete Automator and Chess this way but those are only 26mb or so.
 
There won't be any issues with removing the iLife software. I have removed iMovie and Garageband. But iPhoto is something I use most of the time as I have a huge photo collection.
 
cteselle said:
This will work for any app that you've installed via App Store:
  1. Open up Launchpad.
  2. Click and hold an icon till they start shaking.
  3. Delete the ones you don't want by clicking on the X that's on the top right of the icon.
You can't delete Automator and Chess this way but those are only 26mb or so.
Click to expand...

I believe this technique only works for apps that were installed from the App Store.

The OP can open Finder, navigate to the Applications folder, then drag and drop any app in the Trash.
 
GhostMac24 said:
Why would iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band be integrated into OSX? I didn't realize the operating system needed them to function.
Click to expand...
Integrated doesn't mean Mac OS X needs them to operate. It means that some functions are set up by default to use some of the bundled apps. It doesn't mean that Mac OS X will fail to work if you remove them, but some functions may not work.
 
GGJstudios said:
Integrated doesn't mean Mac OS X needs them to operate. It means that some functions are set up by default to use some of the bundled apps. It doesn't mean that Mac OS X will fail to work if you remove them, but some functions may not work.
Click to expand...

Some functions of OSX? Sorry, I'm a little confused on this one.
 
GhostMac24 said:
Some functions of OSX? Sorry, I'm a little confused on this one.
Click to expand...
I didn't say "functions of OS X"; I said "some functions". Some apps that come bundled with OS X are used by default, such as Mail is used by default if you select "Mail Link to this Page" in Safari, or Safari is used when you click "Show Map" on an address in Address Book, or syncing photos from iPhoto to an iPhone, or other examples. That doesn't mean you can't use alternative apps or that Mac OS X will "break" if you remove such apps.
 
Anything that doesn't save at least a few hundres MB isn't worth deleting completely anyway.
Just remove the Icon.

GarageBand afaik has some pretty big demo files that are really worth deleting. It is a folder apart from GarageBand that if you never use it takes way too much space.

iPhoto and iMovie seem big in your calculations. They are smaller Apps.

From the ones you listet I only deleted Garageband as I never use it.
I don't use iMovie either but I might some day. I also deleted FrontRow as I don't really see any point in it.

For the most part I just leave the stuff and remove the icons from sight.
 
GhostMac24 said:
Why would iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band be integrated into OSX? I didn't realize the operating system needed them to function.
Click to expand...

They're not, you can delete them. I deleted iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band to free up space and have not noticed any downsides from doing so.
 
dusk007 said:
iPhoto and iMovie seem big in your calculations. They are smaller Apps.
Click to expand...

I pulled those values directly from their info screens.

----------
iBookG4user said:
They're not, you can delete them. I deleted iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band to free up space and have not noticed any downsides from doing so.
Click to expand...

As simple as dragging the application from the application folder to the trash or is there an uninstall program that is to be used?
 
GhostMac24 said:
I pulled those values directly from their info screens.

----------



As simple as dragging the application from the application folder to the trash or is there an uninstall program that is to be used?
Click to expand...

Check out uApp. That's a free uninstaller program, just drag the application into uApp and it'll delete all the other files for it that it finds.
 
iBookG4user said:
Check out uApp. That's a free uninstaller program, just drag the application into uApp and it'll delete all the other files for it that it finds.
Click to expand...
In most cases, app removal software doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.

http://uapp.en.softonic.com/mac
Cons
  • Doesn't find all files to remove
  • Discontinued
Click to expand...
 
GGJstudios said:
In most cases, app removal software doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.

http://uapp.en.softonic.com/mac
Click to expand...

It does a decent job. You don't need to remove all the files only the ones that take up the most space.
 
iBookG4user said:
It does a decent job. You don't need to remove all the files only the ones that take up the most space.
Click to expand...
The problem with many of these uninstaller apps is they remove smaller files, like the .plist files, but leave behind much larger files, in many cases several MB of files. If the goal is to free up space, nothing is as effective as manual deletion via Finder. If you want to use such an app, it's fine. Just don't expect it to completely remove everything.
 
GGJstudios said:
The problem with many of these uninstaller apps is they remove smaller files, like the .plist files, but leave behind much larger files, in many cases several MB of files. If the goal is to free up space, nothing is as effective as manual deletion via Finder. If you want to use such an app, it's fine. Just don't expect it to completely remove everything.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you've had a bad experience with uninstaller applications, that's okay. Feel free to be very vocal about that, but I've found it to work quite well and it has done an excellent job when I've used it.
 
iBookG4user said:
It sounds like you've had a bad experience with uninstaller applications, that's okay. Feel free to be very vocal about that, but I've found it to work quite well and it has done an excellent job when I've used it.
Click to expand...
No, I haven't had a bad experience. I've just taken the time to carefully test many of them, as evidenced in the links I posted.
 
GGJstudios said:
No, I haven't had a bad experience. I've just taken the time to carefully test many of them, as evidenced in the links I posted.
Click to expand...

Well, each person will have their own opinion. You've probably also taken the time to carefully test the consequences to removing iMovie, iPhoto, and Garage Band, right?

GGJstudios said:
Some apps are integrated into other aspects of Mac OS X. I don't recommend deleting any apps that came with your Mac. Instead, look for other ways to save space.

Freeing up space in Mac OS X
Click to expand...

If one never used iMovie, iPhoto, and Garage Band then you are suggesting that they must keep it on their computer? What, per say, are going to be the consequences of deleting them that would warrant you not recommending the deletion of them?
 
iBookG4user said:
Well, each person will have their own opinion.
Click to expand...
The results of testing are not opinion, but fact. You're welcome to conduct your own tests, which will reveal the same facts. As I said before, if you want to use one of those apps, that's up to you. That doesn't change the fact that many times they don't remove all or even most of the files associated with deleted apps.
iBookG4user said:
If one never used iMovie, iPhoto, and Garage Band then you are suggesting that they must keep it on their computer?
Click to expand...
I said I don't recommend uninstalling them. I didn't say it couldn't be done or that Mac OS X would have problems if they were removed.
iBookG4user said:
What, per say, are going to be the consequences of deleting them that would warrant you not recommending the deletion of them?
Click to expand...
I've already answered that.
 
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