Can I safely delete Apple default Apps on 2021 MBP?

[kgphotos]

Hi. Just getting my new MBP 2021 set up and I want to delete some pre-installed Apple apps- iMovie, GarageBand, Keynote, Numbers as I don’t need them. I know some default Apple apps can’t be un-installed, like News or Chess which is fine. I just want to delete the apps I listed.

Can I do this and if so how? I don’t want to format my hard drive like I had to on my 2017 iMac and 2013 MBP. It’s not the end of the world if I can’t, just like to keep a tidy Mac and use the disk space for Apps I do need.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Kaikidan]

If it let's you delete it, then you can delete it. Otherwise if it's integral to the system you wouldn't be able to unnintall it in any easy means, like Photos on IOS ( and probably MacOS as well).

 

[StudioMacs]

Hi. Just getting my new MBP 2021 set up and I want to delete some pre-installed Apple apps- iMovie, GarageBand, Keynote, Numbers as I don’t need them. I know some default Apple apps can’t be un-installed, like News or Chess which is fine. I just want to delete the apps I listed.

Can I do this and if so how? I don’t want to format my hard drive like I had to on my 2017 iMac and 2013 MBP. It’s not the end of the world if I can’t, just like to keep a tidy Mac and use the disk space for Apps I do need.

Thanks for your help!

No issues, but Keynote will open PowerPoint files, and Numbers will open Excel, so unless you run MS Office, keep that in mind.

 

[kgphotos]

Thanks all!

 

[KALLT]

iMovie, GarageBand, Pages Keynote and Numbers all are downloadable again from the App Store.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

I believe the apps you listed in your original post CAN be deleted.
(you're correct in that SOME Apple apps are "delete-able", and others not so)

I would recommend using the free "AppCleaner" to do it:
Get it here:

AppCleaner

Then, do this:
1. Open AppCleaner
2. Open your Applications folder (in the finder)
3. Grab the app you want to delete, and "drag and drop" it into AppCleaner's window.
4. AppCleaner will "look around" and gather up all the files related to the app.
5. If any are "unchecked", put a check into them.
6. Click the "remove" button, and they're ALL moved to the trash.
7. Close AppCleaner and empty the trash.
8. Gone!

 

[curdy]

OP:

I believe the apps you listed in your original post CAN be deleted.
(you're correct in that SOME Apple apps are "delete-able", and others not so)

I would recommend using the free "AppCleaner" to do it:
Get it here:

AppCleaner

Then, do this:
1. Open AppCleaner
2. Open your Applications folder (in the finder)
3. Grab the app you want to delete, and "drag and drop" it into AppCleaner's window.
4. AppCleaner will "look around" and gather up all the files related to the app.
5. If any are "unchecked", put a check into them.
6. Click the "remove" button, and they're ALL moved to the trash.
7. Close AppCleaner and empty the trash.
8. Gone!

Just did this and it worked like a charm. It gathered all related files to Garage Band that I didn't want or need and deleted those as well as the app.