Freeing up disk space by deleting system apps

[Roman2K~]

To save precious SSD disk space, I delete system apps in /Applications. Done this since Mavericks, no adverse side effects to date. This version is tailored to Yosemite. I'm sure there are plenty of ways available, here's my take on it, since I don't trust third parties to do that cleanly and safely. In case it helps someone else .

https://gist.github.com/Roman2K/eee9c6432d617dd42434

(If it's not obvious how to use the link above, don't bother.)

I didn't check how much I saved the last time but for future use, the script now displays how much got freed up. Apps to delete:

• iMovie
• iPhoto
• GarageBand
• Keynote
• Pages
• Numbers
• iTunes
• iBooks

The list of files and directories has been handcrafted after meticulous analysis of `find /` outputs. However, it may very well be incomplete if the apps have been started up once beforehand (cluttering ~/Library/{Containers,Preferences}, maybe more). Forks welcome .

App Store is now quiet about all these apps except for iTunes, the only black sheep of the bunch. It keeps telling me there's an update available for it (listed as a "Software Update") and the download is 218MB so I guess that's the whole .app . Not sure how to handle it yet.

Side note: to save more space, `sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0 && sudo rm /var/vm/sleepimage` (never sleep to disk, RAM only). Then there's Monolingual but this is thing nasty, leaving a bunch of files (worse, system services) behind it.

 

[maflynn]

If you are not using those apps, then there's no harm to the system to remove them.

 

[Roman2K~]

If you are not using those apps, then there's no harm to the system to remove them.

Good to know. That's what I gathered from experience. I had my doubts about iTunes but so far it's a go, too .

 

[fisherking]

you want to save space? (and proceed with caution)...

stuff to delete:
HD>Library>Audio>Audio Loops (for garageband,if u don't use the app)
HD>Library>Application Support>Garageband files...
System>Library>Speech>Voices (half a gig, mostly 'alex')

& run monolingual.

helps...

 

[satcomer]

Good to know. That's what I gathered from experience. I had my doubts about iTunes but so far it's a go, too .

If you tend to use SSDs from now on the I would look at a NAS. I liked the Synology DS415Play or DS214Play since they have a transcoding built in.

Plus look at this video for the method to move iTunes Media.