Resolved MacOS Bloatware - How to delete?

[BR4DOKYBrazil]

After growing up with Windows, I realized a dream: I bought a Macbook Air M3. As I'm new to the system, I deleted some apps that I wouldn't use, such as GarageBand and others. However, apps like Books, AppleTV, Finance, etc., still remain on the system and MacOS won't let me uninstall them. Is there any way I can delete them without harming the system?

 

[Apple_Robert]

It’s best to leave those system files alone. Trying to delete them can sometimes cause problems after the fact. Besides, the other apps don’t take much space at all.

 

[BR4DOKYBrazil]

It’s best to leave those system files alone. Trying to delete them can sometimes cause problems after the fact. Besides, the other apps don’t take much space at all.

I thought about it. Sometimes, forcing the deletion of these apps can cause some future problem in the system.

 

[bogdanw]

While technically possible, it’s complicated, tedious, can lead to data loss and I would advise against such endeavour
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...tem-volume-as-writeable.2332937/post-30822017

"macOs Debloating thread" https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-debloating-thread.2278758/

 

[BR4DOKYBrazil]

While technically possible, it’s complicated, tedious, can lead to data loss and I would advise against such endeavour
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...tem-volume-as-writeable.2332937/post-30822017

"macOs Debloating thread" https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-debloating-thread.2278758/

Thank you for your help, but apparently the best option is to leave them installed, as they take up little space.

 

[Marcopolo53]

While technically possible, it’s complicated, tedious, can lead to data loss and I would advise against such endeavour
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...tem-volume-as-writeable.2332937/post-30822017

"macOs Debloating thread" https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-debloating-thread.2278758/

Technically to do what one implies can be done can not be done

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that cannot be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

 

[rm5]

After growing up with Windows, I realized a dream: I bought a Macbook Air M3. As I'm new to the system, I deleted some apps that I wouldn't use, such as GarageBand and others. However, apps like Books, AppleTV, Finance, etc., still remain on the system and MacOS won't let me uninstall them. Is there any way I can delete them without harming the system?

As others have said, probably not a good idea to touch those...

I don't really consider those apps "bloatware," as they aren't useless, and they don't slow down the system. Stuff on Windows like "Intel Power Management" or "Dell Control Center" or "Lenovo Performance Manager" - THAT is bloatware.

 

[Ben J.]

On modern macOS (post Catalina) what you see as your internal disk is actually two 'volumes' (much like partitions); the signed system volume which is locked, unwritable, non-duplicatable, and can only be created by an apple macOS installer, and the other a regular volume to store everything else.

The first one, typically called Macintosh HD, contains the system and some of the basic applications cannot be modified, and the second, typically called Macintosh HD - Data, make up a so called 'volume group' and shows as Macintosh HD in finder. You can see the detailed structure in Disk Utilities, if you select 'show all volumes'.

So the contents of your apps folder is in fact a combination of the apps macOS installer installed on the locked system volume and apps in the apps folder that you have installed manually on the writable '- Data' volume.

As an example, when you use the "Erase this mac" option in system settings; this simply erases the Data volume (plus it logs out of iCloud account etc) so if you sell it, on first startup the buyer will be greeted with the "Hello" screen as if it was new, and be able to set up a new user account.

 

[bogdanw]

Technically to do what one implies can be done can not be done
The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that cannot be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

Images of Monterey with some default apps removed https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...te-news-app-on-monterey.2334508/post-30851797
If words and images are not enough, I'll post a video.

 

[Marcopolo53]

I see where this is going and will not bit the bait

 

[Feek]

Strange description of 'Bloatware'.

 

[star-affinity]

After growing up with Windows, I realized a dream: I bought a Macbook Air M3. As I'm new to the system, I deleted some apps that I wouldn't use, such as GarageBand and others. However, apps like Books, AppleTV, Finance, etc., still remain on the system and MacOS won't let me uninstall them. Is there any way I can delete them without harming the system?

If you're new to MacOS and miss the window management from Windows I recommend this highly:

Rectangle

Move and resize windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas. The official page for Rectangle.

rectangleapp.com

Not bloatware at all – usefullware!

 

[bogdanw]

Strange description of 'Bloatware'.

"The term also commonly refers to software preinstalled on a device, usually by the hardware manufacturer, that is mostly unwanted by the purchaser."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat#Bloatware

 

[BR4DOKYBrazil]

On modern macOS (post Catalina) what you see as your internal disk is actually two 'volumes' (much like partitions); the signed system volume which is locked, unwritable, non-duplicatable, and can only be created by an apple macOS installer, and the other a regular volume to store everything else.

The first one, typically called Macintosh HD, contains the system and some of the basic applications cannot be modified, and the second, typically called Macintosh HD - Data, make up a so called 'volume group' and shows as Macintosh HD in finder. You can see the detailed structure in Disk Utilities, if you select 'show all volumes'.

So the contents of your apps folder is in fact a combination of the apps macOS installer installed on the locked system volume and apps in the apps folder that you have installed manually on the writable '- Data' volume.

As an example, when you use the "Erase this mac" option in system settings; this simply erases the Data volume (plus it logs out of iCloud account etc) so if you sell it, on first startup the buyer will be greeted with the "Hello" screen as if it was new, and be able to set up a new user account.

Images of Monterey with some default apps removed https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...te-news-app-on-monterey.2334508/post-30851797
If words and images are not enough, I'll post a video.

Thanks a lot for the help. Apparently, the best thing to do is leave it the way it is.

Strange description of 'Bloatware'.

"The term also commonly refers to software preinstalled on a device, usually by the hardware manufacturer, that is mostly unwanted by the purchaser."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bloat#Bloatware

Exactly.

If you're new to MacOS and miss the window management from Windows I recommend this highly:

Rectangle

Move and resize windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas. The official page for Rectangle.

rectangleapp.com

Not bloatware at all – usefullware!

Coincidentally, a friend just gave me this same recommendation. Thank you very much! As I work with a lot of PDF and WORD documents, I missed these shortcuts.

 

[BR4DOKYBrazil]

As others have said, probably not a good idea to touch those...

I don't really consider those apps "bloatware," as they aren't useless, and they don't slow down the system. Stuff on Windows like "Intel Power Management" or "Dell Control Center" or "Lenovo Performance Manager" - THAT is bloatware.

Looking at it this way, bloatware are really these pre-installed applications that overload the system.

 

[svenmany]

You can see the applications that are on the system volume at /System/Applications. When you see them in Finder, as if located in /Applications, that is just a trick of Finder. I think Apple's position on this is that most users use Apple's own applications rather than installing their own. They don't want rogue versions of these applications installed by accident threatening their users. So they lock these applications down by placing them on the sealed volume.

This redirection is done with firmlinks. There's a great article here https://bombich.com/kb/ccc6/working-apfs-volume-groups.

 

[Silencio]

If you're hard up for disk space and never use those applications, go ahead and delete iMovie and GarageBand, as they do take up a good chunk of space. The iWork applications (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) can also be removed, though they are much smaller. I wouldn't worry about apps like TV, Photos and Books — they're very small and hard to remove, anyway.

 

[fisherking]

If you're hard up for disk space and never use those applications, go ahead and delete iMovie and GarageBand, as they do take up a good chunk of space. The iWork applications (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) can also be removed, though they are much smaller. I wouldn't worry about apps like TV, Photos and Books — they're very small and hard to remove, anyway.

if you're deleting garageband, check the HD>Library>Application Support AND Audio folders; a ton of stuff there (instruments, audio loops) worth deleting too.

deleting some of the default apps (chess, stocks, etc) and gaining back about 100 megs or so hardly seems worthwhile... just my 2 cents (or 100 megs...) 😉

 

[BR4DOKYBrazil]

if you're deleting garageband, check the HD>Library>Application Support AND Audio folders; a ton of stuff there (instruments, audio loops) worth deleting too.

deleting some of the default apps (chess, stocks, etc) and gaining back about 100 megs or so hardly seems worthwhile... just my 2 cents (or 100 megs...) 😉

Excellent tip! I did it! Very good! Really, even deleting the app, there were a lot of things there!

The other apps that there is no option to remove, I will leave in the system. It's not worth moving because of the amount of space I'll gain.

 

[jlc1978]

If you're new to MacOS and miss the window management from Windows I recommend this highly:

Rectangle

Move and resize windows in macOS using keyboard shortcuts or snap areas. The official page for Rectangle.

rectangleapp.com

Not bloatware at all – usefullware!

Another good window manager is Magnet; I've assigned mouse buttons with USB Overdrive to move windows from one screen to the other, snap half left/right/ full screen, etc.

 

[BR4DOKYBrazil]

Another good window manager is Magnet; I've assigned mouse buttons with USB Overdrive to move windows from one screen to the other, snap half left/right/ full screen, etc.

Thank you for the tip. As I've been saying, I grew up using Windows, I'm having to learn to walk again. It feels like I had a stroke and I'm learning to walk again!

But I'm in love with the system, the device and the fluidity of how it all works.

 

[jlc1978]

Thank you for the tip. As I've been saying, I grew up using Windows, I'm having to learn to walk again. It feels like I had a stroke and I'm learning to walk again!

But I'm in love with the system, the device and the fluidity of how it all works.

Glad to help. There are a lot of good utilities that ket you customize and expand MacOS. Aome of my favorites must haves are:

Default Folder X that makes the Save/Open dialogue more powerful as well as adds useful features such as list of last folders/files favorites, etc.

Alfred - Spot Light on steroids and more.

UBar - Dock replacement that is very Windows like

Grammerian - spelling and grammar checker

 

[Ben J.]

Default Folder X that makes the Save/Open dialogue more powerful as well as adds useful features such as list of last folders/files favorites, etc.
Alfred - Spot Light on steroids and more.
UBar - Dock replacement that is very Windows like
Grammerian - spelling and grammar checker

I'll have to add my own favorite, then:
https://www.popclip.app/

Select any text, anywhere, in any app, and a little contextual menu shows up and lets you:
copy, paste, cut etc
search the internet
look up in dictionary
make a note in Notes app
create a reminder
open in google Translate
… and many more options.
You can customize it to have only what you need.
Cloudn't live without it now.

 

[Ruggy]

Thank you for the tip. As I've been saying, I grew up using Windows, I'm having to learn to walk again. It feels like I had a stroke and I'm learning to walk again!

But I'm in love with the system, the device and the fluidity of how it all works.

And things like Garage band can always be downloaded again at any time if you need them by going to the app store.

 

[star-affinity]

Another good window manager is Magnet; I've assigned mouse buttons with USB Overdrive to move windows from one screen to the other, snap half left/right/ full screen, etc.

Magnet is nice too (I have it) and doesn't cost much but I think it's a bit cool that Rectangle is open source.

Glad to help. There are a lot of good utilities that ket you customize and expand MacOS. Aome of my favorites must haves are:

Default Folder X that makes the Save/Open dialogue more powerful as well as adds useful features such as list of last folders/files favorites, etc.

Alfred - Spot Light on steroids and more.

UBar - Dock replacement that is very Windows like

Grammerian - spelling and grammar checker

Alfred is great. Nice developer. Raycast is also cool: https://www.raycast.com/