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Announced in 2011, iTunes is the most popular media hub in the world. Yet you might want to uninstall iTunes to fix data sync, reset iTunes, or maybe to free up some disk space. Whatever the reason be, in this guide, we will explain how to remove iTunes from Mac completely. In addition to this, we will also cover how to clean up junk files, optimize, and clean Mac.
Are you ready? So, let’s read ahead.
Yes, you can go to the actual folder containing the apps and move it to an external HDD, but DON'T delete the app from iTunes. ITunes don't update the app list automatically so it won't know that the actual app is missing from the folder. Afterwards you can sync it normally and the apps that were moved should still be on the idevice. Particularly for a restore, using an iTunes backup will be much faster and get your device back in a single step, whereas using iCloud backups will perform a staged recovery, pulling back your options and settings etc, then pulling each app directly from the App Store, which will likely not only be very slow (certainly in comparison) but may. Next, simply click Uninstall to remove iTunes, QuickTime, Apple Software Update, Apple Mobile Device Support, Bonjour and Apple Application Support from your PC. CopyTrans Drivers Installer will now remove iTunes and all related Apple Software from your computer.
Additional Information: Latest macOS Catalina 10.15 marks the official end of iTunes. Now iTunes media library is available in the Apple Music app, Apple TV app, Apple Books app, and Apple Podcasts app.
How to Remove iTunes from Mac
Have you ever seen the error message as shown in the screenshot below?
If you’ve tried moving iTunes to Trash surely, you have seen the message “iTunes.app” can’t be modified or deleted because macOS require it.
This is because Apple restricts you from deleting default apps. But if you want to uninstall iTunes, don’t worry! Systweak, as always, has a solution. They know how to uninstall a default Apple app. So, here’s how to delete iTunes and its corresponding files from Mac.
Method 1 – Uninstalling iTunes Manually
Note: Completely uninstalling iTunes means your user settings, playlists, etc. will also be deleted.
So, you are ready to uninstall iTunes, the pre-installed app from Apple?
For this, we will have to disable Apple System Integrity Protection (SIP) as this service will restrict you from deleting iTunes.
To disable Apple SIP and remove iTunes, follow these steps:
1. Restart Mac and press & hold Command +R when restart is in progress
2. This will bring up recovery mode
3. Here, click the menu bar Utilities > Terminal
4. Now, in the Terminal windows copy paste – csrutil disable command and press Enter. This will disable Apple System Integrity Protection.
5. Afterward, restart Mac and log in using the admin account. To remove pre-installed apps logging via admin account is required.
6. Once logged in as through administrator account type in the Terminal window type –
cd/Applications/
and press Enter. This will show the application directory.7. Next, use the command –
sudo mount -uw/System/Applications
and press Enter. This will give Read & Write permission.8. Now, to delete default Apple application type –
sudo rm -rf iTunes.app/
and press Enter.This will remove iTunes from your Mac. But remember since we are using Terminal commands to delete iTunes it will not ask system configurations; iTunes will be removed instantly.
Note:After deleting iTunes remember to enable System Integrity Protection. This will prevent you from accidentally deleting any important app. For this, restart Mac > press Command +R > this will open system recovery mode > Utilities > Terminal and here type csrutil enable
Method 2 – Moving iTunes to Trash/Bin
1. Drag iTunes icon to Trash. If you receive an error message, move to step 2. However, if everything goes well skip to step 6
2. Head to the Application folder and Right click iTunes.app file > Get Info
3. Click the Padlock icon and enter Admin Password
4. Click Sharing & Permissions and set “everyone” to Read & Write
5. Exit and retry moving iTunes to Trash Free mac table app.
6. Into Spotlight type Activity Monitor
7. Look for iTunes Helper and delete it.
8. Move to Library > Preferences
9. Search for files written
com.apple.itunes
, select and remove them10. Reboot Mac
This should remove iTunes from Mac.
Well, all this sounds complicated, and we do not recommend uninstalling iTunes unless necessary. If you are deleting it to fix some issues, we suggest cleaning iTunes Junk. As it will help fix all the problems and will make iTunes run perfectly. For this, you can try out TuneUpMyMac, the specialist in junk cleaning and the best Mac optimizer. You will be shocked to see the space iTunes broken downloads, junk files, old backups take. All this can be quickly sorted by using this best Mac optimizer and junk cleaner.
How to Clean iTunes Junk and Reset iTunes
Speaking of cleaning iTunes junk and clearing cache and system files, you need to run One Click Cleaning using TuneUpMyMac. This will show you all the junk data and the space you will be able to recover after fixing all the files.
To use it, follow the steps below:
1. Download and install TuneUpMyMac
2. Double click tuneupmymac_.pkg and follow on-screen instructions to run the product
3. Now click Start Scan Now and let the special tool from Systweak, designed to clean junk, cache, old files run.
4. Once you have the scan results, click Clean Now to fix them.
Uninstall Itunes App
Note: TuneUpMyMac offers a module named uninstaller using which you can easily install apps without leaving leftovers. But it does not list Apple’s default app. Therefore, using it, you can uninstall iTunes. However, you can remove iTunes junk, user cache, system junk, old iTunes Back, and a lot more.
To remove the cache file and old iTunes Backup that take unnecessary space and create issues, follow the steps below:
1. Launch TuneUpMyMac
2. Assuming you have used One Click Cleaning, we’ll talk about the System Cleaner module.
3. Click System Cleaner from the left pane and click Scan Now. Let the scan finish.
4. You’ll now see System Cache, User Cache, Sandbox Cache. To clean all this unwanted cache and free up space, click Clean Now.
5. Now try and use iTunes you should not face any problem. How to add apps to the taskbar mac.
6. In addition to this, click Misc Cleaning under MANUAL CLEANING from the left pane.
7. Click Scan Now
8. To run the scan, you will need to grant Full Disk Access permission.
9. For this, click Open Security & Privacy.
10. In the new window that opens, select TuneUpMyMac. To choose the app, you will need to click the padlock and enter the admin password.
11. Once the permission is granted click Quit and Reopen
12. Now click Scan Now and wait for the scan to finish.
13. You will now see all iTunes Backups, Mail Downloads, and Old Downloads, all of which are taking unnecessary space and making iTunes unresponsive.
This is not all using this excellent application; you can also clear Large Files and optimize Mac.
After using this product, you will not face any problem in using iTunes. Also, you will experience a performance boost and will never face storage issues.
Can't Delete Apps On Mac
This is all for now. We hope this guide helped you delete iTunes and understand why removing junk files is necessary. Now you can make iTunes run smoothly with TuneUpMyMac however, if you want to delete it then also you know how to do it.
TuneUpMyMac has a lot to offer to know that you just need to use the application for once. But again, we would not recommend uninstalling any default Apple app unless it is required. So, follow the steps explained above cautiously. If you have any doubts when using Terminal, take the help of an expert.
Do let us know how did you find the article and did it help in the comments.
iTunes is going places.
Download macOS Catalina for an all‑new entertainment experience. Your music, TV shows, movies, podcasts, and audiobooks will transfer automatically to the Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Books apps where you’ll still have access to your favorite iTunes features, including purchases, rentals, and imports.
You can always download iTunes 12.8 for previous versions of macOS,
as well as the iTunes application for Windows.
as well as the iTunes application for Windows.
Hardware:
- Mac computer with an Intel processor
- To play 720p HD video, an iTunes LP, or iTunes Extras, a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor is required
- To play 1080p HD video, a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor and 2GB of RAM is required
- Screen resolution of 1024x768 or greater; 1280x800 or greater is required to play an iTunes LP or iTunes Extras
- Internet connection to use Apple Music, the iTunes Store, and iTunes Extras
- Apple combo drive or SuperDrive to create audio, MP3, or backup CDs; some non-Apple CD-RW recorders may also work. Songs from the Apple Music catalog cannot be burned to a CD.
Software:
- OS X version 10.10.5 or later
- 400MB of available disk space
- Apple Music, iTunes Store, and iTunes Match availability may vary by country
- Apple Music trial requires sign-up and is available for new subscribers only. Plan automatically renews after trial.
iTunes
Download the latest version for Windows.
The latest entertainment apps now come installed with macOS Catalina. Upgrade today to get your favorite music, movies, TV shows, and podcasts. You can join Apple Music and stream — or download and play offline — over 70 million songs, ad‑free.
iTunes
Download the latest version from the Microsoft Store.
The latest entertainment apps now come installed with macOS Catalina. Upgrade today to get your favorite music, movies, TV shows, and podcasts. You can join Apple Music and stream — or download and play offline — over 70 million songs, ad‑free.
Hardware:
- PC with a 1GHz Intel or AMD processor with support for SSE2 and 512MB of RAM
- To play standard-definition video from the iTunes Store, an Intel Pentium D or faster processor, 512MB of RAM, and a DirectX 9.0–compatible video card is required
- To play 720p HD video, an iTunes LP, or iTunes Extras, a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor, 1GB of RAM, and an Intel GMA X3000, ATI Radeon X1300, or NVIDIA GeForce 6150 or better is required
- To play 1080p HD video, a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor, 2GB of RAM, and an Intel GMA X4500HD, ATI Radeon HD 2400, or NVIDIA GeForce 8300 GS or better is required
- Screen resolution of 1024x768 or greater; 1280x800 or greater is required to play an iTunes LP or iTunes Extras
- 16-bit sound card and speakers
- Internet connection to use Apple Music, the iTunes Store, and iTunes Extras
- iTunes-compatible CD or DVD recorder to create audio CDs, MP3 CDs, or backup CDs or DVDs. Songs from the Apple Music catalog cannot be burned to a CD.
Software:
- Windows 7 or later
- 64-bit editions of Windows require the iTunes 64-bit installer
- 400MB of available disk space
- Some third-party visualizers may no longer be compatible with this version of iTunes. Please contact the developer for an updated visualizer that is compatible with iTunes 12.1 or later.
- Apple Music, iTunes Store, and iTunes Match availability may vary by country
- Apple Music trial requires sign-up and is available for new subscribers only. Plan automatically renews after trial.
iTunes is going places.
Visit the iTunes Store on iOS to buy and download your favorite songs, TV shows, movies, and podcasts. You can also download macOS Catalina for an all-new entertainment experience on desktop. Your library will transfer automatically to the new Apple Music app, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. And you’ll still have access to your favorite iTunes features, including your previous iTunes Store purchases, rentals, and imports and the ability to easily manage your library.
Music, TV, and podcasts
take center stage.
iTunes forever changed the way people experienced music, movies, TV shows, and podcasts. It all changes again with three all-new, dedicated apps — Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts — each designed from the ground up to be the best way to enjoy entertainment on your Mac. And rest assured; everything you had in your iTunes library is still accessible in each app. iCloud seamlessly syncs everything across your devices — or you can back up, restore, and sync by connecting the device directly to your Mac.
The new Apple Music app is the ultimate music streaming experience on Mac.1 Explore a library of 70 million songs, discover new artists and tracks, find the perfect playlist, download and listen offline, or enjoy all the music you’ve collected over the years. And find it all in your music library on all your devices.
The Apple TV app for Mac is the new home for all your favorite movies, shows, premium channels, and Apple TV+. Watch everything directly in the app or enjoy it offline, and discover the best of what’s on in the Watch Now tab. You can even pick up where you left off on any screen, across all your devices. And for the first time, 4K2 and Dolby Atmos3-supported movies are available on Mac.
More than 700,000 of the best entertainment, comedy, news, and sports shows are now available on your Mac with Apple Podcasts. Search for podcasts by title, topic, guest, host, content, and more. Subscribe and be notified as soon as new episodes become available. And in the Listen Now tab, you can easily pick up where you left off across all your devices.
iTunes Support can help answer your questions
Get help with syncing, updating to a more recent version of iTunes, or with an iTunes Store purchase — and much more.
Learn moreLooking for a previous version of iTunes?
Download earlier versions of iTunes to work with compatible operating systems and hardware.
Find previous versions of iTunes