Whether you want to free up some storage space on your computer or just don’t plan on using the app, GarageBand is easy to delete from your Mac. You can delete it by dragging the app icon into the trash.
I’m Donovan, and I’ve been making and recording music for over a decade. I’m very familiar with using GarageBand on my Mac and know the process involved in deleting the app from your computer.
This post will show you how to delete the GarageBand app from your Mac. I’ll walk you through all the steps you need to make this happen and also show you how to delete any files associated with the app.
Let’s get started.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- You can delete GarageBand from your Mac by dragging the app icon into the trash bin, but you’ll want to empty the trash and any associated files to free up the most space.
- If you don’t plan on using GarageBand, you can easily delete the app from your Mac.
- You can also reinstall GarageBand on your Mac at any point after you delete it.
How to Delete GarageBand on Mac
Removing GarageBand from your Mac is a quick and easy process, and it only takes a few minutes once you know the proper steps. If you don’t plan on using the app or need to free up storage space on your computer, removing GarageBand might be a good idea.
Follow these steps to delete GarageBand on your Mac:
1. Move your cursor over the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select About This Mac
3. Click on the Storage tab.
4. Click the Manage button.
5. Select the Music Creation option from the list on the left side of this window.
6. Select all of the files in this folder and then click Delete.
7. Go back to the Finder and locate the GarageBand app icon.
8. Drag the GarageBand app icon into the Trash.
9. Open the Trash and then click on Empty Trash to remove all of the contents within the trash bin.
The above process will remove the app and most of its associated files from your Mac. But if you want to go a step further and ensure you get rid of all the files associated with GarageBand, follow the steps below.
- Go to the home screen of your Mac and move the cursor over the Go option.
- Hold down the Option key, and the Library option will appear in the dropdown menu.
- Select Library.
- Select the Audio folder.
- You can delete the other folders in this window, including Plug-Ins and MIDI Drivers.
- Now, you can go back to the Library and select the Music folder if you see one. If you see any files related to GarageBand here, you can delete those as well.
How to Delete GarageBand Instruments and Lessons from Mac
If you want to free up some storage space on your Mac but don’t want to delete the GarageBand app entirely, you can just delete a few aspects of the app that you might not use.
The app comes with built-in software instruments and music lessons that are great tools to take advantage of if you are just learning how to make and create music. But these aren’t necessary for everyone, and you might not want them on your computer.
To delete GarageBand instruments and lessons from your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Move your cursor over the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select About This Mac
3. Click on the Storage tab.
4. Click the Manage button.
5. Select the Music Creation option from the list on the left side of this window.
6. Select the Basic Lessons and Instrument Library from the window.
7. Select Delete.
If you delete the instrument library from GarageBand, it will limit what you are able to do with the app. You won’t have access to all of the built-in software instruments that make the app so much fun to work with. But it will free up some space without deleting the app entirely.
You can also delete Apple Loops here, freeing up more space. You might even want to delete the loops instead of deleting the instruments, depending on how you want to use GarageBand with limited capacity.
How to Delete GarageBand Files
You can also free up some storage space on your Mac by deleting GarageBand files that you no longer need. These might include old projects you don’t need anymore or songs that never turned into complete projects.
If you are active on GarageBand, these files can add up quickly and start to take up space, so checking in on them and removing them every once in a while is a good idea.
To delete GarageBand files from your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Open the Finder on your Mac.
2. Select Go from the top menu bar.
3. Select Home from the dropdown menu.
4. Open the Music folder.
5. Open the GarageBand folder.
6. Delete any unwanted files here by dragging them to the trash or doing a Control Click and then selecting Move to Trash.
FAQs
Here are a few short answers to some of the most frequently asked questions relating to deleting GarageBand on a Mac.
Can I delete GarageBand from my Mac and get it back?
Yes, you can delete GarageBand from your Mac and then get it back. The process for reinstalling the app back on your computer is the same as downloading any other app. Just choose GarageBand from the App Store and install it onto your system.
How do I permanently delete GarageBand?
If you delete the GarageBand app and all of its associate files from your computer, it will be permanently removed from your Mac. You can always reinstall the app if you want to use it again in the future.
Do I need GarageBand on my Mac?
If you don’t plan on making or recording any music, you don’t really need GarageBand on your Mac. I think it’s a great app to have around and is a lot of fun to work with, but not everyone needs it, so you might want to delete it.
Conclusion
Deleting GarageBand on your Mac is pretty straightforward and similar to deleting any other app from your system. The easiest way to do this is to drag the app icon into the trash bin and empty the trash.
If you want to go a step further to free up as much space as possible, you’ll want to go through your computer and remove all of the files associated with GarageBand as well. Just follow the steps in this post to make that happen.
If you are trying to delete GarageBand from your Mac, I’d love to know why. Let me know in the comments below.
