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Brief Introduction to Apple iLife

Updated on Friday, March 7, 2025

Written by

Sherry Song

Approved by

Jessica Shee

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Summary: You may have heard of iLife Apple a long time ago, is it still used nowadays? Here, iBoysoft will give you a simple introduction to Apple iLife, and if you wanna delete it, find answers here.

 

iLife is a suite of multimedia and creativity software developed by Apple, helping users manage, edit, and share photos, videos, and music seamlessly.

Originally included for free with new Mac computers, iLife Apple aimed to provide a user-friendly experience for content creation. Over the years, Apple has gradually replaced or integrated these applications into macOS and iOS, but the suite has played a crucial role in shaping Apple's ecosystem of creative tools.

Key applications in iLife

Apple iLife is a discontinued suite of creative applications designed for media management and production. Its main applications and functions were:

  • iMovie: Create and edit videos with transitions, effects, and audio integration.
  • GarageBand: Compose music using instruments, and record and edit podcasts with voiceover tools.
  • iPhoto(Discontinued, replaced by Photos app): Organize, retouch, and share photos; create slideshows, albums, and print projects (e.g., Books, Calendar).
  • iWeb (Discontinued): Build websites using templates, integrating media from iLife apps (photos, videos, blogs).
  • iDVD (Discontinued): Burn projects to DVDs with custom menus, often used with iMovie or iPhoto content.

Note: iLife is no longer updated, but iMovie and GarageBand remain available as standalone apps on macOS and iOS. iPhoto, iWeb, and iDVD were phased out.

Compatibility and history of iLife

Apple first introduced iLife in 2003 as a bundled suite with new Mac computers, and over the years, the suite underwent multiple updates and enhancements.

Apple iLife was primarily designed for macOS, though some applications also had versions for iOS. With the evolution of macOS, Apple gradually replaced the original suite with standalone apps available through the Mac App Store.

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Can I delete iLife on Mac?

If your Mac still has iLife applications installed, you can delete them without any issues. Since Apple has phased out the suite, most of its apps are now available individually. Can I delete iLife? Sure~ If you no longer use older iLife apps, removing them can free up storage space.

Let's delete an iLife app on Mac:

  1. Open the Finder and go to the Applications folder.
  2. Locate the app you want to remove (e.g., iPhoto, iDVD, or iWeb).
  3. Drag the app to the Trash or right-click and select Move to Trash.
  4. Empty the Trash to complete the deletion.

For iMovie and GarageBand, if you need them later, you can reinstall them from the Mac App Store.

But note that moving to Trash can only delete the app itself, the leftovers are still on Mac, which not only takes up Mac storage but also slows down the performance. To delete iLife Apple completely, you're highly recommended to use CleanMyApp, an Apple-trusted app.

Final words

iLife Apple was a groundbreaking suite of applications that helped Mac users edit photos, create videos, compose music, and even build websites. While some of its apps have been discontinued, others remain essential tools in Apple's ecosystem.

Whether you want to keep or remove iLife apps from your Mac depends on your creative needs, but Apple's newer software ensures you still have powerful multimedia tools at your disposal.

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