The Podcasts app is a pre-installed program on every Mac, designed to let you discover, subscribe to, and listen to your favorite shows. While useful for some, many Mac users find it unnecessary and would prefer to remove it to save space or declutter their system.
I don't need a Podcast on my Mac, as it takes up too much memory. Please tell me how to remove the Podcasts app from my Mac. -discussion.apple.com
The apps like Podcasts, Music, and TV apps can be deleted on Mac, how can I realize it? -reddit.com
Why can't uninstall Podcasts app on Mac directly? The problem is that Podcasts is a system app, meaning it can't be uninstalled as easily as third-party applications. Fortunately, there are several approaches, ranging from Apple-approved adjustments to advanced Terminal methods, that can help you manage or even completely remove the Podcasts app from your Mac.
How to uninstall Podcasts from Mac
In short, you can use these to uninstall Podcasts on Mac:
| Best option: Hide and disable Podcasts. |
| If you need space: Just delete episodes. |
| If you want it gone completely: Terminal, but risky. |
# 1 Apple-approved safe way
If you'd like to stop Podcasts from bothering you without touching system files, Apple provides a few safe options.
Note: Some of the steps may vary slightly depending on your version of the app, but the process works in the same way.
- Remove Podcasts from Dock & Sidebar: Right-click the Podcasts icon in the Dock, quit it, and select Options > Remove from Dock.
- Open Finder, go to Finder > Settings > Sidebar, and uncheck Podcasts to hide it.
- Launch Podcasts and go to Settings, then click the arrows to disable Automatically Download.
- Head to Apple menu > System Settings > Notifications > Podcasts, and switch them off.
- Drag the Podcasts app into a folder in Launchpad, or restrict it through Screen Time > App Limits.
This method effectively gets Podcasts out of your way without risking system stability.
# 2 Advanced complex way using Terminal
For those determined to remove Podcasts completely, you can use Mac Terminal. Be aware that this involves disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) in macOS Recovery Mode and modifying system files, which can lead to instability. Proceed with caution and at your own risk.
- Restart your Mac, and as it restarts, immediately hold down Command + R keys to boot into macOS Recovery Mode.
- From the top menu bar, click Utilities > Terminal.
- In the Terminal window, type csrutil disable and press the Enter key.
- You will see a message that SIP has been disabled, then restart your Mac normally.
- Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type sudo rm -rf /Applications/Podcasts.app and enter your administrator password when prompted.
- Restart your Mac into macOS Recovery Mode again.
- Run csrutil enable and press the Enter key.
After this, Podcasts will be removed. Keep in mind that future macOS updates may reinstall it. Please share this post to help more users who wanna uninstall Podcasts on Mac.
An Excellent Uninstaller to Remove Apps Completely
If you're looking for a more user-friendly solution to uninstall apps on Mac, consider CleanMyApp. This all-in-one uninstaller helps you:
- Remove stubborn apps and all their hidden files.
- Clean leftover system junk after uninstalling.
- Free up valuable disk space with just a few clicks.
- Lightweight tool that is easy to use and get started with.
- Save time and effort on searching frantically in numerous Library folders.
Unlike manual methods, CleanMyApp ensures a thorough and safe removal process without requiring you to disable system protections. Download and have a try~
Final thoughts
Uninstalling Podcasts from Mac isn't straightforward because it's a system application, but you still have multiple options. For most users, the Apple-approved methods—removing it from Dock, stopping downloads, and hiding the app—will be more than enough. Advanced users can dive into Terminal.
For other dead-end apps, use CleanMyApp to get a complete removal.
FAQs about uninstalling Podcasts on Mac
- QHow to remove downloaded Podcasts on Mac?
-
A
Open the Podcasts app > Library, right-click the episode, and choose Remove Download.
- QHow to get rid of an app that won’t uninstall on Mac?
-
A
Drag it to Trash, or if it's a system app, use Terminal or a third-party uninstaller like CleanMyApp.
- QWhy can’t I delete Podcasts, Music, Apple TV...from my Mac?
-
A
Because they're built-in system apps, macOS protects them from being removed. You can only hide or disable them unless you use advanced Terminal methods.