How to Uninstall iMovie on Your Mac

You want to uninstall iMovie from your Mac. Whether you've moved on to professional editing software or simply want to free up space, several methods can help you remove the application and its related files.

1. Drag to Delete iMovie

This is the simplest method and works for most non-system applications like iMovie.

On your Mac, launch Finder.

In the Finder sidebar, select Applications.

Locate Apple iMovie.

Drag Apple iMovie to the Trash in your Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click (Control-click) on the iMovie icon and then select Move to Trash.

Go back to your Home folder. Select Movies.

Drag any iMovie-related content, specifically the iMovie Theater and files within the iMovie Library, to the Trash.

Lastly, right-click the Trash icon in your Dock and select Empty Trash to permanently delete iMovie and other items in the Trash. If you have trouble emptying the Trash, try holding the Option key while right-clicking and selecting Empty Trash.

2. Delete iMovie Through Launchpad

This method is quick and doesn't require emptying the Trash afterward.

Open Launchpad (you can click its icon in the Dock or pinch with your thumb and three fingers on a trackpad).

In the Launchpad search box (at the top), type "Apple iMovie".

Once the Apple iMovie icon appears, click and hold it until all icons start to wiggle.

Click the "X" button that appears on the upper-left corner of the Apple iMovie icon.

When the confirmation pop-up box shows up, hit Delete.

3. Remove iMovie-Related Components Using Finder

While the above methods remove the main application, lingering cache and preference files might remain. For a complete removal, you'll need to delete these components manually.

Launch Finder.

In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Go, then select Go to Folder....

In the pop-up box, enter the path: ~/Library/. Click Go.

Once the Library folder opens, look for any files or folders with "iMovie" or "Apple iMovie" in their name. These are typically found within subfolders like "Caches," "Preferences," and "Application Support." Right-click on those items and click Move to Trash to remove them.

Repeat steps 2 and 3, entering the following paths in the pop-up box one by one to look for more iMovie-related components and move them to the Trash:

~/Library/Caches
~/Library/Preferences
~/Library/Application Support
~/Library/LaunchAgents
~/Library/LaunchDaemons
~/Library/PreferencePanes
~/Library/StartupItems

After moving all identified files to Trash, right-click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

4. Use Built-in iMovie Uninstaller (If Available)

Some applications, though less common for App Store downloads like iMovie, come with their own uninstallers. If you installed iMovie from a disk or a downloaded package, it might have one.

Using Finder, locate the Apple iMovie installation file on your Mac (e.g., the .dmg file you might have downloaded).

Open the file (if it's a disk image) and look for an application named "Uninstall iMovie" or similar.

Double-click the uninstaller file to run it.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstalling process.

5. Use a Third-Party Tool to Remove iMovie

For a thorough and convenient uninstallation, especially if you're unsure about manually finding all associated files or encounter issues with emptying the Trash, a third-party uninstaller tool can be very helpful.

Here are some recommended tools:

CleanMyMac X: This notarized cleaner app can remove iMovie and all its meta-files (e.g., system scripts, installed languages) that might otherwise take up space or interfere with future installations.
MacRemover: A light but powerful tool designed for thorough removal of unwanted or corrupted applications in a few simple steps.
Osx Uninstaller: This tool aims to remove not just the app but also related software and plugins that might not appear in the Applications folder.
Nektony’s App Cleaner & Uninstaller: This tool quickly finds and removes all service files related to the app you want to uninstall, leaving no traces on your disk.

These tools automate the process of identifying and deleting all associated files, ensuring a cleaner removal than manual methods might achieve.