How to uninstall Adobe Creative Cloud on Mac completely and safely

Removing Creative Cloud from your Mac is not as easy as getting rid of a simple sticky notes app, considering that there are multiple Creative Cloud apps in the ecosystem to deal with.

I’ll explain what Adobe Creative Cloud is, guide you through everything you need to know about permanent deletion, and show you how to remove it manually – along with any related files.

What is Adobe Creative Cloud, and why uninstall it

Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service that includes over 20 creative apps. These include Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, and many other apps, web services, and resources for photography, video editing, design, social media, and more. In addition, users get cloud storage, templates, fonts, and collaboration tools.

This suite is essential for many creators, but some may need to uninstall Creative Cloud on a Mac. The thing is, the apps rely on several background processes, services, and login items. That means they can take up extra storage space or cause startup delays, system slowdowns, and other performance issues. If your Mac isn’t brand new or doesn’t have enough memory to handle these processes, performance may lag.

Here are some smart reasons to uninstall Adobe Creative Cloud on Mac:

• Free up disk space for other files or tools.
• Remove unused apps.
• Fix performance lags or app conflicts.
• Make your Mac lighter after your subscription ends or after switching to other tools.

How to delete Adobe Creative Cloud with ease

There are several ways to uninstall Adobe Creative Cloud, but in my experience, many of them leave behind leftovers and system junk. The most reliable way for me to uninstall Adobe on a Mac is to use a dedicated app like CleanMyMac. It removes the app and all associated files, system junk, and any leftovers it may have created. Your Mac will behave as if the app was never installed.

Here’s how to delete Adobe on a Mac using CleanMyMac:

1. Download and open CleanMyMac.
2. Make sure all Creative Cloud and Adobe apps are closed.
3. Click Applications in the left sidebar and press Scan.
4. Click Manage My Applications and find Creative Cloud in the list.
5. Select it, click Uninstall and wait until the process is complete.

CleanMyMac will automatically remove hidden support files, caches, login items, and more. No leftover files or pop-ups connected to deleted apps will catch you by surprise. 

How to remove Adobe Creative Cloud from Mac manually

Prefer the built-in route? 

Here’s how to remove Creative Cloud from Mac manually:

1. Close down all your Adobe Creative Cloud applications and windows. If you’re not sure whether there are related processes running in the background, open the Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor). You can click on any line that has a Creative Cloud or Adobe-related logo next to it and click Quit Process to close them.



2. Access your Applications folder to delete the main Creative Cloud app by going into your Applications folder and searching for the Adobe Creative Cloud folder. You can either right-click on the icon and select Move to Trash or drag and drop the folder into your Mac dock’s trash can. Do the same for any other downloaded Creative Cloud applications. You may have to enter your password to give your Mac permission.

Warning: Can't uninstall Adobe Creative Cloud? Some deletions may need admin rights or could be blocked – restart and try again if needed.

Once finished, restart your Mac to wrap it up.

You can also look for the Creative Cloud Uninstaller that comes with the installation pack and double-click on it to start the process. You’ll be prompted to click the Uninstall button, and it will let you know when it has successfully uninstalled the program.

If you don't have an uninstaller, try to download it from the official website (switch macOS tab).

While this method to delete Creative Cloud from Mac is native to Adobe, it’s a bit vague and won’t show you the process. 

Delete Adobe Creative Cloud-related files

Even after the main apps are gone, hidden files often stay behind and cause storage bloat, reappearing icons, or reinstall headaches.

To fully delete Creative Cloud from Mac and remove Creative Cloud from Mac:

1. Remove any additional folders and files by opening up Finder and clicking on Go in the menu bar. Click Go to Folder and then type in ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe in the box that popped up.



2. Double-click on the first result. A folder with a variety of folders should pop up. Delete all those files by highlighting them all, then pressing Command + Delete.
3. Right-click on your Trash can and click Empty Trash.

To be completely sure that all folders are deleted, you can search Creative Cloud in your Mac’s search bar and see if any stragglers pop up. It’s also useful to repeat the first step over again and type in ~/Library/Preferences/, then remove all Adobe-related files from that folder as well. 

If you do have projects created using Adobe’s tools, you’ll likely see a folder called Creative Cloud Files. Make sure you have these backed up if you still need them.

Delete Adobe from Mac for good

You now know exactly how to uninstall Adobe Creative Cloud completely and safely. Taking the time to do it right keeps your Mac running smoothly and free of clutter.

Taking the time to uninstall Adobe on Mac (as well as any software) the right way will make sure your Mac doesn’t come across any issues from leftover files. If you’re looking for a better way to organize your files or manage your Mac apps, Setapp provides a range of tools, including CleanMyMac, under one subscription starting at $9.99 + tax. These apps are all native to macOS, letting you develop, create, work, and optimize your processes with ease.

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