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robert_0339
Known Participant
February 10, 2025
Question

Can't uninstall Elements

  • February 10, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 903 views

Hi Folks,

I recently got a new MacBook and accientally installed Photoshop Elements instead of regular photoshop.  It takes up something like 10Gb so I want to uninstall it, but when I've searched online for how to do it, the instructions tell me to use the PS Elements Uninstaller in the Applications/ Utilities/ Adobe Installers folder.  Unfortunately there is no PS Elements Uninstaller in that folder - can anyone help with this?

Many thanks in advance.

6 replies

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 12, 2025

Photoshop Elements from the Apple App Store is that big in size becuse it's a package, meaning everything that Adobe normally scatters all over the drive is in that package.

    R
    robert_0339Author
    Known Participant
    February 12, 2025

    That makes sense.  I've used that App Store trick to get rid of a couple of other unwanted things too - great tip 👍.

    Glenn 8675309
    Glenn 8675309
    Legend
    February 12, 2025

    It's impossible for the basic install of PSE 2025 to take up 10GB of space.  At the most, even if Adobe camera raw is installed you are only looking ar about 4GB, definately not 10GB.

    Start the editor.
    LOG OUT OF IT.
    CLOSE ALL ADOBE APPS.

     

     

    • Open Finder: Launch the Finder application. 
       
    • Navigate to Applications: In the sidebar, click on "Applications". 
       
    • Select the app: Click on the app you want to uninstall. 
       
    • Move to Trash: Drag the app icon to the Trash icon in the Dock, or right-click and choose "Move to Trash". 
       

     

     

    • Empty Trash: To permanently delete the app, right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select "Empty Trash". 






      R
      robert_0339Author
      Known Participant
      February 12, 2025

      Thanks Glenn.  It did seem concerning, but having managed to delete it finally, the problem has gone away.  Photoshop and Lightroom seem to be working fine and not guzzling space...

       

      Cheers.

      Jeff Arola
      Community Expert
      Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 11, 2025

      If on your Mac you go to Apple>App Store, click on your name in the lower left hand corner you should then get a list of installed and/or available applications you've purchased or downloaded from the app store.

       

      Under where it lists Adobe Photoshop Elements 2025 (or other version) to the right of the Open button, click on the three little dots and you should see Delete App

       

        R
        robert_0339Author
        Known Participant
        February 11, 2025

        Thanks Jeff - I've never done that before but it's super useful.

         

        Cheers!

        Jeff Arola
        Community Expert
        Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 11, 2025

        Is this Photoshop Elements 2025?

         

        Did you buy Photoshop Elements 2025 from Adobe/third party retailer or through the Apple App Store?

         

        For a Photoshop Elements install not from Apple, there should also be a shortcut to the Uninstaller in the Photoshop Elements Application folder.

         

        For example, for Adobe Photoshop Elements 2025 it would be in

        Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements 2025/Support Files/Uninstall Adobe Photoshop Elements 2025

         

          R
          robert_0339Author
          Known Participant
          February 11, 2025

          Hi Jeff,

          I got it through the app store.  For some reason, I could only see it as an icon in the dock folder - there was nothing on Finder until after I installed Rosetta, then the Elements files showed up, so I've just deleted them.

           

          Cheers,

          Robert

          L
          LAMY2017
          Legend
          February 11, 2025

          robert, to run the unistaller, the installation page reads

          Go to Applications > Utilities > Adobe Installers or Applications > <Product version>.

           

          See

          Troubleshoot installation | Photoshop Elements, Premiere Elements | macOS

          5. Delete previously installed application files.

           

          Resort to the cleaner tool if this doesn't work.

           

          Larry
            R
            robert_0339Author
            Known Participant
            February 11, 2025

            Thanks Larry.  When I go to the folder, it only shows Adobe Installers (not the 'or applications' part) and the only options I have there are for Creative Cloud or Photoshop 2025, both of which I want to keep.  I'm not sure why this is - something to do with OS Sequoia perhaps? - but iIt looks like I will have to resort to the cleaner tool, which is disappointing as that seems unnecessarily complicated.

             

            Cheers,

            Robert

            creative explorer
            Community Expert
            creative explorerCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            February 10, 2025

            @robert_0339  use Adobe Cleaner to remove it
            https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

             

            m
              R
              robert_0339Author
              Known Participant
              February 11, 2025

              Thanks Creative Explorer.  I've downloaded the cleaner tool (and Rosetta as well) but when I open it, PS Elements is not listed as something that can be removed, even though I can clearly see that it is there in my applications folder.  Am I doing something wrong or being an idiot?  

               

              Cheers,

              Robert

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