3D & CAD

Can I delete Autodesk Maya from my Mac?

Yes, you can delete it

You can delete Autodesk Maya from your Mac without losing your account access or licenses. Removing the app alone does not delete your project folders or preference data, which occupy between 2 GB – 100 GB.

Last updated: October 31, 20262 min read

See how much space Autodesk Maya really takes before you decide

Autodesk Maya data usually takes 2 GB – 100 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Application: Autodesk Maya
Typical data size: 2 GB – 100 GB
Category: 3D & CAD
File Location: ~/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya

What happens when you remove Autodesk Maya

Specific to Autodesk Maya

Your license stays tied to your Autodesk account regardless of the app installation. Your scenes, textures, and renders remain safely in the project folders you designated. Personalizations like shelves, MEL or Python scripts, and plug-in settings live in a separate preferences folder and are not deleted automatically. Shared licensing services and components also remain on your system to support other software from the same company.

Where your Autodesk Maya data lives

Autodesk Maya keeps none of your own files in its folders; what it stores is rebuilt automatically or comes from your account.

~/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya Settings · Maya preferences, shelves, scripts and plug-in settings per version Yes, settings reset/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.autodesk.AdskLicensingService.plist Background item · Autodesk licensing service daemon shared by Autodesk apps Only if no other app uses it/Library/Application Support/Autodesk Other · Autodesk licensing and components shared by Autodesk apps Only if no other app uses it/Applications/Autodesk Other · folder holding Maya and other Autodesk apps with their uninstallers Only if no other app uses it

Account and sync: Maya is licensed through an Autodesk account.
License: The licence is tied to your Autodesk account.
Your files: Scenes, textures and renders are saved in the project folders you set.

Considerations before deleting Autodesk Maya

Since preferences and custom scripts reside in ~/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya, they will be lost if you manually clear that directory later. Deleting the app is a bad idea if you have unsaved project caches or unbacked-up hotkeys. You should sign out of the license specifically if you plan to move your work to another Mac.

Sign out of the Autodesk licence within the appSave all project folders including scenes, textures, and cachesCopy shelves, scripts, and hotkeys from the preferences folderQuit the app before removing any associated files

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How to delete Autodesk Maya completely

Quit Autodesk Maya, move it to the Trash, then remove what it left in ~/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya. The full step-by-step guide:

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Frequently asked questions

Will deleting Autodesk Maya delete my files?

No. Removing the app doesn't touch documents you saved in other folders. Only the app and, if you remove them, its own support files are deleted.

Will removing the app affect my other Autodesk software?

No, because shared licensing daemons and application support folders are kept while any other company apps are installed.

Where are my personalized scripts stored?

They are kept in a versioned folder under Preferences, making your specific setup personal to that machine.