Music & Audio

How to Completely Uninstall Ableton Live on Mac

To remove Ableton Live, quit the app and drag it to the Trash. However, this action alone does not remove associated data folders, which typically occupy 2 GB – 50 GB.

Last updated: October 31, 20263 min read

Remove Ableton Live and everything it leaves behind

Ableton Live data usually takes 2 GB – 50 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

Scan your Mac free

Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: Ableton Live
Typical data size: 2 GB – 50 GB
Category: Music & Audio
File Location: ~/Library/Application Support/Ableton

Manual cleanup steps

Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
Move Ableton Live from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Remove the folders Ableton Live left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.

Everything Ableton Live keeps on your Mac

3 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.

~/Library/Application Support/Ableton App data · authorization, Live database and app data Yes, once the app is gone~/Music/Ableton Your files · User Library and installed Packs Back up first: your data~/Library/Preferences/Ableton Settings · per-version preferences Yes, settings reset~/Music/Ableton/Factory Packs Other · installed Packs with sounds and instruments, re-downloadable Yes, once the app is gone

Locations are the standard macOS folders Ableton Live uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What Ableton Live leaves behind

Specific to Ableton Live

Dragging the app to the Trash preserves your User Library, installed Packs, and project files. It also leaves behind the browser database, authorization data, and per-version preferences stored in system folders. These remain on your Mac because they contain either your own creative work or account-specific settings.

License: Live is authorized per computer through your Ableton account, with a limited number of authorizations.
Account and sync: Ableton Live is licensed to your Ableton account, and Packs can be downloaded again from it.

Preparing to remove Ableton Live

Before deletion, ensure you have backed up your personal content. Since Factory Packs are re-downloadable via your account, you only need to note which ones you used. If you are switching computers, you should manage your license authorizations first.

Deauthorize this computer in your account if moving to another MacBack up your User Library and all projectsNote your installed Packs for future downloadingQuit the app before removing any files

0 of 4 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	3 folders, one by one	One scan
File sizes	You look them up yourself	Shown for every item
Removing the wrong thing	Easy to delete the wrong folder	Goes to the Trash first, so it can be restored
Cost	Free	Scan is free; cleaning needs Pro (yearly plan has a 7-day free trial)

See it working

OptiClear — Scan overview — every category on one screen — Scan overview — every category on one screen

OptiClear — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach

OptiClear — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you

Try it without risk

Download and scan for freeSee every Ableton Live file and its size. No account needed.
Clean free for 7 daysStart the 7-day free trial of the yearly plan inside the app.
Keep it or cancelCancel in your App Store settings at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you won't be charged.

Download free and scan

After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.

Frequently asked questions

Not all of them. Folders marked “Back up first: your data” hold your own Ableton Live data: back them up before removing them. Folders marked “Yes, settings reset” hold settings, which return to their defaults. Items marked “Yes, once the app is gone” only matter while Ableton Live is installed, so remove them after the app.

Will my license be lost if I delete the application?

No, the license is tied to your account rather than the local installation.

How do I find the hidden library folders to finish the cleanup?

Use Finder > Go > Go to Folder to access the ~/Library path.