Help · Mac apps

How to uninstall Ableton Live on a Mac.

By Grant and Brad, who make Pangalin's apps · Updated 10 October 2026

Ableton Live is moved to the Trash, then Ableton lists the folders to remove. Take care with your User Library: Ableton warns it can't be restored once deleted.

Your User Library and Packs. Before you start, note where they are (Live's Settings › Library). Keep them if you'll reinstall; Ableton warns the User Library can't be restored without a backup.

Uninstall Ableton Live

Note your Packs folder and User Library locations in Live's Library settings.
Drag Ableton Live from Applications to the Trash.
Remove the folders and files below.

Files Ableton lists

~/Library/Preferences/Ableton
~/Library/Application Support/Ableton
~/Library/Caches/Ableton
Files starting com.ableton.live. in ~/Library/Preferences
Files starting Ableton Live Engine in Application Support/Propellerhead Software/ReWire, in both /Library and your own Library

Moving Live to another computer? Ableton has a separate article on deauthorising.

Afterwards

Check System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions for anything still named Ableton; see login items. An app that's still in your Trash can stay listed there until you empty the Trash or restart; that's normal macOS behaviour.
Empty the Trash when you're sure. Emptying the Trash is permanent.

More audio software: uninstalling audio plug-ins and Native Instruments.

Based on Ableton's own help article, checked October 2026. Menu names can change between versions.

Then check for anything Ableton Live left behind.

Once the app is gone, Pangalin Uninstaller's free Leftovers scan lists files left behind by apps that are no longer installed, by name and size. Apple's files are never included. It also shows where each one is and moves the ones you choose to the Trash in one go, with Undo.

Download free for Mac See the guide

Completely free · No account · Notarised by Apple · Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later