How to Remove XQuartz from Your Mac

Are you tired of taking up valuable space on your Mac with XQuartz? If so, removing this application is relatively straightforward as long as you take necessary precautions. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of uninstalling XQuartz and its associated components.

Before we begin, it's essential to note that if you're not familiar with Terminal, it may be wise to seek assistance from a more experienced user or Apple support. Removing XQuartz manually can potentially cause harm to your system if done incorrectly.

To start, you'll need to locate the two main components of XQuartz: the XQuartz.app in Applications → Utilities and the X11 directory in the (hidden) /opt directory at the base of Macintosh HD volume. You can reveal the /opt directory by pressing Shift + Command + Period (.).

Once you've located these components, you'll need to manually remove them. This may seem daunting, but it's a relatively simple process as long as you're careful.

If XQuartz was installed previously, you'll need to enter the full path to xhost if the /opt/X11/bin folder wasn't added to your PATH or the system's PATH: /opt/X11/bin/xhost. This command will print a message indicating whether access control is currently enabled and provide a list of available options.

After removing these components, you'll also need to delete the associated .plist files in the /Library directory (also at the base of Macintosh HD volume) under LaunchDaemons and LaunchAgents (they have “xquartz” in their names), as well as under the /private/etc directory (which is also hidden and revealable with the above shortcut) under “manpaths.d” and “paths.d” (they also have “xquartz” in their names).

By following these steps, you should be able to remove XQuartz from your Mac. Remember to exercise caution when working with Terminal commands, as incorrectly entered commands can cause damage to your system.

XQuartz is an open-source version of the X.Org X server, a display server for the X Window System (sometimes shortened to X11 or X) that runs on macOS. The core components of XQuartz were originally based on the version of X11 included in Mac OS X v10.5 and were created by Apple as a community effort to further develop and support X11 on Mac.

In conclusion, removing XQuartz from your Mac is a relatively straightforward process as long as you take necessary precautions. By following these steps, you should be able to uninstall this application and free up valuable space on your Mac.

X11 or xquartz