Removing Adobe Creative Cloud from your Mac takes more than deleting its desktop app. The Adobe apps that depend on it have to go first, followed by the desktop manager itself. Start with Adobe’s uninstallers, then turn to the cleanup tool if the normal removal process fails.
Remove your Creative Cloud apps first
If Photoshop, Illustrator, or other Creative Cloud apps are still installed, remove them before the desktop manager. Adobe requires this order for normal Creative Cloud Desktop removal.
Back up important files and settings before you begin. Make sure any files you need are synced, then save your work. Close the Adobe app you’re about to remove.
In Creative Cloud Desktop, open Apps > All Apps. Select More actions (…) beside the app. Then choose Uninstall.
Choose Remove to delete the app’s preferences and plugins, or Keep to retain them. Cancel stops removal. Repeat for every installed Creative Cloud app before removing the desktop manager.
Run Adobe’s Creative Cloud desktop uninstaller
Once the individual apps are gone, you’re ready to remove the desktop manager. Adobe posts three separate Mac uninstaller downloads.
On Adobe’s desktop uninstaller page, select Download under Mac computers with Apple Silicon if your Mac has Apple silicon. On any other Mac, choose by system version: macOS v10.12 or later, or macOS v10.11 or earlier on an older machine.
Extract the downloaded ZIP file. Open Creative Cloud Uninstaller.dmg, then select Open if prompted.
Choose Uninstall. The dialog also offers Repair, which Adobe recommends for troubleshooting the desktop app. Select Close when removal finishes.
If removal fails, check that every dependent Creative Cloud app is gone. Try Repair, followed by Uninstall. If that fails too, use the Cleaner Tool procedure below.
When Creative Cloud won’t open or you’re offline
Individual Adobe apps with local uninstallers can be removed without opening Creative Cloud Desktop, including while offline. In Finder > Applications, open the relevant Adobe app folder.
Double-click Uninstall or [App Name] Uninstaller. The filename depends on the app. Complete the uninstaller’s prompts to remove that app. Repeat for the remaining apps with local uninstallers before returning to Adobe’s downloaded desktop uninstaller.
Use the Cleaner Tool for a failed removal
Use Adobe’s Cleaner Tool after normal repair and removal fail; it is an advanced cleanup option, not a guaranteed replacement for uninstalling apps.
- 1.Back up your files, preferences, and plugins.
- 2.Close Adobe apps and their background processes.
- 3.On Adobe’s Cleaner Tool page, select Download in the macOS section, then open AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.dmg.
- 4.Choose a language and select Accept.
- 5.In the upper-right menu, choose CC Apps, Creative Cloud & CS6 Products. Select the relevant product in the table, then select Cleanup Selected.
- 6.After successful completion, select Quit and restart your Mac.
Clear Adobe Genuine Service if it remains
This removes Adobe Genuine Service and its cached data; Adobe says the service also removes itself after all Adobe apps are uninstalled.
If the service and its cleanup utility remain installed, open Applications > Utilities > Adobe Genuine Service. Then double-click AdobeCleanUpUtility and select Uninstall.
Enter your Mac system username and password. Select OK to complete removal.
Cancel your subscription separately
Sign in to your Adobe account to cancel a subscription purchased directly from Adobe. Uninstalling the Mac software does not cancel your plan.
Under Plans and payment, select Manage plan. Choose Cancel your plan, then select Continue to cancel. Choose a cancellation reason.
Select Continue. Review the cancellation details, then select Confirm cancellation. Check your email or Adobe account for confirmation.
For a subscription purchased through a third party, use that provider’s cancellation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Creative Cloud desktop uninstaller already on my Mac?
Adobe documents two routes, and which one applies depends on the page you follow. Adobe’s dedicated uninstall instructions cover only the downloaded uninstaller: extract the ZIP, open Creative Cloud Uninstaller.dmg, then choose Repair or Uninstall. Adobe’s stuck-installer troubleshooting page points to a locally installed copy at /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Creative Cloud/Utils/Creative Cloud Uninstaller.app, but its next step still has you open the downloaded DMG. So if that local app is on your Mac, you can try it once dependent Creative Cloud apps are gone — select Uninstall, enter your password when prompted, and select Close when it finishes — and if it is missing or removal doesn’t complete, use Adobe’s downloadable desktop uninstaller, which is the route Adobe documents end to end.
Will uninstalling Creative Cloud delete my documents?
No. Uninstalling does not delete documents you created with the apps. The Remove option during an individual app’s uninstall deletes its preferences and plugins.
Can I just drag Creative Cloud to the Trash?
Use Adobe’s dedicated uninstaller. Apple recommends using an app’s own uninstaller when available, and Adobe says Trash removal of managed Creative Cloud apps leaves licensing information behind.
Does turning off Creative Cloud background activity uninstall it?
No. Background-activity controls leave the software installed. Adobe recommends keeping them enabled while you use Adobe apps.