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Uninstalling the Client Software from Client Computers

To remove Apple Remote Desktop client software from Mac OS X clients, you need to remove a number of software components from each client system.

WARNING: It is not recommended that you uninstall the client software. Disabling the client software is sufficient to stop Apple Remote Desktop system activity. See Disabling the Client Software for instructions.

  1. Open Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities).
  2. Delete the client pieces from /System/Library/ using the following commands in the Terminal application:
    $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu\ Extras/RemoteDesktop.menu
    $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/
    $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/PreferencePanes/ARDPref.prefPane
    $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/StartupItems/RemoteDesktopAgent/
  3. Delete the client preferences from /Library/Preferences/ using the following command in the Terminal application:
    $ sudo rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.ARDAgent.plist
    $ sudo rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.RemoteManagement.plist
  4. Delete the client installation receipts from /Library/Receipts/ using the following command in the Terminal application:
    $ sudo rm -r /Library/Receipts/RemoteDesktopClient*
    $ sudo rm -rf /var/db/RemoteManagement/