deleted old version of Matlab (R2017b) keeps getting back

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Hello, I recently installed Matlab R2019a on my Mac (macOS Mojave Version 10.14). I then deleted the previous version I used (R2017b) by moving MATLAB_R2019a.app to the Trash and then emptying the Trash. However, a few hours later, R2017b was back in my Applications folder. Since then I have repeated this several times, also after first deactivating R2017b, but every time R2017b gets back in my Applications folder, occupying 15 GB on my harddisk. How can I remove R2017b permanently? Thank you.
  2 Comments
Jan
Jan on 21 Nov 2019
Is it a typo, that you delete MATLAB_R2019a.app instead of R2017b?
Robert
Robert on 21 Nov 2019
Well spotted, of course I moved MATLAB_R2017b.app to the Trash.

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Accepted Answer

Jan
Jan on 21 Nov 2019
Edited: Jan on 21 Nov 2019
According to https://www.mathworks.com/help/install/ug/uninstall-mathworks-products.html deleteing the .app folder is sufficient. Does the contents vanish if you empty the trash? What exactly happens in "a few hours later"?
  3 Comments
Jan
Jan on 21 Nov 2019
Edited: Jan on 21 Nov 2019
This means, that you have a Python process, which recreates the application folder to a certain state. I guess that the IT admin of your office has installed it to prevent you from uninstalling Matlab 2017b. Most likely there is a good reason to do so. If this is the case, ask her or him for help.
It is unlikely that your computer is infected by a virus, which loves this special Matlab version. But who knows...
Nevertheless, this is not a Matlab problem and it cannot be solved by Matlab software.
Robert
Robert on 21 Nov 2019
Thanks Jan, this is useful information that brought me to the solution. The point is that my university has an app that allows one to install, update and remove software. I have this app on my mac. Although I have never used it to install Matlab, it got control over the installed versions of Matlab. After removing R2017b from within this app, it looks like it has been removed permanently.

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More Answers (1)

Steven Lord
Steven Lord on 21 Nov 2019
Do you have some automated process that restores the Applications folder from a backup like Time Machine? If you're in a corporate environment, check if your IT department has automatically enabled that for some reason.
  1 Comment
Robert
Robert on 21 Nov 2019
It also happens when I am disconnected from my Time Machine, and also at home, when I'm not connected to my employer's network.

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