Uninstall Native Instruments software (macOS)

uninstall-native-instruments.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Uninstall Native Instruments and iZotope software from macOS.
#   - Native Instruments: Native Access + everything it manages (Kontakt,
#     Massive, Maschine, Komplete Kontrol, plug-ins, prefs, libraries)
#   - iZotope: standalone apps (RX, Ozone, Neutron, etc.), plug-ins, prefs,
#     caches, presets
#
# Sources:
#   https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/210291865
#   https://support.izotope.com/hc/en-us/articles/6657943352081
#
# Usage:
#   ./uninstall-native-instruments.sh            # dry-run, shows what would go
#   ./uninstall-native-instruments.sh --execute  # actually delete
#
# WARNING: removes Kontakt libraries, Maschine expansions, samples, iZotope
# presets, and any other paid content under standard install folders. Back up
# anything you want to keep first.

set -u

dry_run=1
[[ "${1:-}" == "--execute" ]] && dry_run=0

run() {
    if (( dry_run )); then
        printf '[DRY] '
    else
        printf '[RUN] '
    fi
    printf '%q ' "$@"
    printf '\n'
    (( dry_run )) || "$@"
}

remove_path() {
    local p="$1"
    [[ -e "$p" || -L "$p" ]] || return 0
    run sudo rm -rf "$p"
}

quit_ni_processes() {
    echo "-- Quitting Native Instruments processes"
    pkill -f "Native Access"            2>/dev/null || true
    pkill -f "NIHostIntegrationAgent"   2>/dev/null || true
    pkill -f "Native Instruments"       2>/dev/null || true
}

# Native Instruments data in /Users/Shared. Catches:
#   - Folders named "Native Instruments", "NI Resources", "NI <anything>"
#   - Library folders containing a .nicnt content marker (Kontakt libraries,
#     Maschine expansions, etc. that may have non-obvious names)
remove_users_shared_ni() {
    echo "-- Removing Native Instruments data from /Users/Shared"
    shopt -s nullglob nocaseglob

    local by_name=(
        "/Users/Shared/Native Instruments"
        /Users/Shared/NI\ *
        /Users/Shared/NI_*
    )

    local by_marker=() nicnt rel
    for nicnt in /Users/Shared/*/*.nicnt /Users/Shared/*/*/*.nicnt; do
        rel="${nicnt#/Users/Shared/}"
        by_marker+=("/Users/Shared/${rel%%/*}")
    done

    shopt -u nullglob nocaseglob

    local p
    for p in "${by_name[@]}" "${by_marker[@]}"; do
        remove_path "$p"
    done
}

# Top-level apps, support folders, shared resources
remove_ni_directories() {
    echo "-- Removing application and support directories"
    local paths=(
        "/Applications/Native Access.app"
        "/Applications/Native Instruments"
        "/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments"
        "$HOME/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments"
        "$HOME/Library/Caches/com.native-instruments.NativeAccess"
        "$HOME/Library/Caches/com.native-instruments.NIHostIntegrationAgent"
    )
    for p in "${paths[@]}"; do
        remove_path "$p"
    done
}

# All com.native-instruments.* preference files
remove_ni_plists() {
    echo "-- Removing preference files"
    shopt -s nullglob
    local plists=(
        /Library/Preferences/com.native-instruments.*
        "$HOME"/Library/Preferences/com.native-instruments.*
        /var/db/receipts/com.native-instruments.*
    )
    shopt -u nullglob
    for p in "${plists[@]}"; do
        remove_path "$p"
    done
}

quit_izotope_processes() {
    echo "-- Quitting iZotope processes"
    pkill -f "iZotope"          2>/dev/null || true
    pkill -f "iZotope Product"  2>/dev/null || true
}

# iZotope standalone apps (detected by bundle id), support folders, presets
remove_izotope_directories() {
    echo "-- Removing iZotope application and support directories"
    local paths=(
        "/Library/Application Support/iZotope"
        "$HOME/Library/Application Support/iZotope"
        "$HOME/Documents/iZotope"
    )
    local p
    for p in "${paths[@]}"; do
        remove_path "$p"
    done

    # Standalone apps in /Applications — covers RX, Ozone, Neutron, Nectar,
    # VocalSynth, Insight, Tonal Balance Control, etc. without hardcoding names.
    shopt -s nullglob
    local app id
    for app in /Applications/*.app; do
        id=$(defaults read "$app/Contents/Info" CFBundleIdentifier 2>/dev/null) || continue
        [[ "$id" == com.izotope.* ]] && remove_path "$app"
    done
    shopt -u nullglob
}

# All com.izotope.* preferences, caches, and installer receipts
remove_izotope_plists() {
    echo "-- Removing iZotope preferences and caches"
    shopt -s nullglob
    local items=(
        /Library/Preferences/com.izotope.*
        "$HOME"/Library/Preferences/com.izotope.*
        "$HOME"/Library/Caches/com.izotope.*
        /var/db/receipts/com.izotope.*
    )
    shopt -u nullglob
    local p
    for p in "${items[@]}"; do
        remove_path "$p"
    done
}

# Audio plug-in bundles where CFBundleIdentifier starts with any of the given
# prefixes. Catches AU .component, VST .vst, VST3 .vst3, AAX .aaxplugin.
remove_vendor_plugins() {
    echo "-- Removing plug-in bundles matching: $*"
    local prefixes=("$@")
    local plugin_dirs=(
        "/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components"
        "/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST"
        "/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3"
        "/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins"
        "/Library/Application Support/Digidesign/Plug-Ins"
        "$HOME/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components"
        "$HOME/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST"
        "$HOME/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3"
    )
    local dir bundle id prefix
    for dir in "${plugin_dirs[@]}"; do
        [[ -d "$dir" ]] || continue
        shopt -s nullglob
        for bundle in "$dir"/*; do
            id=$(defaults read "$bundle/Contents/Info" CFBundleIdentifier 2>/dev/null) || continue
            for prefix in "${prefixes[@]}"; do
                if [[ "$id" == "$prefix"* ]]; then
                    remove_path "$bundle"
                    break
                fi
            done
        done
        shopt -u nullglob
    done
}

main() {
    if (( dry_run )); then
        echo "=== DRY RUN — nothing will be deleted ==="
        echo "Re-run with --execute to actually remove files."
        echo
    else
        cat <<'EOF'
=== EXECUTE MODE ===

This will permanently delete:

Native Instruments:
  - Native Access and every Native Instruments application
  - All preferences, caches, and installer receipts (com.native-instruments.*)
  - Everything under /Library/Application Support/Native Instruments
    (Kontakt libraries, Maschine expansions, etc.)
  - Everything under ~/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments
  - Everything in /Users/Shared matching NI names (Native Instruments,
    NI Resources, NI *) or marked as NI content (.nicnt libraries)

iZotope:
  - Standalone apps (RX, Ozone, Neutron, etc.) in /Applications
  - Everything under /Library/Application Support/iZotope
  - Everything under ~/Library/Application Support/iZotope
  - ~/Documents/iZotope (presets)
  - All preferences, caches, and installer receipts (com.izotope.*)

Both vendors:
  - All matching plug-ins (AU, VST, VST3, AAX) in /Library and ~/Library

Back up anything you want to keep before continuing.

EOF
        read -r -p "Type 'yes' to proceed: " confirm
        [[ "$confirm" == "yes" ]] || { echo "Aborted."; exit 1; }
        sudo -v || { echo "sudo authentication failed."; exit 1; }
        echo
    fi

    quit_ni_processes
    quit_izotope_processes
    remove_ni_directories
    remove_users_shared_ni
    remove_ni_plists
    remove_izotope_directories
    remove_izotope_plists
    remove_vendor_plugins com.native-instruments. com.izotope.

    echo
    if (( dry_run )); then
        echo "Dry run complete."
    else
        echo "Done. Restart your Mac to finalize the changes."
    fi
}

main "$@"