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Uninstall the FileWave Client on macOS

Use these uninstallers when you need to remove the FileWave Client from macOS computers before archiving, deleting, selling, or otherwise removing those devices from FileWave management.

Remove the client while the Mac can still receive Filesets. After the FileWave Client is removed, the Mac will no longer check in to the FileWave Server through the client.

Before you begin

  • Test the uninstaller on a small pilot group before broad deployment.
  • Confirm whether the Mac is also MDM enrolled. Removing the FileWave Client does not remove the MDM enrollment profile.
  • If the Mac should leave management entirely, remove the MDM profile, archive with the MDM-removal option when appropriate, or wipe the Mac as part of the offboarding workflow.

Downloads

OptionDownloadUse when
FilesetFileWaveUninstallermacOSv4.1.1-kiosk-path-fix-fileset.zipYou can still deploy Filesets to the Macs being removed.
Standalone scriptFileWaveUninstallermacOSv4.1.1.sh.zipYou need to run the uninstaller locally or through another tool.

Version 4.1.1 keeps the version 4.1 behavior for clients that no longer use FileWave VNC and corrects the FileWave Kiosk app path used by the removal script.

Fileset directions

  1. Download the attached Fileset and unzip it.
  2. Drag the unzipped Fileset into the root level of the Filesets tab so it is not accidentally deployed from inside another folder.
  3. Associate the Fileset to the Macs that should be removed from FileWave management.
  4. Run a Model Update.
  5. Confirm the uninstall has had time to run on the targeted Macs.
  6. Archive or delete the FileWave records as appropriate, then run another Model Update.

Standalone script directions

  1. Download and unzip the standalone script.
  2. Run the script locally as root with zsh:
sudo /bin/zsh ./FileWaveUninstallermacOSv4.1.1.sh

Do not run the script with sh. The script uses zsh syntax, and running it with sh can produce a syntax error near the process-substitution line.

MDM enrollment note

This uninstalls the FileWave Client, but it does not remove an MDM enrollment profile. If the Mac is still MDM enrolled, FileWave may still have an MDM channel to the device, and a configured custom PKG can reinstall the FileWave Client during enrollment or later MDM-driven installation.

If the Mac should leave FileWave management entirely, also handle the MDM profile or wipe workflow. See Archiving Clients and Wipe Device for macOS.

Uninstaller scope

The macOS uninstaller uses the FileWave Client package receipt to identify installed client components. That works for normal installations, but heavily upgraded or manually modified clients may have files that no longer match the receipt. If the client was upgraded many times or the uninstall does not fully clean up the device, review the remaining files manually or contact FileWave Technical Support.

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