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My macOS keeps wanting to install Command Line Tools for xCode 13.2 even though I don't have xCode installed. I had recently installed Xcode on a trial basis and then completely uninstalled it (also in all locations in the system folder and library). How can I stop macOS from wanting to install Command Line Tools for Xcode 13.2?
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
I could resolve the issue. The underlying issue was that for some reason, even though the /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools has been deleted, there was still a reference to this folder. I found this by
$ xcode-select -p
and the result after uninstall should be
xcode-select: error: unable to get active developer directory...
but in my case, it showed instead
/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
solution was to reset that reference
$ xcode-select -r
as a last step, I had to delete the preloaded update files
https://sandervoogt.com/how-to-remove-mac-os-update-files/
That solved it.
I could resolve the issue. The underlying issue was that for some reason, even though the /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools has been deleted, there was still a reference to this folder. I found this by
$ xcode-select -p
and the result after uninstall should be
xcode-select: error: unable to get active developer directory...
but in my case, it showed instead
/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
solution was to reset that reference
$ xcode-select -r
as a last step, I had to delete the preloaded update files
https://sandervoogt.com/how-to-remove-mac-os-update-files/
That solved it.
Ah, that worked! Thank you.
The startup procedure differs for those struggling with Apple Silicon Macs instead of Intel Silicon. Apple's instructions follow:
The above replaces step #1 in https://sandervoogt.com/how-to-remove-mac-os-update-files/
That's my guess, too. The whole thing is extremely tedious, because I effectively only have the choice to have something reinstalled again that I don't want installed, or to turn off the automatic updates, because otherwise it will be installed overnight. This is really lousy.
Are you using the optional Homebrew package manager? When you install it for the first time, it looks to see if you have either Xcode, or the command-line tools already installed, and if not, it will install the current command-line tools for your operating system. This is how Homebrew builds installed or upgraded packages.
I had also installed Homebrew along with xCode, but to my knowledge uninstalled it at the same time. Do I understand you correctly that, for example, an incomplete uninstall of Homebrew could be responsible for macOS wanting to install the Command Line Tool?
Use the mdfind tool in terminal
mdfind -name "the search term"
The command line instruction does included the quote marks
I suggest using the search term "CommandLineTools" but there may be a better term
Above based on the following
https://dzone.com/articles/how-to-completely-uninstall-xcode-from-mac
Did you remove /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools.
The command line tools are essentially separate from Xcode itself.
Yes, this folder is not existent.
Yes, this folder is not existent.
Then there is likely a receipt somewhere that the system is using to check for updates. I'm not sure where those live anymore.
I checked and don't have homebrew installed on my machine.
I followed the steps carefully, all commands seemed to work, but still have 13.2 on the updates available. I would be pulling my hair out but it’s long gone.
It's more complicated with Apple Silicon apparently. crsutil disappeared. Now I am floundering around searching for an Apple-Silicon-specific answer.
i neglected to remove /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools. Carefully following the instructions here eventually worked for me on my Macbook air M1.
David C Black, “crsutil disappeared” I made this mistake also, it’s actually csrutil, check for this typo
My macOS keeps wanting to install Command Line Tools for xCode 13.2
