Core Sync is a syncing component of the Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) suite. Plagued with high CPU usage, Core Sync slows your Mac, but that’s not the worst part about it—the app tends to stick around after uninstalling Adobe, throwing file access prompts every now and then.
Authorizing access won’t jeopardize your privacy, though the annoying message has intimidated some people. Removing Core Sync with the standard uninstallation method has proved very difficult. Fortunately, you can manually kill its processes and stop them from reloading in the future. We’ve got the instructions, so let’s get to work, shall we?
What Is Core Sync on Your Mac?
Adobe Content Synchronizer, or Core Sync, is automatically installed as part of the Adobe suite. Adobe’s Creative Cloud installer adds Core Sync to your login items to ensure it automatically launches when you start your Mac or log out and back in. It also installs a macOS extension for synchronization status of Adobe cloud files in the Finder interface.
Lastly, Core Sync creates background processes that sync your files, Adobe fonts, CC libraries, and other documents. These things also eat up CPU time and hog the RAM, causing your MacBook to overheat and reduce its battery lifespan.
Uninstalling Core Sync with Adobe’s Creative Cloud Cleaner tool doesn’t work reliably. But if you’d like to give it a try, follow the download link inAdobe’s support document.
How to Disable Core Sync in Adobe CC for Mac
If the Creative Cloud suite is installed on your Mac, you’re able to pause background sync, remove Core Sync frommacOS Login Items, and turn off the Finder extension with just a few clicks. Doing so will temporarily disable Core Sync, and you can re-enable it by reverting the changes you make below.
To pause syncing, launchCreative Cloud, click your profile icon in the top-right corner, and choosePreferences. ClickSyncingin the sidebar and thenPause Syncingon the right.
A pause symbol across the Creative Cloud icon in the macOS menu bar indicates that syncing is currently paused.
To stop Creative Cloud from automatically launching at startup and initiating syncing, selectGeneralin the sidebar, scroll down, and toggle offLaunch Creative Cloud at loginandSync Creative Cloud files in the background after quitting. Then, clickDone.
To prevent the syncing component from running, go toSystem Settings > Generaland clickLogin Items. Then, toggle offAdobe Creative CloudunderAllow in the Background.
As the last step, we’ll turn off Adobe’s extension that integrates Core Sync with Finder. Go toSystem Settings > Privacy & Security, chooseExtensionsbelowOthersat the bottom, clickAdded extensions, untickFinder extensionsbelowCore Sync, and hitDone.
Now, you’re able to restart your Mac and see if Core Sync is disabled.
How to Remove Core Sync From Your Mac After Uninstalling Adobe CC
You may be wondering what to do in case Core Sync sticks around after uninstalling CC. You can trash all Adobe-related property list (.plist) files that serve as hooks for thelaunchdprocess in macOS that runshidden LaunchDaemons and LaunchAgentsin the background.
First, launch Finder and clickGo > Go to Folderfrom the menu bar. Then, head to the following three directories, select all .plist files with the prefix “com.adobe” in each directory, Control-click the selection, and chooseMove to Trash
Restart your Mac for the changes to take effect.
Free Your Mac From Adobe’s Core Sync
Core Sync is notorious for high CPU usage, causing your Mac to slow to a crawl and overheat. So, if macOS keeps throwing permission dialogs for Core Sync to access files on your Mac even after uninstalling Adobe, our instructions should help you resolve that.
Adobe Creative Cloud isn’t the only misbehaving software suite that wouldn’t uninstall entirely. Other prominent developers like Microsoft install background processes that are difficult to remove, but Adobe is perhaps the most extreme example of such a user-hostile practice.
