Installer package
What is a .pkg file on a Mac, and can you delete it?
A .pkg is an installer package that macOS’s Installer app runs; once the installation has finished, the .pkg file can go to the Trash.
Safe to trash
Safe to trash after the installation finishes. Trashing the package doesn’t remove what it installed.
What it is
A .pkg file is an installer package. Opening it starts the Installer app, which walks you through a few screens and copies the software where it belongs, sometimes into several system folders. It is common for drivers, printer software and larger apps.
Where it comes from
Downloads, from developers’ websites, often inside a .dmg as well.
Let Oma handle it
Trash old app installers
An installer in Downloads, older than 30 days, goes to the Trash.
See the recipeQuestions
Is a .pkg file safe to open?
Only from a developer you trust. macOS checks that packages are signed and warns you about ones it can’t verify.
Does deleting the .pkg uninstall the software?
No. To remove software installed from a package, use the developer’s uninstaller or instructions.
Other files in Downloads
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