Why you can't delete Safari, Mail and other built-in Mac apps
Quick answer
Apps that come with macOS, like Safari, Mail and Photos, can't be deleted. You can hide one by dragging its icon out of the Dock until Remove appears.
Why it happens
Built-in apps live on a locked part of the disk that macOS protects, so updates stay safe and the system keeps working. When you try to trash one, the Mac says it is needed by macOS. They take up little space, so leaving them costs you almost nothing.
How to fix it
Find the app's icon in the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
Dock
Drag the icon up and away from the Dock. When you see Remove, let go. The app is still on your Mac, just out of sight. If the app is open, its icon stays in the Dock until you quit it with Command-Q.
Prefer menus? Control-click the icon, choose Options, then Remove from Dock. For an open app, untick Keep in Dock instead, and the icon goes when you quit it.
For apps you installed yourself, open Applications in Finder and drag the app to the Trash as usual.
Still not fixed?
If Safari keeps opening for links, set a different default browser. Default web browser is in Desktop & Dock.
Desktop & Dock›Default web browser
If Mail opens every time you click an email address, pick your own mail app as the Default email reader in Mail's General settings.
Mail›Settings…›General›Default email reader
If an app you installed says it's open or in use, quit it with Command-Q and try again. If that fails, turn off its item in Login Items & Extensions, or restart first.
General›Login Items & Extensions
If an app you added yourself still won't go to the Trash after a restart, contact Apple Support.
Questions people ask
Can I uninstall Safari on a Mac?
No. Safari is part of macOS and is protected. You can remove it from the Dock and choose another default browser.
Do built-in apps take up a lot of space?
Not much. They sit on the protected system part of the disk, so removing them wouldn't free up much room.
How do I hide an app from the Dock?
Drag its icon out of the Dock until Remove appears, then let go. The app stays on your Mac.
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