deleted old version of Matlab (R2017b) keeps getting back

Hello, I recently installed Matlab R2019a on my Mac (macOS Mojave Version 10.14). I then deleted the previous version I used (R2017b) by moving MATLAB_R2019a.app to the Trash and then emptying the Trash. However, a few hours later, R2017b was back in my Applications folder. Since then I have repeated this several times, also after first deactivating R2017b, but every time R2017b gets back in my Applications folder, occupying 15 GB on my harddisk. How can I remove R2017b permanently? Thank you.

[Jan]

Is it a typo, that you delete MATLAB_R2019a.app instead of R2017b?

[Robert]

Well spotted, of course I moved MATLAB_R2017b.app to the Trash.

Answer 1

[Jan]

See https://nektony.com/how-to/uninstall-matlab-mac

According to https://www.mathworks.com/help/install/ug/uninstall-mathworks-products.html deleteing the .app folder is sufficient. Does the contents vanish if you empty the trash? What exactly happens in "a few hours later"?

[Robert]

I tried App Cleaner & Uninstaller but it did not solve the problem. After emptying the Trash, the contents had vanished in the Applications folder, and I had 15 GB more space on the HD. A couple of minutes later, a process "Python" became active (as shown in the Activity Monitor) and from then on the available space on the HD started to reduce again. That was followed by a process "ditto", and when that had completed, MATLAB_R2017b.app was back in the Applications folder, 15 GB large.

[Jan]

This means, that you have a Python process, which recreates the application folder to a certain state. I guess that the IT admin of your office has installed it to prevent you from uninstalling Matlab 2017b. Most likely there is a good reason to do so. If this is the case, ask her or him for help.

It is unlikely that your computer is infected by a virus, which loves this special Matlab version. But who knows...

Nevertheless, this is not a Matlab problem and it cannot be solved by Matlab software.

[Robert]

Thanks Jan, this is useful information that brought me to the solution. The point is that my university has an app that allows one to install, update and remove software. I have this app on my mac. Although I have never used it to install Matlab, it got control over the installed versions of Matlab. After removing R2017b from within this app, it looks like it has been removed permanently.

Answer 2

[Steven Lord]

Do you have some automated process that restores the Applications folder from a backup like Time Machine? If you're in a corporate environment, check if your IT department has automatically enabled that for some reason.

[Robert]

It also happens when I am disconnected from my Time Machine, and also at home, when I'm not connected to my employer's network.