Disable Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service on Mac

Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service (AGS) runs in the background on macOS to check whether your Adobe apps are genuine. For many users, it causes annoying pop-ups, slows down the system, or interferes with legitimate software. This guide shows you how to disable it safely, whether you want to stop the service temporarily or remove it completely.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access to your Mac (you’ll need to enter your password).
• Finder and Terminal (both come pre-installed).
• About 10 minutes of time.

Step-by-Step

1. Quit Adobe apps. Before making changes, close all Adobe applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) to avoid conflicts.
2. Open Activity Monitor. Go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor. In the search box, type “Adobe” and look for processes like Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service or com.adobe.ags. Select them and click the X button to quit them. If they restart, skip this step and proceed to step 4.
3. Disable the service via Terminal. Open Terminal (in Utilities). Type the following command and press Enter:
   sudo launchctl unload -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.ags.plist
   Enter your admin password when prompted. This unloads the service and prevents it from starting at boot.
4. Remove the service files. Still in Terminal, run these commands one by one:
   sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.ags.plist
sudo rm -rf /Library/Application Support/Adobe/AdobeGCClient
   This deletes the launch daemon and the client folder. If you get a “No such file” error, that’s fine—it means the file is already gone.
5. Clear Adobe cache (optional). To remove leftover pop-up data, run:
   sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/AdobeGCClient
   This removes the user-level cache.
6. Restart your Mac. A restart ensures the service doesn’t relaunch. After booting, check that the service is gone by running in Terminal:
   launchctl list | grep adobe
   If nothing appears, the service is disabled.

Common Mistakes

• Not quitting Adobe apps first: If Photoshop or other Adobe apps are running, they may recreate the service files or cause errors during removal.
• Using the wrong path: The LaunchDaemon path is /Library/LaunchDaemons (system-wide), not ~/Library/LaunchAgents (user-specific). Using the wrong path will fail.
• Skipping the unload command: If you only delete the plist without unloading, the service may still run until you restart.
• Deleting the entire Adobe folder: Do not delete /Library/Application Support/Adobe—only remove the AdobeGCClient subfolder. Deleting too much can break your Adobe apps.

Tips

• Create a backup: Before deleting anything, copy the plist file to your Desktop with sudo cp /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.ags.plist ~/Desktop/. If something goes wrong, you can restore it.
• Use a dedicated uninstaller: Adobe offers a Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool that can remove AGS, but it also removes other Adobe components. Use it only if you plan to reinstall Adobe apps.
• Disable notifications in Adobe apps: In Photoshop or Illustrator, go to Preferences > Notifications and uncheck “Genuine Software” alerts. This reduces pop-ups even if the service is still present.
• Keep your Adobe apps updated: Sometimes AGS pop-ups appear because your app is outdated. Updating may resolve the issue without disabling the service.

Troubleshooting

• Service still appears after restart: Run sudo launchctl list | grep adobe to see if it’s loaded. If it is, repeat the unload command and then check for other plist files: sudo find /Library -name "*adobe*ags*". Delete any that appear.
• Permission errors: If you get “Operation not permitted” in Terminal, you may need to grant Terminal Full Disk Access. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, add Terminal, and retry.
• Adobe apps crash after removal: This is rare, but if it happens, restore the plist from your backup and reload it with sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.ags.plist.
• Pop-ups still appear: Some Adobe apps reinstall AGS automatically. Check for new files after launching an Adobe app. If they return, you may need to block the service in your firewall or use a third-party app blocker (but that’s beyond this guide).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to disable Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service?

Yes, you can disable it on your own machine. However, Adobe may require AGS to be active for some features or updates. Disabling it does not make pirated software legal; it only stops the background service.

Will disabling AGS affect my Adobe apps?

In most cases, no. Your apps will continue to work normally. However, you may lose access to certain online features or updates that rely on the service. If you use genuine software, you should be fine.

How do I re-enable the service if I change my mind?

Restore the plist file from your backup and run sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.ags.plist. If you didn’t back it up, you can reinstall Adobe Creative Cloud, which will recreate the service.

Why does AGS keep coming back?

Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app may reinstall AGS during updates. To prevent this, you can disable the service again after each update, or uninstall Creative Cloud if you don’t need it.

Can I just delete the AdobeGCClient folder?

Deleting the folder alone won’t stop the service because the launch daemon will recreate it. You must unload the daemon first, as shown in the steps.

What if I don’t have admin rights?

You need admin rights to modify system files. If you don’t have them, contact your system administrator or use a user-level workaround like blocking the service in your firewall (but that’s less reliable).

Related

• Get Bike Route Map in Apple Maps on iPhone
• Install Windows 11 26H2: Step-by-Step Guide
• Can’t Enter Password in macOS Big Sur? Here’s How to Fix It