AU, VST, VST3, AAX and CLAP: most plugin installers put every format on your Mac
Plugin installers often install one copy per format, and most people use one DAW that needs one or two. Where each format lives and how to remove the rest safely.
Most plugin installers default to installing every format: Audio Units for Logic and GarageBand, VST and VST3 for most other DAWs, AAX for Pro Tools, and increasingly CLAP. Each format is a separate copy. For most plugins the copies are small. For plugins that bundle their sounds or content inside the plugin, each copy can be large.
Where each format lives
| Format | Used by | Folder |
|---|---|---|
Audio Unit (.component) | Logic, GarageBand, MainStage and others | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components |
VST (.vst) | Older DAW versions | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST |
VST3 (.vst3) | Cubase, Ableton Live, Studio One and most others | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 |
CLAP (.clap) | Bitwig, Reaper and others | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP |
AAX (.aaxplugin) | Pro Tools | /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins |
Some plugins also install to the same folders inside your own Library (~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins).
du -sh /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/* ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/* "/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins" 2>/dev/null
du -sh /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/*/* 2>/dev/null | sort -h | tail -15What you can remove
- If you only use Logic, you need Audio Units. VST, VST3 and AAX copies are unused.
- If you only use Ableton Live, you need VST3, plus VST for older plugins that have no VST3 version. Live also reads Audio Units, so check which your sets use first.
- If you do not have Pro Tools, every AAX plugin is unused.
Next time
Most installers have a custom or options step where you can untick formats. It is the cheapest saving there is.
The large content behind many plugins lives elsewhere. See Kontakt libraries, Logic and GarageBand sound libraries and the musicians' storage guide.
Common questions
Where are audio plugins installed on a Mac?
Audio Units in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components, VST and VST3 in their own folders beside it, CLAP in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/CLAP, and AAX in /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins.
Can I delete VST plugins if I only use Logic?
Logic uses Audio Units only, so VST, VST3 and AAX copies are unused by it. Check no other DAW you use needs them before removing them.
Is it safe to remove plugin formats I do not use?
Yes, if no project uses that format. Move them to a temporary folder, open your main projects to check, and then move them to the Trash.