When “Defaults” Become Mandates
On modern macOS systems, Apple Music is no longer just an application — it is a protected, system-level component. For users who never asked for it, never use it, and actively work with professional audio formats, this creates a persistent and frustrating problem: Apple Music cannot be removed, fully disabled, or permanently overridden without compromising system security.
This is not a matter of preference or configuration. It is an architectural decision.
Apple Music Is Not Optional Software
Apple Music resides in /System/Applications, a directory protected by System Integrity Protection (SIP). SIP prevents even administrator-level users from modifying, disabling, or removing system apps. This includes:
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Changing executable permissions
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Preventing the app from launching
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Removing or renaming the application
Even sudo access is blocked. Any attempt to alter Apple Music at this level results in “Operation not permitted.”
Disabling SIP would allow these changes — but at the cost of weakening macOS’s core security model. For many users, that tradeoff is unacceptable.
File Associations That Cannot Truly Be Changed
The most visible consequence of Apple Music’s system privilege appears when working with audio files such as:
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.wav -
.aiff -
other uncompressed or editing-oriented formats
Despite selecting another application (such as Audacity) via Finder’s Open With or Get Info dialogs, macOS often continues to open these files in Apple Music — especially newly created files.
Finder’s UI implies that file associations can be permanently reassigned, but in practice:
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System apps are prioritized silently
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“Change All” options may be suppressed
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Per-file overrides do not persist
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Updates can revert user preferences
This creates the illusion of control without the reality.
Why This Happens
Apple Music registers itself as a handler for broad content types such as public.audio and public.waveform-audio. These are not specific to playback formats; they include files commonly used for editing, mastering, and production.
macOS’s LaunchServices system gives Apple-signed, system-level apps precedence — even when user preferences conflict.
In short: the system decides it knows better.
The Professional Cost
For creators, editors, and audio engineers, this design causes repeated friction:
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Editing files open in a consumer playback app
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Extra steps required just to access an editor
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Broken workflows when batch-creating or exporting audio
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Time lost fighting the OS instead of working
Many professionals ultimately avoid double-clicking audio files entirely, opening them only from within their DAW or editor — a workaround, not a solution.
What Cannot Be Done (Safely)
Without disabling SIP, users cannot:
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Remove Apple Music
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Permanently prevent it from launching
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Fully stop it from reclaiming audio file types
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Rely on Finder’s UI to enforce preferences
This is not a bug. It is intentional.
A Design Philosophy, Not an Accident
Apple’s modern macOS design prioritizes consumer simplicity and tightly controlled defaults. The assumption is that audio files are meant to be played, not worked on.
For advanced users, this means accepting limitations or choosing alternative platforms that respect user authority over system behavior.
Conclusion
Apple Music’s deep integration into macOS represents a shift away from user control toward enforced defaults. While the system remains secure and polished, it does so by removing meaningful choice — even for users who never opted in.
For those who work with audio professionally, the message is clear:
You can keep your system secure — or fully control Apple Music — but not both.
