Help! Lost my preview app

[angelovehearts]

Hi guys,

I think I have accidentally deleted my Preview.app on my MacBook pro while I was cleaning it. I am freaking out cause I could not find it anywhere in my computer or online.

Could somebody please send me Preview.app because I don’t have the installation disc(second-hand MacBook) Thank you guys in advance!

I am currently on MacOS High Sierra version 10.13.6

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, you should reinstall High Sierra. That doesn't mean wiping your drive and completely starting over.

Follow these directions. Make sure you backup your Mac first. You may also want to create a USB installer of High Sierra for convenience down the road.

 

[chabig]

while I was cleaning it

Don't do that. Your machine doesn't require "cleaning." But to fix it, do as BasicGreatGuy said and simply reinstall macOS.

 

[chscag]

Hi guys,

I think I have accidentally deleted my Preview.app on my MacBook pro while I was cleaning it. I am freaking out cause I could not find it anywhere in my computer or online.

Could somebody please send me Preview.app because I don’t have the installation disc(second-hand MacBook) Thank you guys in advance!

I am currently on MacOS High Sierra version 10.13.6

First, make sure that second hand MacBook you have is fully registered to you with your Apple ID. If it is, you can download and reinstall macOS as recommended. If that MacBook is not registered to you and your Apple ID, you won't be able to reinstall macOS until it is.

 

[Dave Braine]

Don't you have to enter your password to delete Apple installed apps?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Don't you have to enter your password to delete Apple installed apps?

Yes, you do.

She may have been using a third party program.

 

[Weaselboy]

Yes, you do.

She may have been using a third party program.

SIP should protect the default apps like Preview, so unless OP disabled SIP it should not be possible to delete Preview.

 

[Apple_Robert]

SIP should protect the default apps like Preview, so unless OP disabled SIP it should not be possible to delete Preview.

As a point of reference, I have a brand new 2018 Mac mini CBO (6 days old). The OS defaults are intacted with FV on. Two days ago, I used AppCleaner to delete GarageBand. With it being a protected app, I had to give single use admin permission to AppCleaner to delete the app. I have not messed with SIP at all.

 

[chscag]

I just tried to delete Preview. The system will not allow it, nor will AppCleaner work. GarageBand is not a protected app and can easily be deleted. I deleted it long ago. @Weaselboy is correct, unless SIP is disabled protected apps such as Preview can not be deleted.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I just tried to delete Preview. The system will not allow it, nor will AppCleaner work. GarageBand is not a protected app and can easily be deleted. I deleted it long ago. @Weaselboy is correct, unless SIP is disabled protected apps such as Preview can not be deleted.

Thanks for the correction. The reason I thought it was protected, is because when I tried to delete, it had a greyed out lock on it, and I had to give AppCleaner permission to delete it.

Is it possible for one of the thread party cleaning programs to be given elevated privileges, whereby the OP would not need to give permission outside of the installation of apps like "Clean My Mac?" I have never used such, so don't know.

Maybe the Mac she has had SIP turned off prior to her getting it, and she didn't know?

 

[angelovehearts]

Hi! I took your advice and reinstalled high sierra and the preview is there again. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Weaselboy]

As a point of reference, I have a brand new 2018 Mac mini CBO (6 days old). The OS defaults are intacted with FV on. Two days ago, I used AppCleaner to delete GarageBand. With it being a protected app, I had to give single use admin permission to AppCleaner to delete the app. I have not messed with SIP at all.

/System/Library/Sandbox/rootless.conf

All the SIP protected apps are listed in this file, and as you found GarageBand is not in there.

Maybe the Mac she has had SIP turned off prior to her getting it, and she didn't know?

Could be. I was just surprised OP did not seem that familiar with macOS, but had SIP disabled.

Those third party cleanup apps won't bypass SIP protection that I have found.

 

[chscag]

Thanks @Weaselboy. I found it quite amusing to see that the "Chess" app was listed there. By the way for others reading this thread, that file referred to by @Weaselboy can be opened and read with TextEdit.

 

[Dave Braine]

What's "SIP"?

 

[Apple_Robert]

What's "SIP"?

System Integrity Protection

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204899

 

[Dave Braine]

Thanks.

 

[posguy99]

As a point of reference, I have a brand new 2018 Mac mini CBO (6 days old). The OS defaults are intacted with FV on. Two days ago, I used AppCleaner to delete GarageBand. With it being a protected app, I had to give single use admin permission to AppCleaner to delete the app. I have not messed with SIP at all.

Because GarageBand is a MAS app. It's not a SIP-protected system app.

 

[Cayenne1]

This thread is interesting to learn more advanced topics about the OS.

I just had to turn SIP off and on to run a Terminal process to determine where an applications settings file (plist) might be. I'll post if interested.

Is there a good summary source of "Advanced" topics for the MacOS? It's more of a random discovery process at the moment.

By the way, I started in Mac with the original 1984 box up to PowerPC. Had to leave for the Windows world until I bought an iMac after retirement. Some of you may remember you needed ResEdit to modify the old Macs (Macintosh System Software System I). Just adding a Font to the OS was an operation.

Think of this: the first Mac had a 400KB floppy drive. It had to contain the MacOS, the Application and the Data. You booted off the floppy every time you used the Mac. But, oh was it a fun machine.