How to Remove Profiles from macOS 13 Ventura

Configuration profiles on macOS 13 (Ventura) define settings for system management, network accounts, and device restrictions. While commonly deployed by organizations and schools, unwanted profiles can sometimes be installed by adware or unauthorized software to alter browser and system preferences. This guide explains how to quickly identify and remove unwanted configuration profiles using macOS Ventura’s System Settings, as well as an alternative method using Terminal if the standard removal option is unavailable.

Remove a Profile Using System Settings

The standard method to delete a configuration profile on macOS 13 is through the redesigned System Settings menu:

  1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.
  2. In the left sidebar, click Privacy & Security.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the right pane and select Profiles. Note that this option only appears if at least one configuration profile is currently installed.
  4. Locate and select the unwanted profile from the list.
  5. Click the Remove (–) button located beneath the list of profiles.
  6. When prompted, enter your Mac administrator username and password to confirm the deletion.
  7. Restart your Mac to ensure all settings applied by the profile are cleared.

Remove a Profile Using Terminal

If the minus (–) button is grayed out, or if malware prevents you from removing the profile via System Settings, you can remove it using the command line:

  1. Open Terminal by pressing Command + Space, typing Terminal, and pressing Return.

  2. View the identifiers of all installed profiles by running:

    sudo profiles show

  3. Enter your administrator password when prompted.

  4. Locate the profileIdentifier of the profile you want to delete.

  5. Run the removal command, replacing <ProfileIdentifier> with the actual ID:

    sudo profiles remove -identifier <ProfileIdentifier>

  6. If the removal is successful, close Terminal and reboot your Mac.

Additional Steps for Persistent Profiles

If an unwanted profile reappears after rebooting, malicious software may be automatically reinstalling it. Check System Settings > General > Login Items to disable unfamiliar background applications, inspect the /Library/LaunchAgents and ~/Library/LaunchAgents folders for suspicious files, and run an anti-malware scan to clean the system.