How to Uninstall and Reinstall Waves Plugins on Windows and Mac

If you’re encountering issues with Waves plugins in your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or simply need to start fresh, uninstalling and reinstalling them can solve many problems. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step process to remove Waves plugins from both Windows and Mac systems, and how to set them up again using Waves Central. Whether you’re a music producer or audio engineer, follow these instructions to ensure a seamless experience with Waves Audio plugins.

Uninstalling Waves Plugins on Windows

To completely remove Waves plugins from your Windows system, follow these steps carefully:

Access Your C: Drive: Open File Explorer and navigate to your C: drive.
Search for WaveShell: Type ‘WaveShell’ in the search bar and wait for the results to populate.
Delete WaveShell Files: Select all related files or folders that appear in the search results and delete them permanently.
Check Your DAW: Launch your DAW software to confirm that no Waves plugins are listed.
Restart Your System: Reboot your computer to ensure all changes take effect.

Uninstalling Waves Plugins on Mac

For Mac users, the process involves using Terminal commands to delete Waves-related files. Here’s how to do it:

Open Terminal: Access the Terminal app on your macOS device.
Run Deletion Commands: Enter the following commands one by one to remove Waves files from various directories:
- sudo rm -rf /Applications/Waves
- sudo rm -rf /Users/Shared/Waves
- sudo rm -rf /Library/Preferences/Waves Preferences
- sudo rm -rf /Library/Logs/Waves Audio
- sudo rm -rf /Library/Caches/Waves
- sudo rm -rf /Library/Application Support/Waves
- sudo rm -rf /Library/Application Support/Waves Audio/
Search for WaveShell: Use the search function on your macOS drive to locate any ‘WaveShell’ files and delete them.
Verify in DAW: Open your DAW to ensure no Waves plugins remain.
Restart Your Mac: Restart your system to finalize the uninstallation process.

Reinstalling Waves Plugins with Waves Central

Once you’ve successfully removed the plugins, it’s time to reinstall them using Waves Central. Here’s a straightforward guide for both Windows and Mac users:

Download Waves Central: Visit the official Waves Audio website and download the Waves Central application for your operating system (Windows or Mac).
Install Waves Central: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the application.
Log In or Sign Up: Open Waves Central and sign in with your existing account. If you’re a new user, create an account on the Waves Audio website.
Install Plugins: Use Waves Central to download and install the desired plugins for your DAW.
Apply Patcher (If Needed): Run the patcher provided by Waves to ensure compatibility. Note that for Mac users, certain plugins like Cosmos may require manual patching. Refer to the specific instructions in the ‘Cosmos Patch.txt’ file for guidance.

Why Proper Uninstallation and Reinstallation Matter

Ensuring a clean removal of Waves plugins is crucial to avoid conflicts or errors in your DAW. Residual files can cause glitches, so following the steps above guarantees a fresh start. Reinstalling via Waves Central also ensures you have the latest versions of the plugins, optimized for your system.

Final Tips for a Smooth Experience

Always back up your DAW projects before uninstalling plugins to avoid losing settings or presets.
If you encounter issues during the process, reach out to Waves Audio support for assistance.
Keep your Waves Central app updated to access the latest features and plugin versions.

By following this guide, you can confidently manage your Waves plugins setup, whether you’re using Windows or Mac. A proper uninstall and reinstall process ensures your audio production workflow remains uninterrupted. Have questions or need further help with Waves Audio plugins? Drop a comment below!