tlmgr-remove

Uninstall a TeX Live package

$ sudo tlmgr remove [package]

$ tlmgr remove --dry-run [package]

$ sudo tlmgr remove --no-depends [package]

$ sudo tlmgr remove --backupdir [path/to/directory] [package]

$ sudo tlmgr remove --all

tlmgr [GLOBAL_OPTIONS] remove [OPTIONS] package_name...

package_name...
    One or more names of the TeX Live package(s), collection(s), or scheme(s) to be uninstalled.

--dry-run
    Simulate the removal process without making any actual changes. This option shows which packages would be uninstalled.

--force
    Force the removal, even if other installed packages depend on the specified ones. This can severely break your TeX Live installation and should be used with extreme caution.

--no-depends
    Skip the checking and resolution of package dependencies during the removal process. Using this option is highly discouraged as it can lead to a broken or incomplete installation.

tlmgr-remove is a subcommand of tlmgr, the TeX Live package manager, used to uninstall installed TeX Live packages, collections, or schemes.

It provides a convenient way to manage the disk space consumed by TeX Live installations by removing unwanted or redundant components. When a package is removed, tlmgr typically handles the necessary cleanup and updates the TeX Live database. It's crucial to use this command with caution, especially when removing core components, as it can affect the functionality of your TeX Live distribution. For system-wide installations, administrator privileges (e.g., sudo) are usually required.

Caveats and Limitations:
1. For system-wide TeX Live installations, tlmgr-remove typically requires administrator privileges (e.g., using sudo).
2. Using the --force or --no-depends options can easily corrupt your TeX Live installation by removing essential dependencies or critical packages.
3. Always ensure you know what you are removing, as uninstalling core components can render your TeX Live distribution unusable.

By default, tlmgr-remove intelligently handles package dependencies, preventing the removal of packages that are required by other installed components. This behavior ensures the integrity of your TeX Live installation, unless explicitly overridden by options like --force or --no-depends.

When TeX Live is installed system-wide (e.g., in a directory like /usr/local/texlive), performing removal operations with tlmgr-remove will require root privileges. This is typically achieved by prefixing the command with sudo. For user-specific TeX Live installations, root permissions are usually not necessary.

tlmgr was developed to be the primary management tool for TeX Live, replacing older, less integrated utilities. The remove functionality has been a fundamental part of tlmgr since its inception, evolving to handle the complex structure of TeX Live distributions, including collections and schemes, providing a robust way to manage installed components.

tlmgr(1), tlmgr-install(1), tlmgr-update(1), tlmgr-search(1)