How to uninstall Reference 4

Reference 4 is unsupported and discontinued since 2021. The Reference product line continues with SoundID Reference, learn more here:

  → Reference 4 system requirements and support status
  → What's new in SoundID Reference?
  → Upgrade paths for Reference 3 and 4

How to uninstall Reference 4 from your computer and remove any leftover files and folders.

In this article:

• Uninstall on macOS
  • Reference 4 Systemwide and Measure apps
  • Reference 4 audio driver and plugins
• Uninstall on Windows
  • Reference 4 apps and plugins
  • Registry data removal
• Sonarworks folder removal
  • macOS
  • Windows

Uninstall on macOS

Reference 4 Systemwide and Measure apps

To uninstall the Reference 4 apps, move the Systemwide and Measure applications to the Trash:

1. Quit the Reference 4 Systemwide app from the macOS menu bar
2. Go to Finder > Applications
3. Select the Reference 4 Systemwide and Measure app and Move to Trash

Reference 4 audio driver and plugins

Reference 4 AU, VST, and AAX plugins, and the HAL audio driver for the Systemwide app are located in the Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > Plugins sub-directories. Navigate to them as shown below, and delete the files manually:

Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/Sonarworks Reference 4 plugin.component
Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins/Sonarworks Reference 4 plugin.aaxplugin
Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/Sonarworks Reference 4 plugin.vst
Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/HAL/SonarworksSystemwide.driver

Uninstall on Windows

Reference 4 apps and plugins

1. Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps/Apps & features.
2. Navigate to these apps/components:
   • Reference 4 AAX plugin for Pro Tools
   • Reference 4 Measure
   • Reference 4 RTAS plugin
   • Reference 4 VST plugin
   • Sonarworks Reference 4 Systemwide
3. Click on "⋯" (menu) > Uninstall to remove each component.

You can also navigate to the Reference 4 app and plugin files, and delete them manually (unless a custom install location was selected for some components during the original installation):

C:\Program files\Sonarworks\Reference 4
C:\Program files\VSTPlugins\Reference4_x64.dll
C:\Program files (x86)\VSTPlugins/Reference4_x86.dll
C:\Program files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins\Reference4.aaxplugin
C:\Program files(x86)\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins\Reference4.aaxplugin
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\Reference_4_x64.vst3
C:\Program files (x86)\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins/Reference4.aaxplugin
C:\Program files (x86)\Common Files\Digidesign\DAE\Plug-Ins\Refrence4.dpm

Registry data removal

Uninstalling the Reference 4 apps and plugin will usually clear the registry data too, but in case a manual approach has been taken, some registry entries might still be present. 

If no other software is installed under Sonarworks in the Registry Editor, the entire Sonarworks entry can be removed.

1. Type "regedit" in the Windows search bar to launch Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sonarworks.
3. Right-click on the Reference 4 entries under Sonarworks and Delete.

Sonarworks folder removal

Reference 4 software also stores data for calibration profiles, logs, settings and configuration, license information, and other files. This data is stored in the Sonarworks > Reference 4 folder, which is retained after uninstalling to avoid losing your calibration profiles and configuration in case of a reinstall.  

macOS

If there is no other Sonarworks software installed, the entire Sonarworks folder can be removed. If other Sonarworks products are installed, remove the Reference 4 folder only.

Keep in mind that this will delete all user data, including any speaker profiles you've created (the .swproj calibration files for speakers). If you wish to back them up first, follow the directions here: Where can I find my speaker profile?

Macintosh HD/Users/your username/Library/Sonarworks/Reference 4

Note: The User/Library directory on macOS is hidden by default. Use the Command + Shift + "." (dot) key command in Finder to show hidden files, or follow the directions here: How to show hidden files Mac and Windows?

Windows

If there is no other Sonarworks software installed, the entire Sonarworks folder can be removed. If other Sonarworks products are installed, remove the Reference 4 folder only.

Keep in mind that this will delete all user data, including any speaker profiles you've created (the .swproj calibration files for speakers). If you wish to back them up first, follow the directions here: Where can I find my speaker profile?

C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\Sonarworks\Reference 4

Note: The Library\AppData directory on Windows is hidden by default. To show hidden files, follow the directions here: How to show hidden files Mac and Windows?