Disable Evolution from loading on Ubuntu

If you want to stop Evolution from running in the background, even if you don't use it, and save some RAM, here is a quick way. Supposedly, you can't un-install it, since other programs depend on it. But by preventing the file from being executed you can prevent it from starting.

chmod -x /usr/libexec/evolution-addressbook-factory
chmod -x /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory
chmod -x /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server/evolution-alarm-notify
chmod -x /usr/libexec/evolution-source-registry

BEFORE

$ ps ax | grep evolution
   2040 ?        Ssl    0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-source-registry
   2049 ?        Ssl    0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory
   2068 ?        Ssl    0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-addressbook-factory
   2155 ?        Sl     0:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-data-server/evolution-alarm-notify
   5276 pts/0    S+     0:00 grep --color=auto evolution

AFTER

$ ps ax | grep evolution
   2267 pts/0    S+     0:00 grep --color=auto evolution

Commands found at How do I completely remove Evolution?.

EDIT: The old solution was to rename the files, but pio and later James suggested a better solution in the comments below, so thanks for that.

Thanks, Munix

I love cleaning up my ubuntu - oddly I do not feel the same about my room...

I know that feeling

The dust bunnies are hiding behind my computer cabinet :-)

mhhhh

mhhh why not ?
$ sudo chmod 666 /usr/lib/evolution-data-server /usr/lib/evolution
$ chattr +i /usr/lib/evolution-data-server /usr/lib/evolution
but this not the way to disable it. Some processes will end in error for this change. The boot time is increased.

Seems to work

Thanks pio, I tried your solution, and it seems to work just fine.

Simple disable of evolution

I have done a method for years now! open /usr/lib/evolution as root Administrator and open properties of each evolution program and in the permissions column remove the "Allow executing file as program" check mark. Do this for all that start with 'evolution-' something. For me it was 'evolution-addressbook-export' though 'evolution-user-prompter', count 10 or Ubuntu 16.04.7 LTS. Reboot and enjoy the extra memory, but remember you will not use Evolution anymore for e-mail, so load your favorite. I use web-mail anyway like Gmail.

Great solution

Thanks James, I forgot about this. It looks like Evolution use a lot less RAM in Ubuntu 20.04, but disabling it still seems like a good idea. I have updated the steps to remove the execute permissions from the relevant files, which seems to work well.

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