Remove evolution-calendar-factory from startup

If you want to remove evolution-data-server, it will remove these at least (tested in 16.04)

The following packages will be REMOVED:
  evolution-data-server gdm3 gnome-contacts gnome-shell libfolks-eds25
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 5 to remove and 378 not upgraded.
After this operation, 15.8 MB disk space will be freed.

So, the better treatment is a bit nasty, but it works!

Nasty Hack!

Rename Evolution binary folder, so that it won't be found! What works for me is these

sudo mv /usr/lib/evolution-data-server /usr/lib/evolution-data-server-disabled
sudo mv /usr/lib/evolution /usr/lib/evolution-disabled

That's it! Now, I can at least use the system.

Notes: If you disable evolution this way, you won't be able to use calender syncs or other fancy (useless for me) stuff.


Less dirty hack (update)

Looks like more and more people are unsatisfied with evolution lately. But in my current setup, I don't rename the folder. Instead I just remove the executable bit and it works.

For disabling calendar process, I used

sudo chmod -x /usr/lib/evolution/evolution-calendar-factory

The good thing with this method is other evolution service can still work (they start and runs)

Repeat the same process for evolution-source-registry and evolution-addressbook-factory if you want to shut them up too!


I didn't have Evolution installed, but still had this running as well.

Remove the package evolution-data-server via the Software Center. Or type this into a terminal: sudo apt-get purge evolution-data-server. Then log out and back in, it should be gone.

N.b. This worked for me in 14.04 and 16.04 if using the Unity desktop; it does not, however, in 18.04, as a lot of critical gnome packages depend upon it


You can mask the units using systemd (tested on Ubuntu 18.04, Unity):

systemctl --user mask evolution-addressbook-factory.service evolution-calendar-factory.service evolution-source-registry.service

After logout/login the services will not be started anymore.