How to uninstall apps on Mac

Most uninstalling apps on a Mac is quite simple. However, some apps can leave traces even after you uninstall them. We'll show you how to completely remove those apps, including any files they leave behind.

1. Move apps to Trash

The simplest way to uninstall an app from your Mac is to drag it to the Trash icon in your Mac's Dock.

Note that this must be done from the Applications folder in Finder; You cannot uninstall an app by dragging its icon from the Dock to the Trash. You can also Control -click an app's icon and select Move to Trash  from the context menu.

If you want to delete multiple apps, hold down the Command key and click the app icon to select each app. Then, hold Control and select Move to Trash .

Now, to permanently delete the app, Control- click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash from the context menu. If the Trash cannot be emptied, make sure the app is not running in the background.

This method will delete all the application's files from the Applications folder , sometimes not just the application itself. Although most apps will completely uninstall using this method, others may leave behind some residual files. To remove everything from a certain app, use the next method instead.

2. Use AppCleaner to completely remove the application

macOS handles application files in two separate ways. Besides the application itself, there are also related files spread across the file system. They may be in the Library folder or a related folder in a completely different location. To completely uninstall an application, you also need to delete those leftover files.

AppCleaner is a free utility that removes all leftover files from an application. You can also use AppCleaner to remove unwanted applications that come with your Mac, such as iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, etc. After opening AppCleaner, you will see an empty area where you can drop any Which application do you want to uninstall?

1. (Free of charge)

The best part about AppCleaner is the transparency it brings to the uninstallation process. You will see a list of all files associated with it. The application will automatically select related files that are safe to delete. All you need to do is click Remove .

AppCleaner can also be set up to automatically delete any related Library files when you delete an application. To do this, click AppCleaner in the menu bar and select Settings from the drop-down menu. Now, switch to the SmartDelete tab and turn the toggle to ON .

Now, when you move an application to Trash, you will see a pop-up window asking if you want to move the associated files to Trash. Just uncheck the items you don't want to delete and select Remove.

3. Use a dedicated application uninstaller

Some Mac apps come with their own installers. These apps install their own helpers and update widgets, which makes it much more difficult to completely uninstall them.

Adobe, in particular, makes this process unnecessarily complicated. Even if you delete the Adobe app, the help widget and menu bar app will still show notifications. Even using an app like AppCleaner is not helpful in these cases.

The only way to remove apps like this is to use their own uninstaller. First, open Spotlight (or search Finder) and look for the app name followed by "uninstaller". If you find it, open it and start the uninstallation process. A pop-up menu may appear asking you to enter your Mac's password or use Touch ID.

If you can't find it on your Mac, do a Google search. Some applications will allow downloading an application-specific uninstaller to remove them.

4. Delete related application files from the library

Application resources are stored in the Library folder . These are files that the application requires to function properly. When you delete an application on your Mac, the related files in the Library folder usually remain intact unless you use a program like AppCleaner.

Messing around with Library files can be dangerous. If you delete an important file for macOS, it can lead to crashes and data loss. But if you know what you're doing and only want to delete specific files related to an application, here's what to do:

1. Open a Finder window and click Go in the menu bar while holding down the Option key . From the drop-down list, click Library .
2. Now, click the Search button and enter the name of the application or file you are looking for. Click the Library button to narrow the search to the Library folder.
3. When you find the relevant file, select it and drag it to the Trash. Alternatively, you can Control -click the file and select Move to Trash .

Remember to empty the Trash to permanently delete leftover files from your Mac.

5. Uninstall Mac apps using Terminal

Terminal is a powerful tool for solving problems yourself. Instead of downloading and trusting a third-party app, you can get the job done with just one command. Even if you're new to Terminal, you can still use a simple command to uninstall an app.

Just open Terminal from Applications > Utilities in Finder and type the following command:

sudo uninstall file://

Next, drag the application icon into the Terminal window and it will automatically enter the application's path, as shown in the screenshot below:

sudo uninstall file:///Applications/Rove Papers.app

Press Return (or Enter ), enter the admin password, and Terminal will uninstall the app for you. If you have any trouble, use the following command instead:

sudo rm -rf 

Add a space to the end of the command and drag the application into Terminal to enter the path before pressing Return . For example:

sudo rm -rf /Applications/Rove Papers.app

You will be prompted to re-enter your Mac's admin password. Just do that and the app will be completely removed from your Mac.

Warning : Be cautious when running the command sudo rm -rf . Inserting incorrect paths can lead to data loss.

Typically, deleting an app will result in that app and all of its data being completely deleted from your Mac. However, in the rare case that there is still some data and files left over, you can use any of the methods above to delete them from your Mac.

Wishing you success!=

Kareem Winters

Update 09 July 2024