Quick question – how practice yous uninstall programs on Mac?

The logic tells us we should simply drag an unwanted app to the Bin. Alas, it is not quite and so. Dragging normal files similar documents and movies to the Trash works fine. But doing the same for apps leaves tons of leftover junk files on your hard drive.

  • An app is stored in more than i place
  • Many apps have small "satellite" apps
  • Some apps accept unusual locations

For example, Steam games are stored in a custom folder, that'southward why deleting such apps is a bit harder. We're going to show you what gets left behind and what you can exercise to completely uninstall apps from hither on out.

How to uninstall on Mac

If you are trying to delete an old application, reinstall a corrupted software or just costless upward disk space on your Mac, removing all components of the programme is important. These include the app, its preferences and support files, and sometimes other hidden files.

To completely uninstall a plan on Mac you have to cull one of three options:

  • Using Trash.
  • Using Launchpad.
  • Using a native uninstaller.

The ways mentioned above include navigating your Mac'southward in search of the apps you want to remove and then locating their remaining data. The latter can have fifty-fifty more than identify than the app itself and can exist stored anywhere in your folders.

I prefer immigration my Mac from apps using special software fabricated for this detail task - CleanMyMac X. It'south Uninstaller feature, is an app-killer that sweeps abroad any program you don't want on your Mac and clears remaining junk.

Now let's get alee and delete some apps!

i. Uninstall Mac apps using Trash

Whether you lot're running macOS Monterey or an before macOS, like Catalina or Mojave, the process of manually uninstalling apps remains relatively like. Here'due south what yous need to do:

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Go to Applications.
  3. Cull the app y'all want to delete.
  4. Press Control + Delete (⌘⌫).
  5. Open Trash.
  6. Click the Empty button in the upper-right corner of the window.

And the app is gone.

Uninstalling apps on macOS Monterey even so requires getting rid of leftovers, despite the fact that it's the latest and the most sophisticated system for Mac. Apple has done such a good task on contempo macOS versions simply de-installation to this day remains an issue.

To completely remove programs from Mac manually, you take to find all the associated files that come forth with the app. That means non just dragging the app icon to the Trash from your Applications folder, just searching the depths of the system files on your Mac.

For example, here's i app storing cache in different places on your Mac:

We're going to reveal the locations of the most common files that are associated with apps. To remove the app leftovers from your Mac just navigate to each of these folders and hunt for the app you want to remove. If you find files with the app name you can send them to the Trash.

And then, when uninstalling any software, you have to get over each of these folders one by one and remove the following:

  • Binary and dock icons are located in /Applications/
  • Application support files are located in
    ~/Library/Application Support
  • Support Caches can exist found in /Library/Caches/ and
    ~/Library/Caches
  • Plugins are located in ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/
  • Library can be found in ~/Library/
  • App preferences are located in ~/Library/Preferences/
  • Crashes are plant in
    ~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/
  • App saved states are located in
    ~/Library/Saved Application Country/

There are many more subconscious files, some of which cannot be accessed past the user. And macOS/OS 10 volition forestall you from deleting some app files.

Equally y'all can come across, it's not that easy to uninstall applications Mac doesn't need, even when you know what to do. By the way, be certain to expect for the proper name of the app in the file names of the files you remove. Don't remove anything you don't know! Do your due diligence earlier removing something from your system.

When you delete software on Mac manually, exist certain only to remove an app file or folder when yous're certain of what it is. Expect at the name very carefully before yous nuke information technology. Removing the incorrect files could cause issues with your organization.

Remember, please be conscientious when deleting system files — you lot never know how it will affect your Mac if yous remove the wrong ones (or the right ones for that affair!).

2. Uninstall Mac programs with Launchpad

How to uninstall on Mac by using the Launchpad? It's like shooting fish in a barrel and this manual method works like this:

  1. Click Launchpad icon in your Mac's Dock.
  2. Find the app you lot desire to delete.
  3. Click and hold the app until it starts shaking.
  4. Click X in the superlative-left corner of the app icon.
  5. Click Delete.

This will uninstall the app from your Mac. However, keep in listen that subsequently removing the programme, you should also delete its leftovers every bit we've described above.

How to delete Mac apps that won't delete

Unfortunately, transmission methods won't become everything. Some apps are pre-installed macOS components and protected by the arrangement while others will refuse to delete because they are already open (even though that'due south ofttimes non true).

And then, how to delete the apps on Mac that won't delete? You tin can try the manual removal after strength quitting the app in question (press Command-Choice-Esc and if the app is on the list shut it down) or rebooting your Mac.

If you're still unable to delete apps on Mac or if y'all're worried you won't exercise information technology correctly and want a safer culling, there's the easy method of uninstalling apps from your Mac so yous don't have to force delete applications. It actually does a better (and safer) task and in a fraction of the fourth dimension. Read on to learn how to delete apps on Mac automatically.

3. Uninstall apps with CleanMyMac X

When I referred to the easy method of uninstalling apps, I meant using CleanMyMac X. As for me, deleting apps is a pretty irksome task. I've always put abroad this chore, every bit information technology will waste a huge amount of my time. But, my Mac was running low on free storage, and then I decided to attempt CleanMyMac X to fix this problem and uninstall programs on Mac with ease. I used the Uninstaller module to become rid of multiple apps at once. Hither's what you need to do:

  1. Download the free version  of CleanMyMac X and launch it (takes less than a minute).
  2. Go to Uninstaller.
  3. Choose All Applications.
  4. Check the boxes next to the app you lot want to remove.
    5. All apps selected in the Uninstaller module of CMMX
  5. Press Uninstall.

As you can run across, CleanMyMac 10 shows precisely how much place each app takes, so it's easier to discover the heaviest programs. Some other do good is that y'all can majority uninstall programs on Mac without dragging each app and its files to the Trash.

Is information technology possible to delete organisation files on Mac?

CleanMyMac X doesn't allow you delete arrangement apps like Safari. Neither of Mac cleaners can do that. Simply, CleanMyMac Ten allows y'all to delete the data associated with arrangement apps and reset them completely. Click CleanMyMac X'due south card in the upper-left corner and cull Preferences. Go to Ignore List and click Uninstaller. Here uncheck the box next to "Ignore system applications."

At present, you can shut Preferences and go back to Uninstaller.  Click ► next to the app'due south icon to show its files. Then check the information you want to delete and cull Reset from the drib-down listing next to the app's icon. So press Remove.

Safari reset selected in the Uninstaller module in CMMX

It will aid to clear some infinite on your Mac. Note that your app logs may also disappear after the reset.

4. Use the native uninstaller

Many applications are designed to clean later themselves. They come with a built-in uninstaller — a self-destroying utility bundled with the primary app. This is generally truthful for 3rd-party apps that you lot download from the internet. That'south why native uninstallers remain more of a Windows thing, not much heard of in the Mac world.

The original uninstallers can be plant in Finder > Applications. If your app looks like a folder (within the Applications folder) most likely it volition take a split uninstaller. The name will read [Your app] Uninstaller or Uninstall [Your App].

Open the folder, find the launcher, and just follow the onscreen instructions. After the removal is consummate, you tin bask your extra storage infinite!

Clear app leftovers: preferences files and caches

No sane developer wants people to delete their application. Every bit your desperate ex, they would practice everything to stay on your Mac, similar planting pieces of their software around your Mac then one 24-hour interval they tin can render. Support files, preference files, and caches — all these volition likely remain even if you've deleted the app itself.

Here I'll show you how to root out these remaining traces. I'll use the Telegram app as an example.

Delete application support files

Click on Finder > Go to Binder… (in the upper menu).
Paste in: ~/Library/Awarding Support/Your App Name

In my case it'south: ~/Library/Application Support/Telegram

Now, delete the content of this folder.

Delete awarding Preferences

The Preferences folder contains your user settings. These files are tiny but in that location'southward no reason not to delete them, only out of principle.

Click on Finder > Go to Binder…
Paste in: ~/Library/Preferences/

Open up the folder. At present type the name of your app in the search bar. Click to search "Preferences." Delete the found items.

Delete the caches

In the aforementioned vein, you'll have to delete the remaining app caches.

This time, use the post-obit control to paste in Finder > Get to Folder...
Paste this: ~/Library/Caches/Your App Proper name

Note: In some cases, you demand to search for the app developer's proper name, rather than the name of the app.

Tip: Don't forget to search for one-time .DMG installers in the Finder. To completely uninstall application, Mac will show you the list of installers and their size via Search.


Delete leftovers with CleanMyMac X

If y'all've been doing a "jump cleaning" in your Applications folder, chances are some files are notwithstanding left somewhere in your Mac's organisation. CleanMyMac X detects and collects them into the Leftovers tab.

Go to Uninstaller once again and select Leftovers. Select all the remaining files and printing Uninstall to say goodbye to the app remains. If the app is all the same running, CleanMyMac X will close it, so it's a quick manner to force delete an app on Mac.

Leftovers in the Uninstaller module of CMMX

At present you are just every bit skilful at uninstalling applications on Mac as any Apple engineer. Hopefully, you now take plenty of gratuitous infinite. Don't miss a few related articles below.