Method 1: Manually Uninstall Mac Apps Best to use when: you only have a few apps to remove, and they are downloaded from the App Store or their official websites. For apps downloaded from the Mac App Store, just go to Launchpad by clicking the icon in the Dock or pinching the thumb and three fingers together on the Trackpad. How to uninstall apps on a Mac. Head over to the Dock and look for an option that says Launchpad — the icon shows a silver rocket ship. This will automatically run the Uninstaller, which. Show All Running Apps On Mac Using Force Quit Applications Manager. Another method to check all the Running apps and programs on your Mac is through the Force Quit applications manager on Mac. Click on the Apple icon in the top menu bar of your Mac and then click on Force Quit Application in the drop-down menu (See image below). To completely remove and uninstall 5KPlayer on your macOS Sierra, High Sierra, macOS 10.13 Mojave or previous Mac OS X 10.6 to 10.9, I recommend a freeware AppCleaner. Drag 5KPlayer icon from the Applications folder to AppCleaner, check all items and confirm uninstalling. Mar 11, 2020 Method 1: Manually Uninstall Mac Apps Best to use when: you only have a few apps to remove, and they are downloaded from the App Store or their official websites. For apps downloaded from the Mac App Store, just go to Launchpad by clicking the icon in the Dock or pinching the thumb and three fingers together on the Trackpad.
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Apple unveils a new MacBook Air during an Apple launch event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Oct. 30, 2018 in New York City. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Removing programs from a Macintosh can be very easy. In many cases, all you have to do is drag the application's icon to the Trash. Sometimes, though, applications store the files they need to run in other locations on your computer's hard drive, and finding them can take some detective work. If you are used to the uninstall option in Windows, you have a little culture shock — macOS does not have this feature built in.
Why would you want to uninstall a program? For the same reason you occasionally tidy your office or clean your garage. Clutter breeds inefficiency. Applications take up space on your hard disk and can slow your computer. Also, a new version of a program may not work correctly unless you get rid of the old one [source: Ritchie].
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Most of the time, uninstalling is this simple:
- Exit the program you want to delete.
- Open the Applications folder, which you'll find by opening a new window in the Finder, or clicking on the hard disk icon.
- Drag the icon of the program you want to uninstall to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash.
When files for the application you want to delete are all stored in one location, dragging the icon to the Trash will take care of most of the work. In Mac talk, apps like this are 'bundled.' To see the files in an application's bundle, click on its icon while holding down the Control key. You should see an option that says, 'show package contents.' Uninstalling applications downloaded from the Mac App Store is even easier — just delete the application from the Applications Folder and its accompanying folder in UserLibraryContainers [source: Tanous].
For some other programs, removal is more complicated. When installed, these programs create files in several locations, often in the System Folder. The first step in removing them is to check the program's documentation to see if there is an uninstall utility. If your program has an uninstall utility associated with it, it may have been installed with the program or included on the disk that came with it. If you downloaded a disk image to install the software, sometimes you'll find an uninstaller there. Running an uninstall utility can make removing a program much easier.
You should be aware that removing an unbundled program by moving it into the Trash can leave behind orphan files on your computer. Preferencefiles are usually small and you might want to ignore them if you're just trying to free up disk space. Background files or support files can be larger, especially for multimedia programs like GarageBand [source: MacRumors]. These files are likely to reside in Library folders in your hard drive or Home folder. They will usually be labeled with the name of the program, like Office or Acrobat, or the developer, such as Microsoft or Adobe. You can search for the relevant names using Spotlight, which is included with the Mac OS. Drag the files you find to the trash to get rid of them [source: Tanous]. .
Check out the next page for tips to make your uninstallation go even more smoothly.
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If searching through obscure corners of your computer for what could be hundreds of files sounds like something a machine could do better than you, you're right. There are plenty of software programs that do just that. They're usually your best bet for really cleaning an app off your Mac, and some of them are free. Popular examples include AppTrap, Appcleaner, and AppZapper.
Some of the files that a program might create on your hard disk are invisible. It may be tempting, especially for neat freaks, to find and delete these files. But some files are deliberately hidden because they are essential to the computer's operating system. Deleting the wrong file could land you in deep trouble [source: Landau]. The best advice is not to go where even experienced techies fear to tread. Uninstall utilities can search out and destroy these files, but doing so on your own invites trouble.
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Another important thing to do is empty your Trash when you're finished uninstalling. Moving a program's icon to the Trash doesn't actually remove the files from your hard disk or clear up any space. Only when you empty the Trash is the application really gone.
Here are some other important tips:
- When you install a program, check to see how to uninstall it. Make a note if it has its own uninstall utility or instructions.
- Before you begin any uninstalling process, check to make sure your Trash is empty or contains nothing you might want to save.
- Log on as your computer's administrator whenever you uninstall. If you're uninstalling at work and don't have administrator privileges, you'll have to consult with your tech people [source: Ritchie].
- If you opt for a third-party uninstall utility, look at the features. Some developers charge for their software, but you may not need the bells and whistles. Free utilities may work fine.
- It often makes sense to leave preference files alone. If you ever reinstall the same software, you won't have to set the preferences.
- Suites of software from a developer, such as the Office suite from Microsoft, often share files. Removing the files of one component may affect the others, so it's good to be cautious with these [source: The X Lab].
- If, after you remove a program, the icon is still in your dock, you can get rid of it by simply dragging it off the dock and letting it go [source: Tech-FAQ].
Removing software from your Mac is a lot less of a hassle than cleaning your office or garage. But clearing away computer clutter and making space on your hard disk can be just as satisfying.
Originally Published: Aug 8, 2011
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Related Articles
Sources
- Landau, Ted. 'Tutorial: Now you see 'em, now you don't: Invisible files in Mac OS X,' cnet.com, May 19, 2004. (Feb. 14, 2019) https://www.cnet.com/news/tutorial-now-you-see-em-now-you-dont-invisible-files-in-mac-os-x/
- FacRumors. 'Uninstalling Applications in Mac OS X,' MacRumors.com. (Feb. 16, 2019) https://web.archive.org/web/20170715163609/http://guides.macrumors.com/Uninstalling_Applications_in_Mac_OS_Xp
- Ritchie, David. 'How to Uninstall Mac Programs,' TheMacLawyer.com. October 13, 2010. (Feb. 16, 2019) http://www.themaclawyer.com/2010/10/articles/guest-posts/guest-post-how-to-uninstall-mac-programs/
- Tanous, Jim. 'How to Uninstall & Remove Mac OS X Programs and Applications,' The Mac Observer. Feb. 1, 2013. (Feb. 16, 2019) https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/answers/how-to-uninstall-remove-mac-os-x-programs-and-applications
- Tech-FAQ. 'How to Uninstall Programs on a Mac,' Tech-FAQ.com. (Feb. 16, 2019) http://www.tech-faq.com/how-to-uninstall-programs-on-a-mac.html
- The X Lab. 'Uninstalling applications,' TheXLab.com. (Feb. 16, 2019) http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/uninstallingapps.html
We live in the golden age of apps. We are being spammed by the apps forcing us to update, install the latest extension, read some marketing fluff that’s pouring on us from every pop up window. Your best defence is to teach yourself about deleting software properly. And simply dragging apps to the Trash is no way a secure deletion.
Why? Because it leaves behind app parts and pieces. And leaving software only half uninstalled will fill up gigabytes of space on your Mac’s hard drive with useless clutter. And sure you could find a better use for that space. That’s why, until Apple decides to make the right choice and develop a better way to completely uninstall apps on Mac, we’ve prepared some efficient tips and tricks to help you uninstall apps manually and keep the performance of your Mac at its peak, day in and day out.
A complete guide to uninstall software on Mac
![Says Says](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134259253/925458266.png)
In this guide, we’re going to show you how to completely remove apps from your Mac in order to free up space and have your Mac running at full power.
We’ve prepared two ways for deleting apps on Mac. We'll start off by explaining manual ways of deleting apps on Mac.
Did you know: Some apps are hard to delete manually as they consist of many unseen parts. In this case, you'll need a special 'app destroyer.' The most popular one is CleanMyMac X by MacPaw. Whichever method you choose, it will help you to correctly remove apps on Mac. You will then have a clean Mac and a lot more free space to store your digital possessions.
What’s more, we’ve also added 2 bonus tips for uninstalling Java and deleting apps via the Terminal:
- Bonus 1: Uninstall Java on Mac
- Bonus 2: Uninstall apps using Terminal
Sounds good? Now, let’s take out the trash!
How to Remove Programs on Mac manually
It’s time for the big reveal. We’re going to show you where to find all the associated app files that remain trapped on your Mac even after you’ve sent an app to the Trash.
But before we proceed, take caution. If you’ve chosen the manual method to remove programs on Mac we admire your determination, but we must also warn you to keep a careful eye on what you’re deleting. You don’t want to end up removing essential files. So, carefully check all the filenames before you begin to uninstall software on Mac and make sure they belong to the app you want to remove.
Sending apps to the Trash
Open your Applications (from the sidebar in Finder).
Select an app and drag it onto the Trash bin. That's it.
What if it doesn't work?
Sometimes, for the mysterious reasons, your Mac would refuse to delete some files. If this happens, reboot your system and try again, after you’ve pressed Command-Option-Esc and made sure the app is not listed as running. If it is, force quit and try again.
The hard truth about leftovers
There’s also the risk of having some app files slip through the cracks of the manual method, if you’re not thorough enough. To illustrate, we've deleted the XCode software by dragging it to the Trash. It ended up leaving 1.9 GB worth of remaining files. It may depend on an app, though.
We'll explain how to eliminate them in a second. But, again, if you'd like to automatically delete these minor app parts, skip to the automatic solution with CleanMyMac X.
Dealing with the remaining parts
Now, let’s gather all strength and begin our manual hunt for app leftovers! To make sure you don’t miss anything and you remove software from your Mac correctly, follow these steps:
- Step 1 – write down the name of the apps that you have sent to the Trash and go to the next step to start finding apps leftovers and associated files.
- Step 2 – go to the following locations and if you find a folder associated with any app name you have written down, delete it to completely uninstall the programs.
Open the Finder
Click on Finder > Go> Go to Folder..
So, to fully remove an app and its leftovers from your Mac you need to check these locations in the Finder.
That was obviously a cumbersome way to delete things. In the next chapter we'll show the much easier method.
Don’t forget to empty the Trash
Once your apps are moved to the Trash bin you need to empty it. Open the Trash bin and click the Empty button to erase its contents.
How to delete Mac apps automatically
There is a whole category of app uninstallers for Mac that takes advantage of macOS' inability to remove apps completely. Among the trusted tools, you may check https://zpvvqxx.weebly.com/blog/stitcher-app-for-mac. CleanMyMac X by MacPaw. It's notarized by Apple and is the most user-friendly compared to analogous apps.
You may download the free edition of CleanMyMac X here. This app will detect the unseen apps and you can delete many apps at once by simply checking them in the list. The free version that allows you to clean a big portion of junk. This means you can delete a couple of un-deletable apps at no cost.
You may download the free edition of CleanMyMac X here. This app will detect the unseen apps and you can delete many apps at once by simply checking them in the list. The free version that allows you to clean a big portion of junk. This means you can delete a couple of un-deletable apps at no cost.
If you like it, you’ll be able to upgrade to the paid version and give your Mac a full clean out. You’ll also be able to uninstall apps on Mac correctly at any given time, without limits.
To remove apps from Mac the easy way with CleanMyMac X follow these steps:
- Launch CleanMyMac and go to the Uninstaller tab
- Click View All Applications
- Select any app you want to remove completely
- Click Uninstall to remove 100% of the app from your Mac
As you can see from the screenshot, there is an option to filter out the AppStore apps, the Unused apps, 32-bit ones and more.
Download Free VersionUninstall applications using Launchpad
You can use Launchpad to get rid of your apps and widgets.
- Open Launchpad in the Dock
- Hold down the Command key and click on any app
- Wait until the apps start shaking
Now you can click the hovering [X] icon to delete the app.
How to completely uninstall Java from your Mac
Java plugin is known to have conflict issues with many apps. Re-installing it helps to get some Mac’s services back to working. But completely removing Java might seem a bit harder than uninstalling normal apps. However, it’s not rocket science. With a few clicks and double-clicks, you’ll be ready to enjoy more space and more speed from your Mac, free from the clutter. How to delete app using terminal mac. Space you can, of course, use to install another Java version if you please.
So here’s how to completely delete Java. Remove one directory and one file (a symlink), as follows:
- Click on the Finder icon located in your dock
- Click on the Utilities folder
- Double-click on the Terminal icon
- In the Terminal window Copy and Paste the commands below:
- sudo rm -fr /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
- sudo rm -fr /Library/PreferencePanes/JavaControlPanel.prefPane
- sudo rm -fr ~/Library/Application Support/Java
How to uninstall apps on Mac using Terminal
We've shown you how to remove Java plugin using Terminal. But as one might guess, it works for any other app. This procedure requires 2 commands: 1) Finding the app's location (using the mdfind command) 2) Removing that folder using sudo rm -rf. The latter command may cause damage, so don't use it if you're not sure what you doing).
Okay. Open your Terminal app (you can type its name into the Launchpad)
Mac Uninstall App That Says It Is Running Mate
1. First, we'll find the app's location
Now, paste this command into the Terminal window:
mdfind -name <The name of your app>
For example, the app I'm trying to delete is named 'NVU'
Press enter and the Terminal will show you where the app is located on your Mac.
2. Delete that particular path
To remove the app, paste this command into the Terminal window:
sudo rm -rf <The location you've just found>
In my case it looks like this:
Note: sudo rm -rf may break your system if used incorrectly. You may delete your entire user account. If not sure, try other methods described in this article.
Now, enter your password to confirm.
Did it work? Congratulations — you may officially call yourself a geek now.
Mac Uninstall App That Says It Is Running Faster
How to reset apps without deleting them
Mac Uninstall App That Says It Is Running Away
Yes, you can do that too. Resetting an app is easily the greatest do-it-yourself trick any Mac user can try. What it does is brings the application to its default state, and most importantly, leaves your user data intact. For example, your apps are out of sync with one another so what the reset does is helps restore the initial app settings. It deletes the app cache that causes lots of software glitches. The App Reset feature is found in the Uninstaller tab in CleanMyMac X.
By the way, you can even reset your Mac's default apps, like Safari if they are broken. Here's me resetting my Safari browser:
How To Uninstall Software On A Mac
To use these feature, which is really a hidden gem, open the Uninstaller tab in CleanMyMac X (download its free edition here)
- Find and click on the Uninstaller tab.
- Choose any app in the list
- Click on the dropdown menu under the Uninstall button. This reveals the Reset option.
Now you know everything needed to delete apps on Mac the correct way, achieve complete uninstallation and remove annoying quirks and strange apps behaviors. Whether you choose the manual method or opt for the clean up app CleanMyMac X, you can be sure your Mac will be free of unnecessary app files that eat up disk space in vain. Staying safe and clean feels great, right?