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SUMMARY: Need a quick and complete method to uninstall applications from your Mac? Read on this tutorial to find how to completely uninstall applications from your Mac.
It is generally believed that uninstalling software on Mac OS X is simple and straightforward - you can just remove apps from the Applications folder; or drag-n-drop a program to Trash; for the application downloaded from App Store, you can directly uninstall it from LaunchPad. Things even go nicer that some Mac app vendors prepare in-built uninstaller programs to help you deal with background components.
It is generally believed that uninstalling software on Mac OS X is simple and straightforward - you can just remove apps from the Applications folder; or drag-n-drop a program to Trash; for the application downloaded from App Store, you can directly uninstall it from LaunchPad. Things even go nicer that some Mac app vendors prepare in-built. Users’ inability to delete the Apple News app is considered a current weakness in Mojave. While you can fully remove the app from iOS, you cannot do the same on this Mac operating system. Since there doesn’t seem to be a way to delete the app, you can tweak your Mac’s preferences to get some peace and quiet.
Read Also: How To Uninstall Office 2011 for Mac >
However, as a matter of fact, macOS isn't perfect in every respect especially its Self-regulation 'arrogance' may result in negligence. Some applications install their components out of standard Application Package Content folder. Anyone who's had problems installing an Adobe CS application (Adobe Creative Cloud) or removing malware (Symantec/AVG/MacKeeper) will recognize how hard it can be to completely uninstall old applications from Mac. Follow this tutorial to learn how to thoroughly remove unwanted or roguish software on Mac.
How To Uninstall Applications On Mac
Step 1: Completely Uninstall Application on Mac with Prepared Uninstaller
If the app you're trying to uninstall from your Mac has an in-built Uninstaller associated with it, then go ahead to take this advantage instead of starting manual uninstallation immediately. Because the vendor or developer usually knows best about their programs. These apps with big name or switched from Windows OS tend to have one. Take Adobe's Flash Player as an example (What Is Other On Mac Storage).
Completely Uninstall Application on Mac with Prepared Uninstaller
Step 2: Completely Uninstall Application on Mac - Drag-n-Drop To Delete
If there is no in-build Uninstaller App available, don't be upset as it's very common for modern applications on macOS. The reason is simple too. Most apps are downloaded from App Store, and this type of app could be uninstalled directly via LaunchPad. So, move on to uninstall your apps manually on your Mac by dragging and dropping to Trash can (App Can't Be Opened Because Apple Cannot Check It for Malicious Software.).
Completely Uninstall Application on Mac - Drag-n-Drop To Delete
Step 3: Completely Uninstall Application on Mac - Check Residuary Files
One more step you need to go further is to dig out and get rid of application associated files through Library. After Mac OS X 10.7 (OS X Lion), Apple locked users' access permission from the Library folder - which used to store application resources files. Go unlock it first (How To Uninstall Programs on Mac).
- Open Finder > in Menu, click Go > enter
~/Library: - Go inside of each folder and search for any files that are associated with your app. Important: make sure the associated files you're trying to delete is save for removal, otherwise these mistaken deletion will cause trouble on your Mac.
- In case you are new to macOS file system, or you have too many file folders, here are some suggested folders you can check primarily. This usually covers most of app leftovers after uninstalling and for sure will save you a large amount of time: Application Support | Caches | Containers | Frameworks | Logs | Preferences | Saved | Application State | WebKit
Step 4: Completely Uninstall Application on Mac - Omni Remover
As you can see, it's not that easy to completely uninstall applications from your Mac. Even Mac savvies may make mistakes to handle this task manually. This is the way Omni Remover comes in. This capable Mac App Uninstaller program comes with powerful Uninstalling engine, which ensures the most complete and efficient App Removal outcomes. Here are the detailed steps (How To Transfer Files Between iPhone and Mac).
Steps:
- Step 1:Download and install Omni Remover on your Mac > Launch Omni Remover.
- Step 2: Click Quick Uninstall to browse the apps that you want to remove. After that, Omni Remover will start scanning your apps and all its associated app files.
- Step 3: Once it finished, give a check on the scan result to check if they are safe to remove. If you want to keep some kind of data, uncheck that item. After this confirmation, click Clean Uninstall to get this app removed from your Mac.
- Step 4: After a while, Omni Remover will finish uninstalling your unwanted applications from your Mac.
Completely Uninstall Application on Mac Step 2
Completely Uninstall Application on Mac Step 4
The Bottom Line
Have you completely and successfully uninstalled your applications on your Mac? If yes, by doing so, you can remove unwanted apps more thoroughly and reclaim more free storage on your Mac. If our suggestions above doesn't help, drop us a line on our Contact page so we can give you customized Mac App Uninstalling solutions. Good Day~
There often comes a time when you just don’t need to keep an app around. It may be old and unsupported – or maybe you just don’t use it anymore and don’t have a need to keep it around. If that sounds like you, we’ll show you exactly how to uninstall apps on Mac.
Uninstall Mac Applications
Get the best uninstallers to delete any application on your Mac.
With macOS Catalina and later, there are plenty of great reasons to delete apps. If an app is 32-bit, it has to go. Apple made the decision to discontinue support for 32-bit binaries with macOS Catalina, and many app developers didn’t retrofit their apps to be 64-bit as Apple requested. Old 32-bit apps no longer work on macOS.
Some apps may just be unnecessary. If you have apps for managing photos or your music library, you may find the new Photos app that comes with macOS or the new Music app do a great job, so the old software you’d been using is redundant. It’s gotta go!
Whatever the case, there are quick and easy ways to delete apps from your Mac. We’ll walk you through it!
One thing to know is deleting an app isn’t the same as uninstalling it. There are two ways to delete apps, though: Finder, and Launchpad.
How to delete apps on Mac using Launchpad
In Launchpad, you can pressing and holding the app's icon to bring up the wiggly app management feature. Like iOS, app icons start to shake in-place, which allows you to move them around. Third-party apps also have a small ‘x’ icon on the top right of the icon in this mode, which allows you to delete them.
Another way to delete apps is from Finder. There, you simply select the app, then right-click and select ‘delete.’ In either Finder or Launchpad, you can drag app icons to the trash bin to delete the apps.
(If you’re on an older version of macOS – or OS X, for the much older versions – and managing apps via iTunes, the process is similar. Select the app, right-click, and select ‘Move to Trash.’)
Remove apps with the Finder
Remember when we told you deleting and uninstalling weren’t the same? Deleting is the first step in the process; Apple wants you to do more work!
The completely uninstall an app, follow the instructions for deleting an app above. Then head to your library folder from Finder:
- Open Finder
- Select ‘Go’ from menu
- Hold down ‘option’ key on keyboard; you should see a new option for ‘Library’
- While holding down the option key, select ‘Library’
A word of caution before you proceed: DO NOT delete files if you’re not sure what they do. Apple hides the Library for a reason: most people shouldn’t go poking through it and deleting files haphazardly. If you don’t know what a file or folder is for, leave it alone.
Library houses files and folders apps need to operate. Sometimes these files or folders are for updating an app, or managing a Safari extension. Again, Library isn’t a toy. Tread lightly!
When you find a file or folder you know doesn’t belong – and is associated with the app you deleted – you can also delete the file by right-clicking and selecting ‘Move to Trash,’ or dragging it to the trash bin.
Deleting these files completes the deletion of an app. It’s possible those files were doing things necessary for the app that you no longer want, like calling a server or tracking keystrokes. Without the app, those types of features are just spyware.
When you’re done deleting apps and associated files, go ahead and empty your trash bin.
If you’re thinking ‘wow, that all seems sort of scary,’ you’re not wrong. Even seasoned pros get nervous when digging into a computer’s Library file system. There is a better way to uninstall programs from Mac, though!
Uninstall Mac apps and delete left behind files
If the idea of deleting apps and digging into secret libraries on your Mac to remove associated files is daunting, we have a better solution.
Can't Delete App On Mac
CleanMyMacX is a best Mac utility that helps manage your apps and files, in addition to a ton of other features. For now, we’ll focus on app management.
In the CleanMyMacX menu is an ‘Applications’ section on the left pane. It has three options: Uninstaller, Updater, and Extensions. Updater lets you manage updates for apps you want to keep, and saves you the trouble of digging through the App Store just to update an app.
How To Delete Apps From Mac Desktop
Extensions helps you manage Safari browser extensions, Spotlight plugins, Internet Plugins, and Preference Panes. It’s the simplest and most straightforward way to manage the add-ons some apps demand, which aren’t always caught when deleting or uninstalling an app. When you find an extension you don’t want, just select it and click the ‘Remove’ button at the bottom of the window.
To uninstall apps on Mac, go to the ‘Uninstaller’ option with CleanMyMacX. Here you’ll see apps in a variety of categories. There’s the ‘all’ category for – you guessed it – all of the apps on your Mac. There’s also a section named ‘unused,’ which shows you which apps you’re not really using often.
The ‘Leftovers’ section makes Apple’s ‘Library’ look silly. In CleanMyMacX, Leftovers automatically finds the files associates with apps you no longer have. Hovering over the file in a list brings up the ‘Show’ option, which gives you precise info on exactly what app the file is associated with. No more fumbling through Library and guessing!
There’s also a section for 32-bit apps (remember, we talked about that!) which shows every app that’s no longer supported for macOS. If you really enjoy the app, we suggest reaching out to the developer to see if they will be making it a 64-bit app. If not, go ahead and delete it; it just won’t work on your Mac.
When you’re ready to uninstall programs from your Mac, select the app in any menu you see it in and click ‘Uninstall’ at the bottom of the screen. It’s that easy!
Conclusion
The main goal when uninstalling an app from macOS is to get rid of it completely: files, folders, the app – everything. We’ll also note that if you plan on never using the app or service again, it’s best to request the app developer remove your profile entirely. The method for this varies, but the app or service’s website should have the answer you need.
It takes a long time to delete an app the Apple way, and it’s just not worth it. Digging through the Library is scary stuff, and one wrong move can have a ripple effect on your entire system. No thanks!
We prefer CleanMyMacX, which takes care of the heavy lifting of deleting an app, then removing associated files to completely uninstall it. With a few clicks, you completely rid yourself of an app you don’t want.
For mobile users, there’s also AnyTrans, available for iOS and Android. AnyTrans is a macOS app that lets you manage backups, apps on your device, and account or cloud content in a much cleaner interface than Apple or Google provide. It’s easy to use, and available for both Android and iOS.
Best of all, AnyTrans as well as CleanMyMacX are available free as part of a seven day trial of Setapp. In addition to these apps, you get access to dozens of other handy macOS apps!
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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