Uninstall Apps For Mac

Uninstalling programs from macOS is one of the easiest ways to remove or delete programs from your Mac computer. Unlike in Windows OS where programs come with their own uninstallers, deleting Mac apps is generally as straightforward as dragging the app icon to trash from the Application folder. Want to know how to uninstall apps on Mac?Today, I will share the skill of uninstalling Apps on Mac.Find out how in this article below! There are apps we install on Mac that are not really that important or have only been used a few times yet when you check your disk space you will find that these apps use up a lot of storage space on the hard drive causing the system to slow down.

Taking an application off of your Mac isn’t as simple as dragging it into the trash. When you install an app, all sorts of supplementary files take up residence in your hard drive.

Once there, they’re not easy to get rid of. First, you have to find them; then, you have to make sure they’re really gone. It can be frustrating and time-consuming to do by hand, and there’s no guarantee you’ll catch all those extra files.

Over time, those extra files build up. Without even noticing it, you might be dedicating several gigabytes of your Mac’s memory to this junk data. This can be a drag on your computer’s performance, all for an app you’re not even using anymore.

Luckily, there’s a better way to get rid of these files for good. An app uninstaller is a utility that automates the different steps of app removal:

• Locating outdated or underused apps
• Finding all associated support files and caches
• Moving them to the trash
• Permanently deleting them

If you’re looking to speed up your Mac by uninstalling yesteryear’s app and its associated junk files, you need a dedicated uninstaller. And here is our top 3 list.

Choosing the best Mac Uninstaller

But how to pick which uninstaller to use? Plenty of apps can improve your ability to get rid of junk files, but not all uninstallers are alike. Some uninstallers are a feature of a more comprehensive Mac file manager. Others are designed for only that task.

It can be hard to choose the one that suits your needs. That’s why we created the ranked roundup of the best Mac uninstallers below:

1. CleanMyMac X: A top-tier OSX uninstaller

CleanMyMac X tops our list of app uninstallers for Mac. This powerful all-in-one utility has a variety of features designed to help get the most out of your machine, including malware protection and speed optimization.

But the app’s Uninstaller module means that it can compete with single-function uninstaller apps.

By the way, this app is available for a free download — so do check it out.

CleanMyMac X starts by making the task of uninstalling apps easy. Instead of paging through your application folder, trying to remember if an app is a crucial background utility or a waste of space, you can let CleanMyMac X scan and sort your apps.

You can also arrange lists by the last time you used an app, sort apps by vendors like Adobe, or focus on specific categories, like apps from the App Store.

CleanMyMac X is an app uninstaller that is notarized by Apple, which means it’s safe from malicious files.

When it scans for installed apps, CleanMyMac X automatically locates all the app leftovers, the data caches, and associated files that support each app. When the list gives a number for how much space an app is taking up, that number includes this extra system junk, so you can be sure you’re maximizing your disk space.

You stay in control through the whole process. CleanMyMac X lets you select specific apps from its scan list, and delete them permanently along with their support files. Plus, its disk scan will show you how much space you’re freeing up in real time.

CleanMyMac X wins our top spot for its level of sorting flexibility and control combined with deep-cleaning power for your hard drive.

You can also reset apps with this program. By resetting, I mean restoring any app to its default settings. When you reset an app with CleanMyMac X, it will keep your user-created files intact so you won’t lose your projects.
Use app reset when:
- apps are out of sync

- apps are not launching

- apps keep crashing

How to reset applications with CleanMyMac X:

1. Download the free version of the app.
2. Click on the Uninstaller tab.
3. Select an app from the list.
4. Click on the dropdown menu under “Uninstall” and choose Reset.
   

2. Hazel: A handy uninstaller for Mac

Hazel is another app with the power to get rid of unneeded apps and junk for good. Another tool with a range of possible uses, Hazel lets you create condition-based rules that automate certain actions on your Mac.

This is useful for file organization, photo naming, archiving, and generally keeping your desktop clean. But this function also shines when you need to get rid of apps for good.

Hazel lets you set up special rules for your trash, ensuring that files don’t sit in the bin for too long and take up space on your drive. You can configure the app to automatically empty your trash when it reaches a certain size, or to toss apps when they get too old.

Hazel’s App Sweep automatically searches for support files when you delete an app and gives you the option to get rid of them as well.

Hazel’s rule-based interface certainly makes it useful as an app uninstaller, but some may find it a little more complicated to use. It also lacks some features for identifying and comparing unused apps.

3. App Zapper: A leading app uninstaller for Mac

With App Zapper, drag and drop is the name of the game. This compact uninstaller lets you pull applications from your drive into its interface, then hunts down all the related support files. It stands out for its simplicity and for the depth of its cleanups.

You can also consult the Hit List, an automated list of apps with files taking up space on your hard drive. All you do is select the unwanted app and its support files and hit the Zap button to remove them for good.

Well, almost for good. If the thought of deleting apps permanently makes you nervous, App Zapper has the tool for you. Its “undo” feature lets you unzap files you may have deleted by mistake, reducing the risk that you’ll get rid of something important.

App Zapper is simple but thorough. The app can remove:

1. Widgets
2. Plugins
3. Settings
4. Junk files
5. And more

App Zapper stands out as a straightforward and powerful tool for uninstalling unwanted apps.

4. AppDelete: a powerful Mac app uninstaller

AppDelete is another quick and effective single-purpose uninstaller. Like many of its competitors, this app seeks out and eliminates hard-to-find support files and junk data from the apps you delete. These include widgets, screensavers, preference panes, and other files you might not know were taking up room on your Mac.

When it comes to tossing out unwanted files, AppDelete stands out for its flexibility. While it can permanently remove files from your hard drive, it also gives you the option to log those files or archive them in a space-saving .zip format. This can help improve your Mac’s performance without permanently losing data.

AppDelete has an undo feature that you can use to restore files you deleted by accident.

If you’re looking for a simple-to-use app uninstaller, AppDelete is a strong option. Some users might prefer an uninstaller that’s offers a wider variety of file management functions, but AppDelete does what it does at a high level.

For a more comprehensive file manager with comparable uninstall functions, try CleanMyMac X.

5. TrashMe: an efficient app uninstaller for Mac

Free Uninstaller Mac

The name says it all: TrashMe hunts down your junk files, whether they belong to an app or not. This uninstaller for Mac not only gets rid of your unwanted apps and their support files, but also seeks out unnecessary duplicates and redundant files, giving you the option to toss them permanently.

It also cleans out your cache to give you back all the disk space it can. TrashMe can even find and erase incomplete downloads and “orphaned” files, which may not show up on other scans.

TrashMe can find incomplete downloads that waste your disk space.

With its thorough scanning and deletion features, TrashMe is a great option for completely uninstalling apps. It also offers a high level of control. Instead of emptying the whole Trash bin, TrashMe lets you select which files to delete permanently and which you want to leave in the trash in case you need them later.

Users who like its deep searches should also check out CleanMyMac X, which offers fine-tuned detection.

6. TuneUpMyMac: a flexible app uninstaller

TuneUpMyMac is a full-featured app uninstaller. It stands out for the range of scans and operations it can perform.

Unlike some of its competitors, which only have a drag-and-drop window or list, TuneUpMyMac has an extensive interface that clearly organizes its features. This means you can do specific tasks, like finding duplicates, without starting a complete scan-and-delete process.

This uninstaller also actively suggests file types that you can safely delete to free up disk space, including unused languages and redundant logs. It also features “one-click cleaning,” which automates several tasks and makes cleanup faster and easier.

TuneUpMyMac hasn’t been updated recently, which may impact its performance with newer computers. Still, it’s a solid option for people looking to free up disk space.

A few final remarks

All these Mac uninstallers are similar in functionality. But speaking of the design and user-friendliness, CleanMyMac X, leaves its counterparts way behind, in my opinion. For example, the visual cues are crystal-clear and the also app gives you personalized tips, like “you have 4 unused apps you can delete.”

That was our take on best Mac apps to delete other apps. Now try them in action and start deleting things — getting rid of old clutter is such a relief!

Quick question – how do you uninstall programs on Mac?

If your answer is to drag the app to the Trash, we’re sorry to say that you’ve been doing it wrong.

You probably know or guess that you can remove apps by dragging them to the Trash bin, but it is not quite so. Dragging normal files like documents and movies to the Trash works fine. But doing the same for apps leaves gigabytes of leftover junk files on your hard drive. We’re going to show you what gets left behind and what you can do to completely uninstall apps from here on out.

How to uninstall on Mac

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

To completely uninstall a program on Mac you have to choose one of three options:

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

The ways mentioned above include navigating your Mac’s in search of the apps you want to remove and then locating their remaining data. The latter can take even more place than the app itself and can be stored anywhere in your folders.

I prefer clearing my Mac from apps using special software made for this particular task - CleanMyMac X. It’s Uninstaller feature, is an app-killer that sweeps away any program you don’t want on your Mac and clears remaining junk.

Now let’s go ahead and delete some apps!

1. Uninstall Mac apps using Trash

Whether you're running macOS Catalina or an earlier macOS, like Mojave or Sierra, the process of manually uninstalling remains relatively similar. Here’s what you need to do:

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

And the app is gone.

Even uninstalling apps on macOS Catalina 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 job on macOS 10.15 but left this unfortunate issue unresolved for another year.

To completely remove programs from Mac manually, you have to find all the associated files that come along with the app. That means not just dragging the app icon to the Trash from your Applications folder, but searching the depths of the system files 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.

So, when uninstalling any software, you have to go 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 Caches can be 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 found in
  ~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/
  
• App saved states are located in
  ~/Library/Saved Application State/
  

There are many more hidden files, some of which cannot be accessed by the user. And macOS/OS X will prevent you from deleting some app files.

As you can see, it's not that easy to uninstall applications Mac doesn't need, even when you know what to do. By the way, be sure to look for the 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 before removing something from your system.

When you delete software on Mac manually, be sure only to remove an app file or folder when you’re sure of what it is. Look at the name very carefully before you nuke it. Removing the wrong files could cause problems with your system.

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

2. Uninstall Mac programs with Launchpad

How to uninstall on Mac by using the Launchpad? It's easy and this manual method works like this:

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

This will uninstall the app from your Mac. However, keep in mind that after removing the program, you should also delete its leftovers as we've described above.

Can't delete apps on Mac?

Unfortunately, manual methods won’t get everything. Some apps are pre-installed macOS components and protected by the system while others will refuse to delete because they are already open (even though that’s often not true).

So, how to delete the apps on Mac that won't delete? You can try the manual removal after force quitting the app in question (press Command-Option-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 you’re worried you won't do it correctly and want a safer alternative, there’s the easy method of uninstalling apps from your Mac so you don't have to force delete applications. It actually does a better (and safer) job and in a fraction of the time. 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 tiresome task. I’ve always put away this chore, as it will waste a huge amount of my time. But, my Mac was running low on free storage, so I decided to try CleanMyMac X to fix this problem and uninstall programs on Mac with ease. I used the Uninstaller module to get rid of multiple apps at once. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Download CleanMyMac X, install, and launch it (it takes less than a minute).
2. Go to Uninstaller.
3. Choose All Applications.
4. Check the boxes next to the app you want to remove.
5. Press Uninstall.

Completely Remove Apps From Mac

As you can see, CleanMyMac X shows precisely how much place each app takes, so it’s easier to detect the heaviest programs. Another benefit is that you can bulk uninstall programs on Mac without dragging each app and its files to the Trash.

Is it possible to delete system files on Mac?

CleanMyMac X doesn’t let you delete system apps like Safari. Neither of Mac cleaners can do that. But, CleanMyMac X allows you to delete the data associated with system apps and reset them completely. Click CleanMyMac X’s menu in the upper-left corner and choose Preferences. Go to Ignore List and click Uninstaller. Here uncheck the box next to “Ignore system applications.”

Now, you can close Preferences and go back to Uninstaller. Click ► next to the app's icon to show its files. Then check the data you want to delete and choose Reset from the drop-down list next to the app’s icon. Then press Remove.

Completely Uninstall Program Mac

It will help to clear some space 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 after themselves. They come with a built-in uninstaller — a self-destroying utility bundled with the main app. This is mostly true for third-party apps that you download from the internet. That’s why native uninstallers remain more of a Windows thing, not much heard of in the Mac world.
The original uninstallers can be found in Finder > Applications. If your app looks like a folder (within the Applications folder) most likely it will have a separate 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 complete, you can enjoy your extra storage space!

Clear app leftovers: preferences files and caches

No sane developer wants people to delete their application. As your desperate ex, they would do everything to stay on your Mac, like planting pieces of their software around your Mac so one day they can return. Support files, preference files, and caches — all these will 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 Folder… (in the upper menu).
Paste in: ~/Library/Application Support/Your App Name

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

Uninstall Apps Macbook

Now, delete the content of this folder.

Uninstall App For Macbook

Delete application Preferences

Uninstall Apps Macos

The Preferences folder contains your user settings. These files are tiny but there’s no reason not to delete them, just out of principle.
Click on Finder > Go to Folder…
Paste in: ~/Library/Preferences/

Open the folder. Now type the name of your app in the search bar. Click to search 'Preferences.” Delete the found items.

Delete the caches

In the same vein, you’ll have to delete the remaining app caches.
This time, use the following command to paste in Finder > Go to Folder...
Paste this: ~/Library/Caches/Your App Name

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

Delete leftovers with CleanMyMac X

If you’ve been doing a 'spring cleaning' in your Applications folder, chances are some files are still left somewhere in your Mac’s system. CleanMyMac X detects and collects them into the Leftovers tab.

Go to Uninstaller once again and select Leftovers. Select all the remaining files and press Uninstall to say goodbye to the app remains.

Now you are just as good at uninstalling applications on Mac as any Apple engineer. Hopefully, you now have plenty of free space. Don't miss a few related articles below.

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