How to Delete Apps on Mac

How to Delete Apps on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re looking to tidy up your Mac and get rid of some apps? Whether it’s freeing up storage space, decluttering your Dock, or simply saying goodbye to software you no longer need, removing applications on macOS is a pretty straightforward process. This guide will walk you through multiple methods to delete apps, ensuring you’re removing them properly and completely.

Why Uninstalling Apps Properly Matters

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s briefly touch on the “why.” Dragging an app’s icon to the Trash *seems* simple, but it often leaves behind residual files. These files, which can include preferences, caches, support documents, and other related data, can accumulate over time and take up valuable disk space. They can also potentially cause conflicts with other applications or even contribute to system slowdowns. A proper uninstall ensures these leftover bits are also removed, leading to a cleaner and more efficient Mac.

Method 1: The Drag-and-Drop Method (The Simplest Approach)

This is the most basic and commonly used method for deleting apps on a Mac. It works well for applications that don’t have a dedicated uninstaller.

Steps:

Quit the Application: Make sure the app you want to delete is completely closed. Check the Dock for a small dot underneath the app’s icon, indicating it’s still running. If it is, right-click on the icon and select “Quit.” If it’s unresponsive, you might need to Force Quit it (more on that later).
Open Finder: Click on the Finder icon in your Dock (it looks like a blue and white face).
Navigate to the Applications Folder: In the Finder window, look for the “Applications” folder in the sidebar. If you don’t see it, go to the “Go” menu at the top of your screen and select “Applications,” or press Shift-Command-A.
Locate the App: Find the application you want to delete in the Applications folder.
Drag to the Trash: Click and drag the app’s icon to the Trash icon in your Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click (or Control-click) on the app’s icon and select “Move to Trash.”
Empty the Trash: Once you’ve moved the app to the Trash, right-click on the Trash icon in your Dock and select “Empty Trash.” A warning message will appear asking if you’re sure you want to permanently erase the items in the Trash. Click “Empty Trash” to confirm.

That’s it! The app is now deleted from your Mac. However, as mentioned earlier, this method may leave behind some residual files.

Method 2: Using Launchpad

Launchpad provides another easy way to delete apps downloaded from the Mac App Store. This method is particularly useful if you don’t know the exact location of the application in your Finder.

Steps:

Open Launchpad: Click on the Launchpad icon in your Dock (it looks like a rocket ship). Alternatively, you can open Launchpad by pinching together with your thumb and three fingers on your trackpad.
Locate the App: Find the application you want to delete in Launchpad. You might need to swipe left or right to view different pages of apps.
Enter Jiggle Mode: Click and hold down on the app’s icon until all the icons start to jiggle. This indicates you’re in “jiggle mode.”
Delete the App (if applicable): If the app was downloaded from the Mac App Store, a small “X” will appear in the upper-left corner of the app’s icon. Click the “X” to delete the app. You’ll be prompted to confirm the deletion.
Exit Jiggle Mode: Click anywhere on the screen outside of the app icons, or press the Escape key, to exit jiggle mode.

Note: Apps not downloaded from the Mac App Store will not have the “X” icon in Launchpad, and you cannot delete them using this method. You’ll need to use the drag-and-drop method or a dedicated uninstaller.

Method 3: Using a Dedicated Uninstaller (The Recommended Approach for Many Apps)

Many applications, especially larger or more complex ones, come with their own dedicated uninstallers. These uninstallers are designed to remove not only the main application file but also all associated files, folders, and preferences. Using a dedicated uninstaller is the most thorough way to remove an application and is often the recommended method by the app developer.

Finding the Uninstaller:

The location of the uninstaller can vary depending on the app, but here are the most common places to look:

In the Applications Folder: Check the application’s folder in the Applications folder. Sometimes the uninstaller is located alongside the main application file. Look for files with names like “Uninstall [App Name],” “[App Name] Uninstaller,” or simply “Uninstall.”
Inside the App Itself: Some applications have an uninstall option built into their menus. Look for an “Uninstall” or “Remove” option in the app’s menu bar (usually under the “File” or “[App Name]” menu).
On the Developer’s Website: If you can’t find an uninstaller on your Mac, check the application developer’s website. They often provide uninstall instructions or a downloadable uninstaller tool.

Using the Uninstaller:

Once you’ve found the uninstaller, double-click on it to launch it. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process. The uninstaller may ask you to confirm that you want to delete the application and may also give you options to remove specific components or preferences. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow them completely.

Method 4: Using Terminal (For Advanced Users Only)

The Terminal application provides a command-line interface for interacting with your Mac’s operating system. While it’s a powerful tool, it should only be used by advanced users who are comfortable with command-line commands. Using the Terminal incorrectly can potentially damage your system.

Warning: Use this method with caution! Incorrect commands can cause serious problems.

The general approach involves using the `rm` command to remove the application and its associated files. However, the exact commands will vary depending on the application and the location of its files.

Example (General Approach – Use with Extreme Caution):

Open Terminal: Open the Terminal application (located in /Applications/Utilities/).
Navigate to the Applications Folder: Use the `cd` command to navigate to the Applications folder: `cd /Applications`
List the Contents: Use the `ls` command to list the contents of the Applications folder and find the exact name of the application you want to delete: `ls`
Remove the Application: Use the `rm -rf` command to remove the application. Replace “[App Name].app” with the actual name of the application directory. For example: `sudo rm -rf “My App.app”` The `sudo` command requires you to enter your administrator password.
Find and Remove Associated Files (Difficult and Risky): This is the tricky part. You’ll need to know the locations of the app’s associated files (e.g., in ~/Library/Preferences/, ~/Library/Application Support/, etc.) and use the `rm` command to remove them individually. This requires a good understanding of macOS file system structure and command-line usage.

Again, this method is not recommended for beginners. Using the `rm -rf` command incorrectly can permanently delete important files on your system.

Dealing with Stubborn Apps: When Things Don’t Go As Planned

Sometimes, you might encounter applications that are difficult to delete. They might refuse to move to the Trash, throw errors, or continue running even after you’ve tried to quit them. Here are some troubleshooting tips for dealing with stubborn apps:

1. Force Quit the Application

If an application is unresponsive or refusing to quit normally, you can force quit it.

Methods to Force Quit:

Using the Force Quit Applications Window: Press Command-Option-Escape (⌘⌥Esc) to open the Force Quit Applications window. Select the unresponsive application in the list and click “Force Quit.”
Using Activity Monitor: Open Activity Monitor (located in /Applications/Utilities/). Select the “CPU” tab. Find the application in the list of processes. Select it and click the “X” button in the upper-left corner of the window. Choose “Force Quit” in the confirmation dialog.
Using Terminal (Another Reason to Avoid it if Possible): Open Terminal. Use the `ps aux` command to list all running processes. Find the process ID (PID) of the application you want to force quit. Then, use the `kill -9 [PID]` command to force quit the process. Replace “[PID]” with the actual process ID. For example: `kill -9 1234`. Again, use caution with Terminal commands.

2. Restart Your Mac

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve issues that are preventing you from deleting an app. Restarting your Mac closes all running processes and clears temporary files, which can sometimes free up the app and allow you to delete it.

3. Safe Mode

Starting your Mac in Safe Mode can help you troubleshoot problems by preventing certain software from loading at startup. This can be useful if an extension or login item is interfering with the uninstallation process.

How to Start in Safe Mode:

Shut Down Your Mac: Turn off your Mac completely.
Start Up in Safe Mode: Press the power button to turn on your Mac. Immediately press and hold the Shift key. Keep holding the Shift key until you see the login window.
Log In: Log in to your account. You might need to log in twice.

Once you’re in Safe Mode, try deleting the application again. If it works, restart your Mac normally to exit Safe Mode.

4. Check Login Items

Some applications might be configured to launch automatically when you log in to your account. This can prevent you from deleting them. To check and remove login items:

Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
Go to Users & Groups: Click on “Users & Groups.”
Select Your Account: Select your account in the left-hand sidebar.
Click on the Login Items Tab: Click on the “Login Items” tab.
Remove Login Items: Select the application you want to delete in the list of login items and click the “-” (minus) button below the list.

5. Check for Open Files

Sometimes, an application might be preventing you from deleting it because it has files open in the background. To check for open files:

Open Terminal: Open the Terminal application.
Use the `lsof` command: Use the `lsof` command to list all open files and the processes that are using them. For example, to check if any files related to “My App.app” are open, you can use the command: `lsof | grep “My App.app”` Replace “My App.app” with the actual name of the application.
Identify the Process: If the `lsof` command shows any open files, note the process ID (PID) of the process that is using them.
Force Quit the Process (if necessary): If the process is preventing you from deleting the app, you can force quit it using Activity Monitor or the `kill` command in Terminal (as described earlier).

6. Permissions Issues

Occasionally, you might encounter permission issues that prevent you from deleting an application. This can happen if you don’t have the necessary privileges to modify or delete the app’s files.

Troubleshooting Permissions Issues:

Repair Disk Permissions (Older macOS Versions): In older versions of macOS (before El Capitan), you could use Disk Utility to repair disk permissions. However, this feature has been removed in newer versions.
Use Terminal (Advanced Users): You can use the `chmod` command in Terminal to change the permissions of the application’s files. However, this requires a good understanding of Unix permissions. For example, to give yourself read and write permissions to the “My App.app” folder, you can use the command: `sudo chmod -R 777 “My App.app”` Replace “My App.app” with the actual name of the application. Use caution with this command.
Check Ownership: Ensure that you are the owner of the application and its associated files. You can check the ownership of a file or folder by right-clicking on it in Finder, selecting “Get Info,” and looking at the “Ownership & Permissions” section.

7. Third-Party Uninstaller Tools

If you’ve tried all the above methods and you’re still unable to delete an application, you might consider using a third-party uninstaller tool. These tools are designed to thoroughly remove applications and their associated files, even if the app is stubborn or damaged. Some popular uninstaller tools for Mac include:

AppCleaner: A free and easy-to-use uninstaller tool that can remove applications and their associated files.
CleanMyMac X: A comprehensive Mac cleaning and optimization tool that includes an uninstaller feature.
Hazel: An automated organization tool that can also be used to uninstall applications and their associated files.

When using a third-party uninstaller tool, be sure to download it from a reputable source and read the instructions carefully before using it.

Finding and Removing Leftover Files (Manual Cleanup)

Even after using a dedicated uninstaller, some residual files might still be left behind. To completely clean up your Mac, you can manually search for and remove these leftover files.

Common Locations for Leftover Files:

~/Library/Preferences/: This folder contains preference files for applications. Look for files with names that start with the application’s name or developer’s name.
~/Library/Application Support/: This folder contains application support files. Look for folders with the application’s name or developer’s name.
~/Library/Caches/: This folder contains cached data for applications. Look for folders with the application’s name or developer’s name.
~/Library/Logs/: This folder contains log files for applications. Look for files with the application’s name or developer’s name.
/Library/Preferences/: (Note: This is the system-level Library, not the user-level one). This folder contains system-wide preference files.
/Library/Application Support/: (Note: This is the system-level Library). This folder contains system-wide application support files.

Note: The `~` symbol represents your home directory (e.g., /Users/[Your Username]).

Steps to Manually Remove Leftover Files:

Open Finder: Open the Finder application.
Go to the Library Folder: To access the user-level Library folder, hold down the Option key and click on the “Go” menu in the Finder menu bar. Select “Library.” To access the system-level Library folder, go to “Go” -> “Go to Folder…” and type `/Library` (without the quotes).
Search for Leftover Files: In each of the folders listed above, search for files and folders related to the application you uninstalled. You can use the Finder’s search function to search for files with the application’s name or developer’s name.
Move to Trash: Drag any leftover files and folders to the Trash.
Empty the Trash: Empty the Trash to permanently delete the files.

Be careful when deleting files from the Library folder. Deleting important system files can cause problems with your Mac. Only delete files that you are sure are related to the application you uninstalled.

Reinstalling Apps After Deletion

If you decide to reinstall an app that you previously deleted, the process will depend on how you originally obtained the app.

Apps from the Mac App Store:

Open the Mac App Store: Click on the App Store icon in your Dock or launch it from the Applications folder.
Go to Your Account: Click on your name or the “Account” button in the bottom-left corner of the App Store window.
Find the App: Look for the app in the list of purchased apps. If you don’t see it, try searching for it using the search bar.
Click the Install Button: Click the “Install” button next to the app’s name to download and install it.

Apps from Other Sources (Websites, etc.):

If you downloaded the app from a website or other source, you’ll need to download it again from the same source. Go to the website where you originally downloaded the app and follow the instructions to download and install it.

Preventing App Clutter in the Future

To prevent app clutter in the future and keep your Mac running smoothly, consider these tips:

Only Install Apps You Need: Avoid installing apps that you don’t really need or that you’re not sure you’ll use.
Uninstall Apps You No Longer Use: Regularly review your installed apps and uninstall any that you no longer use.
Use a Third-Party Uninstaller Tool: Consider using a third-party uninstaller tool to ensure that apps are completely removed.
Organize Your Applications Folder: Organize your Applications folder by creating subfolders for different types of apps.
Use Cloud-Based Alternatives: Consider using cloud-based alternatives to desktop applications whenever possible. This can help you reduce the number of apps installed on your Mac.

Conclusion

Deleting apps on a Mac is generally a simple process, but it’s important to do it properly to avoid leaving behind residual files that can clutter your system. By following the methods and tips outlined in this guide, you can effectively remove applications from your Mac and keep it running smoothly. Remember to always use a dedicated uninstaller when available, and be cautious when using Terminal commands. Happy decluttering!