How to remove protected apps on Mac

When you are removing applications using the uninstaller from Nektony, you may face an error with deleting some service files and folders. In this case, the uninstaller tool shows the exclamation mark next to the file name in the Removal window.

This may happen for the following reasons:

• 1. The app can’t be removed due to being locked files or folders
• 2. Some subfolders in the ~/Library are protected from changes.
• 3. The apps have kernel extensions.
• 4. The files are protected from removal by System Integrity Protection (SIP).
• 5. The app has wrong permission for the configuration file.
• 6. The Trash folder is damaged.

After understanding what is causing the issue, you will be able to uninstall the apps completely. Here’s how to do that.

1. The app can’t be removed due to being locked files or folders

If you are trying to remove apps with App Cleaner & Uninstaller, you can get the message that the files could not be removed to Trash because you don’t have permission to access them.

To give permission, you need to manually check if your files are locked or if they are located in a folder which is also locked. To check it, right-click the file or folder, select Get Info from the context menu, and look for it in the General Information section.

If the folder is locked you can’t remove the files in it. Uncheck this option to be able to modify or remove the folder.
After getting permission to operate the files, you will be able to remove files and folders using App Cleaner & Uninstaller.

2. Some subfolders in the ~/Library are protected from changes.

The service files of apps are usually stored in the ~/Library folder. To uninstall applications completely the application from Nektony needs to delete all the service files of the selected app. But since macOS Mojave 10.14, third-party applications by default are not allowed to remove files from the following subfolders:

• ~/Library/Mail (the contents of Mail)
• ~/Library/Messages (the contents of Messages)
• ~/Library/Safari (Safari browsing history)
• ~/Library/Cookies (the contents of Safari Cookies)
• ~/Library/HomeKit
• ~/Library/IdentityServices
• ~/Library/Metadata/CoreSpotlight
• ~/Library/PersonalizationPortrait
• ~/Library/Suggestions
• the contents of Miscellaneous
• the contents of iTunes backups
• Time Machine backups

That’s why to allow the uninstaller tool to remove apps completely, you need to add it to “Full Disk Access” in the System Settings. Here’s how:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Go to the Privacy & Security settings.
3. Scroll down and select Full Disk Access.
4. Turn on full disk access for App Cleaner & Uninstaller.

Now launch the uninstallation app and try again to remove the app that you faced an issue with. Now the issues connected with this reason should be solved.

3. The apps have kernel extensions.

Some apps create kernel extensions that are able to protect themselves from being removed. Also, kext files can protect other service files and folders from being removed. It’s impossible to remove such files to Trash, as Finder ignores the removal command. You can remove kext files only in the recovery mode of your Mac. Learn in our previous article how to uninstall kernel extensions. Removing kexts will allow you to delete all other service files of the problematic application.

4. The files are protected from removal by System Integrity Protection (SIP).

Apple forbids modifying system items on Macs. The SIP limits the actions that the user can perform on protected parts of the Mac operating system. The problem is that, even if you have a third-party application, it may be able to create files that Apple thinks are default system files. In this way, such applications protect themselves from being deleted.
So, to remove a problematic file or app, you would need to disable the Apple System Integrity Protection. Below, we will show how to do this.

How to disable SIP on Intel Macs:

1. Restart your Mac and press Command+R key shortcut while the reboot is in progress. You will see an unusual startup window – this is the recovery mode. In the Menu bar click Utilities → Terminal.



2. Type the following command in the Terminal window and press Enter:

csrutil disable

.

3. You will see that your System Integrity Protection is disabled.
4. Restart your Mac and delete the problematic files.

Once again, you should understand what files you are removing. If you are not exactly sure what you are doing, it’s better not to attempt it!

How to disable SIP on M1 Macs:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the Power button. Keep holding it until you see loading startup options.
3. Click Options and then click Continue. If asked, select a volume for recovering and click Next.
4. Select your administrator account and hit Next.
5. Provide your admin user password and click Continue.
6. In the Menu bar, click Utilities and Terminal.
7. Type in Terminal the next command:

csrutil disable



8. Press the Return key. You will see that your System Integrity Protection is disabled.
9. Restart your Mac and delete the problematic files.

5. The app has wrong permission for the configuration file

If your file system permissions are set incorrectly, App Cleaner & Uninstaller may not be able to uninstall applications for you correctly. Instead, you will receive error messages that will prevent you from deleting files. In this case, you can try to restore the sudo file permissions to see if this solves the issue for you:

1. Open Finder → go to the Menu Bar and click on Go → select Go to Folder… → in the search field type /etc and press Enter.



2. Locate and select the following file: “sudoers”



3. Right click on the file and select Get Info.
4. In the Sharing & Permission section click on the Lock icon in order to make changes. You will be asked to enter the administrator’s password.



5. Change the following file permissions as it is shown in the screenshot below:
• system – Read only
• wheel – Read only
• everyone – No access
6. Click on the Lock icon once again in order to lock editing.

After you have followed through with these instructions, return to App Cleaner & Uninstaller and try to remove those files again. The issue should be solved.

6. The Trash folder is damaged

You may face an issue when you are trying to remove files with App Cleaner & Uninstaller and find you have to open Finder and manually delete each item one by one; this is all very time-consuming. This is happening due to a bug in the system, mostly in the macOS Catalina, when the Trash folder turns into a Trash file and you cannot move a single item to the Trash bin.

To solve this issue, please follow these steps:

1. Open Finder and go to your Home folder.
2. ​Press the Command+Shift+dot shortcut. It will show hidden files on your Mac.
3. Find and remove the file named “Trash“. Make sure that you are deleting a file, not a folder.


4. Then try to remove some unneeded files from Finder. Check if the removed files appear in the Trash folder. If they do, the issue is solved.



5. Press again Command+Shift+dot to hide hidden files in Finder.
6. Open App Cleaner & Uninstaller Preferences.



7. Go to the Remove tab and make sure that the option “Remove files permanently” is disabled.

Now App Cleaner & Uninstaller can move apps and files to the Trash without any problem.

If you are still experiencing issues with deleting specific service files or folders, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our support team.