If I uninstall ChatGPT, will I lose everything?

No, you won't. ChatGPT stores your conversation history on OpenAI's servers, not locally. The local ~/Library/Application Support/com.openai.chat/ folder holds an encrypted cache of recent chats, but the authoritative data is in your account. Log back in after reinstalling, and your full history is there. Files you uploaded via the macOS app are also stored in the cloud and linked to your OpenAI account.

How to delete a ChatGPT account?

Sign in at chat.openai.com. Cancel any active subscription first: Profile icon → Settings → Account → Manage → Cancel subscription. Then go to Settings → Account → Delete account. Uninstalling the ChatGPT app does not delete your account; that step is separate and only possible through the website. Deleting the ChatGPT account won't cancel your subscription, and it is permanent and removes all conversations.

How to delete ChatGPT history?

To delete all chats: open ChatGPT, go to Settings, then Data Controls, click Delete all chats, and confirm. To delete individual chats: open ChatGPT, hover over a conversation in the sidebar, click the three-dot icon, and select Delete. To stop ChatGPT from saving new conversations: go to Settings, then Data Controls, and turn off Improve the model for everyone.

How to uninstall the ChatGPT plugin?

ChatGPT plugins are not separate applications installed on your Mac. They are features managed in the ChatGPT (Plus/Pro) subscription and stored in the cloud. To disable plugins: sign in to ChatGPT, open Settings, go to Beta Features, and turn off Plugin(s). Deleting the ChatGPT app from your Mac does not remove plugins, as plugins are linked to your ChatGPT account in the cloud.

June 11, 2026

Uninstall ChatGPT on Mac in full: App, Codex CLI, PWA, and all files

Written by

A Mac specialist with a QA engineering background, focused on troubleshooting and how-to guides.

Sergio Tereshchenko

Approved by

Reviewed and approved by an Apple Certified Support Professional and Mac developer with hands-on experience supporting Nektony users.

Vladyslav Zubkov

Dragging ChatGPT to Trash isn’t how to uninstall the app correctly. By doing so, you remove the app bundle and nothing more. Its leftover files, like settings, preferences, or logs, all stay behind, sitting in hidden Library folders that a Trash removal never reaches.

Whether you want ChatGPT gone due to privacy concerns, switching to browser-only access, reducing RAM usage, fixing other performance issues, or freeing up storage, this guide is about removing all three forms of ChatGPT on a Mac, from the native app to Codex CLI and PWA, with all removal methods you may need:

App Cleaner & Uninstaller: If you want to thoroughly uninstall ChatGPT, along with any hidden data and/or PWA, by clicking a few buttons.
Finder: If you want to delete ChatGPT by navigating more than a dozen Library folders and trashing each one yourself.
Terminal: If you are obsessed with doing anything by executing commands.
Homebrew/npm: If you want to remove the Codex CLI installed via brew or npm.

This Article Contains

Why dragging ChatGPT to Trash isn't enough
How to uninstall Codex CLI
How to remove the ChatGPT PWA
FAQs

Why dragging СhatGPT to Trash isn’t enough

OpenAI ChatGPT has become one of the most popular AI tools, attracting 5.51 billion monthly visits and handling about 2.5 billion prompts per day. As more users integrate this ChatGPT locally, many discover that deleting the app removes only its part. Like Adobe CC, Docker, and Zoom, ChatGPT generates sizable leftovers.

Moving ChatGPT.app to Trash removes only the application binary. The data the app accumulated stays on your Mac: encrypted conversation cache, WebKit cookies, A/B testing flags, analytics storage, and saved window state, all hiding in the Library, which is invisible in a standard Finder window.

What’s more, there’s also the background process issue. ChatGPT for Mac runs as a persistent menu bar item. Closing the window doesn’t always quit the app; you can verify this in Activity Monitor. If you try to delete files while ChatGPT is still running, macOS will lock them, and the removal will fail. Always quit the app and terminate its processes.

Plus, before removing the app, check System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions. ChatGPT doesn’t currently install a Login Item, but verify there’s nothing listed before you delete the app bundle.

Note:

In May 2026, Apple’s XProtect flagged the official ChatGPT app and moved it to Trash. The app itself was not infected; a third-party app certificate was revoked after a security incident. OpenAI issued new signed certificates on May 8, 2026.
If you saw the ‘Malware Blocked’ pop-up: don’t use the right-click → Open workaround. Download a fresh copy directly from OpenAI’s website instead.

Also Read:How to uninstall Ollama and models on Mac

What ChatGPT leaves behind on your Mac

Every path confirmed with ChatGPT v1.2026.118 on MacBook Pro M1 (Tahoe 26.4.1):

Path	What it stores	Approx. size	Hidden
`/Applications/ChatGPT.app` Copy	App binary	150-300 MB	No
`~/Library/Application Support/com.openai.chat/` Copy	Encrypted chat history, settings	50-500 MB+	Yes
`~/Library/Caches/com.openai.chat/` Copy	App cache, temp files	10-100 MB	Yes
`~/Library/Caches/200148600007030e00000000000000e6.com.openai.chat/` Copy	WebKit/WKWebView cache	5-50 MB	Yes
`~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.plist` Copy	App preferences	< 1 MB	Yes
`~/Library/Saved Application State/com.openai.chat.savedState/` Copy	Window state	< 5 MB	Yes
`~/Library/Logs/` Copy (ChatGPT or com.openai.chat folder)	Crash and activity logs	< 10 MB	Yes
`~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.openai.chat/` Copy	Cookies, web storage	< 5 MB	Yes
`~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.openai.chat.binarycookies` Copy	WKWebView cookie file	< 1 MB	Yes
`~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.RemoteFeatureFlags.*.plist` Copy	Server-side A/B testing flags	< 1 MB	Yes
`~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.StatsigService.plist` Copy	Statsig analytics config	< 1 MB	Yes
`~/Library/Preferences/com.segment.storage.oai.plist` Copy	Segment analytics storage	< 1 MB	Yes
`/private/var/folders/…/C/com.openai.chat/` Copy	System temp cache (path varies per user)	5-30 MB	Yes

Note:

ChatGPT Atlas (com.openai.atlas) is another OpenAI app with different file paths and a different removal process.

Also Read:Uninstall ChatGPT Atlas browser on Mac

How to uninstall ChatGPT with the uninstaller

App Cleaner & Uninstaller finds every file associated with ChatGPT, including all hidden Library paths above, and removes them in a single action. The only thing you need to do is to click a few buttons.

Force Quit ChatGPT: Apple Menu → Force Quit → ChatGPT.
Open App Cleaner & Uninstaller from Launchpad or the Applications folder.
Find ChatGPT in the application list → select it.
Click Uninstall → review ChatGPT files to be removed → confirm with Remove. Enter your admin password if asked; skipping it leaves system-level files in place.
Empty Trash.

Delete ChatGPT manually in Finder

This method removes every file by hand. Each hidden path needs a manual visit to Finder; nothing clears on its own.

Step 1: Quit ChatGPT completely.

Press Command+Q inside the app.
Alternatively, open Finder → Applications → Utilities → Activity Monitor → search
```
ChatGPT
```
Copy
→ select its processes → click the X button → Force Quit.

Step 2: Move the ChatGPT app to Trash.

Open Finder.
Go to Applications → find ChatGPT.app → right-click → Move to Trash.

Step 3: Delete all ChatGPT service files.

Using Finder, press Shift+Command+G to open the Go to Folder pop-up.
Type
```
~/Library/Application Support/
```
Copy
→ press Return
Locate
```
com.openai.chat
```
Copy
→ right-click the folder → Move to Trash.

Repeat the previous three actions for each of these paths:

```
~/Library/Caches/com.openai.chat
```
Copy

~/Library/Caches/200148600007030e00000000000000e6.com.openai.chat

Copy

~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.plist

Copy

~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.StatsigService.plist

Copy

~/Library/Preferences/com.segment.storage.oai.plist

Copy

~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.RemoteFeatureFlags.*.plist

Copy

(filename contains UUID)

~/Library/Saved Application State/com.openai.chat.savedState

Copy

```
~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.openai.chat
```
Copy

~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.openai.chat.binarycookies

Copy

```
~/Library/Logs/
```
Copy
(any folder or file named ChatGPT or com.openai.chat)

Step 4: Check Login Items.

Go to System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions.
If ChatGPT appears in the list, remove it.

Step 5: Remove ChatGPT temp cache folders, which vary per user:

Use the Finder’s Go to Folder to enter this location:
```
/private/var/folders/
```
Copy
Use the search bar to enter
```
com.openai.chat
```
Copy
.
Set the search to Folders.
Look through the results → the cache shall be as follows:
```
/private/var/folders/*/***/*/com.openai.chat
```
Copy
Move the ChatGPT cache you found to Trash.

Step 6: Empty Trash and restart your Mac.

Remove ChatGPT with commands in Terminal

Terminal rm command removes every file permanently; nothing goes to Trash and you can’t undo the deletions. Check each path with

ls

Copy

before running

rm

Copy

if you’re not sure.

Open Terminal: Applications → Utilities → Terminal (or Spotlight → Terminal).
Quit ChatGPT by running:
```
killall ChatGPT
```
Copy
# ‘No matching processes’ means the app is already closed. That’s fine.
Delete the app binary:
```
rm -rf “/Applications/ChatGPT.app”
```
Copy
If the command is not executable, add
```
sudo
```
Copy
:
```
sudo rm -rf “/Applications/ChatGPT.app”
```
Copy
Remove all ChatGPT-associated files by entering these commands, one at a time:
- ```
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.openai.chat
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.openai.chat
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/200148600007030e00000000000000e6.com.openai.chat
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.plist
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.openai.chat.StatsigService.plist
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.segment.storage.oai.plist
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/com.openai.chat.savedState
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -rf ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.openai.chat
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -f ~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.openai.chat.binarycookies
```
  Copy
- ```
find ~/Library/Preferences -name "com.openai.chat.RemoteFeatureFlags.*" -delete
```
  Copy
- ```
rm -rf "$(getconf DARWIN_USER_CACHE_DIR)com.openai.chat
```
  Copy

Run a sweep to catch anything that ChatGPT left over:

find ~/Library -iname "*com.openai.chat*" -exec rm -rf {} + 2>/dev/null

Copy

The

2>/dev/null

Copy

part suppresses “permission denied” messages for system directories — that’s normal behavior.

How to uninstall Codex CLI

Codex CLI is an individual command-line tool from OpenAI. It’s not bundled with the ChatGPT app; you install it independently via npm or Homebrew. Moreover, Codex stores its own configuration and credentials.

Note:

Codex CLI and the Codex Desktop App share the same state folder in ~/.codex/. If you have both installed, removing the Desktop App may remove or damage shared dependencies, after which the CLI becomes broken. The fix is to recreate ~/.codex/ or reinstall the Desktop app. Check also the GitHub issue before proceeding.

Uninstall Codex CLI via npm

If you installed Codex CLI using npm, go ahead with this flow:

Run Terminal.
While the codex binary is still available, log out to clear the Keychain token:
```
codex auth logout
```
Copy
If you skip this step or the binary is already gone, remove the token manually in step 5.
Uninstall the codex package:
```
npm uninstall -g @openai/codex
```
Copy
Remove the codex configuration folder:
```
rm -rf ~/.codex
```
Copy

If you skipped step 2, remove the Keychain token manually:

security delete-generic-password -s “openai-codex” 2>/dev/null

Copy

Alternative: open Keychain Access (search via Spotlight) → search

openai

Copy

→ find the entry → delete it.

Uninstall Codex CLI via Homebrew

Note:

If you had the older Homebrew formula (not cask), run brew uninstall codex --formula before you install the cask.

In case you got Codex CLI installed with brew, the following steps would work for you:

Log out first while the binary is still available:
```
codex auth logout
```
Copy
Remove the cask codex:
```
brew uninstall –cask codex
```
Copy
Delete the codex configuration folder:
```
rm -rf ~/.codex
```
Copy

If you skipped step 1, remove the Keychain token manually:

security delete-generic-password -s “openai-codex” 2>/dev/null

Copy

Remove the ChatGPT PWA

A ChatGPT PWA is the chatgpt.com website installed as a standalone web app through Chrome or Edge. It creates an icon in your Dock and /Applications/, but it’s not a native app; it runs inside the browser engine.

Note:

ChatGPT PWA data stays on OpenAI’s servers after removal; it’s linked to your account, not the local browser install. If you installed the PWA in multiple browsers, each one is a separate copy with its own cached data. Remove each independently.

Uninstall ChatGPT PWA via Chrome

Open the ChatGPT PWA or go to chatgpt.com in Chrome.
Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome.
Select Uninstall ChatGPT Desktop… in the pop-up.

Alternative:

Go to
```
chrome://apps
```
Copy
in Chrome’s address bar.
Locate the ChatGPT icon.
Right-click it → Uninstall.

Delete ChatGPT PWA via Finder

If the PWA created a bundle, you can find the app in Finder and remove it from there.

Open Finder → go to Applications.
Locate the Chrome Apps folder with the Cmd + Shift + G shortcut and paste
```
~/Applications/Chrome Apps.localized/ChatGPT Desktop
```
Copy
Right-click ChatGPT PWA → Move to Trash.

Uninstall ChatGPT PWA with App Cleaner & Uninstaller

Open App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
Find Chrome Apps → locate ChatGPT in the list → select it.
Click Uninstall → confirm with Remove → Empty Trash.

Also Read:Mastering Apple Intelligence on Mac

Final check

Dragging ChatGPT to Trash removes the binary only. 12 hidden file locations remain.
Quit ChatGPT before any manual removal; you cannot delete open files.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller handles all ChatGPT removals in a few clicks.
Finder works but requires visiting 13 locations manually.
Terminal is reliable if you aren’t afraid of working with commands.
Codex CLI needs a separate removal workflow: npm uninstall or brew uninstall.
The ChatGPT PWA is a browser app, not a native app: uninstall it through Chrome settings, chrome://apps, or App Cleaner & Uninstaller.