How to uninstall DivX on Mac completely

Long before “Zoom” was a verb and H.264 was the standard, DivX was the undisputed king of video compression. It was the magic codec that allowed us to squeeze entire DVDs onto a single CD-R, making high-quality movies portable for the first time.

But digital time moves fast. In a world of WebM, VP9, and AV1, DivX has become something of a digital relic. Most modern Mac users only realize it’s still installed when those persistent “DivX Update” popups start haunting their desktop or when they discover the aging software simply won’t run on modern versions of macOS.

If you’re ready to clear out DivX, simply moving the app icon to the Trash isn’t enough. DivX scatters service files across your system like a kid who just dumped a giant bucket of LEGOs. In this guide, I’ll walk you through all possible ways to remove DivX and all its hidden leftovers for good.

What is DivX, and why is it considered outdated?

In its prime, DivX was the “Swiss Army knife” of video. If you download the DivX Player 11 for Mac package today, it generally includes three main components: a Player for watching videos, a Converter for changing file formats, and a Media Server designed to cast content to your TV or Chromecast. It handles a variety of formats like AVI, MKV, and MP4.

However, the tech world has moved on, leaving DivX feeling like a vintage car that’s getting harder to find parts for. Here’s why most Mac users are looking for the exit:

• Format evolution: Modern standards like WebM, VP9, and AV1 have largely replaced the need for the DivX codec, offering better quality at even smaller file sizes.
• Compatibility hurdles: Older versions of DivX are 32-bit and simply won’t run on modern versions of macOS like Sonoma or Tahoe.
• Technical glitches: Even newer versions (DivX 11) have been reported to lack support for common Mac formats like HEVC, HEIC, and even .MOV files in certain components.

• The “Nag” factor: Many users find themselves wanting to uninstall DivX purely to stop the persistent and annoying “DivX Update” popups that appear even when the app isn’t being used (can you imagine this problem is at least 9 years old, according to StackExchange?).

The alternative: VLC

If you still have a library of older video files, you don’t need a specialized codec pack anymore. I recommend switching to VLC Media Player. It’s an established, open-source player that is regularly updated, completely free, and plays almost every modern (and legacy) media format without needing extra plugins.

The quickest way to remove DivX (with App Cleaner & Uninstaller)

If you want to skip the hunt for hidden files, using a dedicated uninstaller is the smartest move. This method is the clear winner for both speed and simplicity because it finds the service files that the standard Trash method ignores.

To uninstall DivX using App Cleaner & Uninstaller:

1. Download and launch App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
   Download

   for macOS 10.13 and above

   App Cleaner & Uninstaller
2. Find DivX Player 11 in the list of applications. You’ll notice it identifies not just the app, but all the associated caches, support files, and preference panes.
3. Click the Uninstall button.

4. Confirm the action and Empty the Trash to finish the job.

Optionally, you can restart your Mac to remove any possible cache leftovers, but since this happens automatically with every reboot, there’s no need to hurry.

By removing DivX with App Cleaner & Uninstaller, you ensure that those annoying update agents and background processes are gone for good, leaving your Mac’s Library folder clean.

The official way to uninstall DivX (and why it’s a bit of a tease)

When you want to get rid of a program, Apple first suggests looking for an official tool provided by the developer. DivX does include its own uninstaller, but here’s the catch: it’s tucked away in a place most users never look. This is actually surprising; according to the support forums, earlier, the developers kept in Applications.

Anyway, even after their uninstaller says “Uninstallation Successful,” it often leaves behind a trail of “ghost files” and persistent update agents.

If you want to try the official route, follow these steps:

1. Stop DivX processes

Before you can delete the app, you need to make sure its heart is no longer beating in the background.

• Open Activity Monitor (via Spotlight or in your Utilities folder).
• Search for

  DivX

  Copy

  .
• Select any running processes and click the “X” (Stop) button in the top toolbar.”

2. Locate the hidden uninstaller

You won’t find the uninstaller in your Applications folder. Instead, follow this path:

• Open Finder and click Go in the menu bar, then select Go to Folder…
• Type

  /Library/Application Support/DivX

  Copy

  and hit Enter.
• Look for a file named Uninstall DivX for Mac and launch it.

3. Run the utility and restart

• Click Uninstall in the window that appears.

• You will likely be asked to enter your Mac’s admin password. Enter it to complete the uninstallation.

4. Clean up the leftovers

Even after the uninstaller says “Success,” DivX leaves a trail of digital dust. To remove it completely, you need to manually check these specific locations.

Check these folders and delete the following files (notice the difference between /Library and ~/Library):

/Library/Preferences/

com.divx.unique.plist

~/Library/Preferences/

~/Library/Application Support

~/Library/Caches

DivX11

Once you’re done, traditionally, restart your Mac.

The manual way to delete DivX

Believe it or not, manually hunting down DivX files is actually simpler than the “official” method we just covered. Since you don’t have to go looking for a hidden uninstaller utility, you can get straight to the cleaning. It’s not as instant as the automatic way, but it gets the job done if you have a few minutes and a steady hand.

Step 1: Force quit background processes

Before you touch a single file, you must stop DivX from running in the background.

1. Open Activity Monitor (via Spotlight or Applications/Utilities).
2. Type

   DivX

   Copy

   in the search bar.
3. Select any active processes (like DivX Update or DivX Media Server) and click the Stop (X) icon. Choose Force Quit.

Step 2: Remove the application files

1. Open your Applications folder.
2. Find the DivX Player 11 app.
3. Drag the entire folder to the Trash.

Step 3: The leftover removal

1. Open Finder and press Cmd+Shift+G.
2. Type

   ~/Library

   Copy

   and hit Enter.
3. In the search bar at the top right, type

   divx

   Copy

   .

   Note:

   In the “Search:” bar, make sure you select “Library” (not “This Mac“). Optionally, you can click the (+) button to set the filter to “Name contains” for the most complete results.

4. Select all matching files and move them to the Trash.
5. Repeat this process for the system-wide library: /Library.

Final step

Empty your Trash and restart your Mac to ensure the system fully registers that these background components are gone.

The bottom line

Because DivX is not just one app, but a collection of codecs, players, and background servers, it tends to scatter its files into the deepest corners of your macOS Library.

This is why you shouldn’t try to remove it by simply dragging the icon to the Trash. Doing so leaves the “gears” of the software behind – specifically those background agents that trigger the persistent update popups users find so annoying. While the manual search method works, tools like App Cleaner & Uninstaller are designed to handle these multi-component apps in a single click and ensure your Mac stays as clean as the day you unboxed it.