How to uninstall IntelliJ from Mac

Uninstall IntelliJ with JetBrains Toolbox

If you’ve installed IntelliJ with the Toolbox App by JetBrains, you can uninstall it there.

1. Open the ToolBox.
2. In the Installed section, locate IntelliJ IDEA.
3. Click the dropdown (⋮) icon next to the IntelliJ IDEA.
4. Select Uninstall → confirm.

After I deleted IntelliJ IDEA this way, I had a few files left, which I had to delete manually.

• ~/Library/Preferences/com.jetbrains.intellij.plist

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  For this directory, you can paste it into the Go to Folder window (Cmd + Shift + G), hit Return, and delete it from there.

• /private/var/folders/***/***/***/com.jetbrains.intellij

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  How to use path

  1. Enter /private/var/folders/ in the Go to Folder box in Finder.
  2. In the search box in the top-right corner, type com.jetbrains.intellij.
  3. Make sure you search it in /private/var/folders/, not in this Mac.
  4. Delete the Intellij leftover.

Manually delete IntelliJ

In case the Toolbox crashes or is not your install method, you can delete IntelliJ manually, but make sure you follow all the steps. Otherwise, leftovers will stay buried in the system.

Step 1. Quit IntelliJ and stop background processes

• Open Activity Monitor.
• Type IntelliJ in the search bar.
• Stop all related processes (click the ✕ icon → Stop).

This step is essential as it ensures no app components are running during deletion.

Step 2. Delete the IntelliJ main app

• Open Finder → go to the Applications folder.
• Find IntelliJ IDEA.app → right-click → choose Move to Trash.
  If prompted, enter your admin password to confirm.

This step is essential as it ensures no app components are running during deletion.

Step 3. Remove IntelliJ leftovers from Library

Like most JetBrains tools, IntelliJ keeps gigabytes of configuration data, logs, and caches in hidden Library folders. To remove them:

1. In Finder’s menu, click Go → Go to Folder.
2. Type

   ~/Library/

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   and press Return.
3. Search for

   IntelliJ

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   and
   JetBrains

   Be careful with JetBrains in case you use their another product.

   .
4. For better results, select Name Contains when typing

   IntelliJ

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   in the search box.
5. Double check you search in the Library, not in this Mac.
6. Select any files/folders related to IntelliJ → right-click → choose Move to Trash.

Step 4. Empty the Trash and restart

Once done, empty the Trash and restart your Mac to finalize the cleanup.

Delete IntelliJ with Terminal

If you’re okay typing commands, Terminal gives you results. It takes just a few lines – no need to dig through folders manually. Still, use it carefully: one misplaced character can remove the wrong files.

1. Open Terminal.
2. Quit all IntelliJ processes by executing this command: pkill -f IntelliJ IDEA

3. Then, you can delete all IntelliJ files at once. Copy and paste the following lines one at a time, pressing Enter after each.

   • sudo rm -rf “/Applications/IntelliJ IDEA.app”

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   • rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/JetBrains

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   • rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/JetBrains

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   • rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/JetBrains

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   • rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/com.jetbrains.intellij.plist

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   • rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/jetbrains.iu.252.plist

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   • rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/jetbrains.iu.csat.plist

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   • rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/llm.ai.assistant.plist

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   • rm -f ~/Library/Preferences/jetbrains.jetprofile.asset.plist

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   • sudo find /private/var/folders -type d -path “*/com.jetbrains.intellij*” -exec rm -rf {} +

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4. Enter your admin password if required.
5. Restart your Mac.

Automatically uninstall with App Cleaner & Uninstaller

If manual and Terminal steps feel tedious or you want to make sure nothing’s left behind, use App Cleaner & Uninstaller, a tool designed to remove apps on Mac with all hidden components, delete the remaining files if you dragged something to Trash, clean caches, and otherwise manage apps. Here is how it works:

1. Download and open App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
2. Select IntelliJ IDEA in the Applications list → click Uninstall.
3. Review the IntelliJ files marked for deletion and confirm.

That’s it. It took me less than half a minute. This method is faster and safer than manual deletion. The app ensures a full cleanup without affecting your other JetBrains tools. And suppose you have already deleted IntelliJ manually, so go to the Remaining Files tab in App Cleaner & Uninstaller. In that case, it will show you leftover files you can safely remove.