Generally, there are three options to remove Python from a Mac. You can do this using the Terminal command line, use a special uninstaller, or manually find and remove its support files for its complete removal. Some users face issues when trying to get rid of the software package.
Read this step-by-step guide on how to safely uninstall Python on your Mac and prevent any issues.
Contents:
- The reasons to remove Python
- Uninstall Python manually
- Uninstall Python using the Terminal
- Delete Python using an uninstaller
- FAQs
What is Python and reasons to remove it from a Mac
Python is a multi-faceted programming language that was preinstalled on macOS until macOS 12 Monterey. Now it’s not installed by default on macOS.
The software began to be developed in the late eighties by the employees of the Dutch National Research Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science Guido van Rossum. Today, the support for the software is carried out by a team of developers from the same institution.
In the year 2024, Python was used by more than 51% of developers and was an essential option in the world of programming (Statista website).
Additionally, Python powers over the live sites of 222,603 and has been utilized for 811,958 websites showing its broad usage for web-based development (BuiltWith).Why to remove Python from your Mac
- Recurrent versions. The presence of multiple versions of Python can cause conflict or confusion, particularly if various projects require different versions. Removing unused versions helps streamline your development environment.
- Storage management. Every Python installation uses up disk space. If you’re running out of storage space or don’t require the version you’re using, deleting it could free up precious space.
- Security and system Integrity. If you have outdated Python distributions on your Mac, they may contain vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Keeping only necessary and updated versions reduces security risks.
Before we start, watch the video on how to quickly delete Python.
How to uninstall Python 3 manually
To completely and safely remove the version 3 of the software, please follow the steps below:
- Quit Python. Right-click on its icon in the Dock panel and choose Quit.
- Close all the app’s running processes in the background. For this, open Activity Monitor and check whether some processes are still active. Click the “X” button to close the app processes.
- Go to the Application folder in Finder and move Python to Trash. Please, make sure you remove the Python package entirely, not just separate files.
- Find and remove all the service files Python has created while you were using it. In Finder, press the Cmd+Shift+G shortcut and navigate to the ~/Library folder.
- Check the subfolders inside the Library folder for the files related to Python and remove them.
- Find also the following files in the User’s folder and remove them:
- Once you find and remove all Python’s support files, empty the Trash.
- Restart your Mac.
How to remove Python using Terminal
If you are familiar with the Terminal app, you can use command lines to delete Python from your Mac. For this, follow these steps:
- Quit Python.
- Go to the Applications folder and trash the whole Python folder.
- Open the Terminal app.
- Type the following command in the window and hit Return:
~ [user name] sudo rm -rf /Applications/Python\ 3.6/
- It will require you to enter your administrator password. Type it and press Return to confirm the deletion.
Please note: We strictly do not recommend using this uninstalling method to users who are unfamiliar with Terminal commands.
If you are looking for the fastest and safest way to remove Python from your Mac, you’d better use a special third-party uninstaller. Read on to learn more about this method.
How to uninstall Python on macOS with a few clicks
You can easily uninstall Python with App Cleaner & Uninstaller. This app will automatically find all the service files of apps so that you can be sure that the app was removed from your Mac completely without leaving any traces.
Here’s how to use the uninstaller:
- Launch App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
- Select Python in the left panel.
- If you switch on the Expert mode, you can view the list of all its support files in the right panel.
- Click the Uninstall button.
- Confirm the deletion.
- The uninstaller moves deleted files to Trash, so don’t forget to empty the Trash folder.
That’s all. We hope that it helped you to delete the app from your Mac computer and solve your uninstall issues. Let us know if you still have questions.
Uninstall any Mac application in 2 minutes
FAQs
Where is Python installed on my Mac?
Apple provides a pre-installed version of the app which you can find by the following path:
/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework.
However note, that path location may vary depending on the software version you have on your Mac and the installation method you used. For example, if you have the version 3, you can find its path using the Terminal and this command:
import sys; print(sys.executable)
Terminal will show the path to the Python executable file.
Why can’t I delete Python from my Mac?
If you have the already pre-installed Python on your system, you won’t be able to delete it. It is used by some macOS utilities and uninstalling Python can cause system errors.
If you installed it by yourself, you can use App Cleaner & Uninstaller from Nektony to find its leftover files. Before trying to remove the app, ensure that you closed it and you have user rights to uninstall apps on your Mac.
How do you check if I have Python installed on my Mac?
To check if the app is installed on your Mac, use the Terminal command line. For example, type python3 and press Enter. If it is installed on your system, you will see a message like “Python version 3.x.x” showing you the version of the app you have.
