Deleting apps on your Mac is more than just dragging them to the Trash. In this guide, we’ll show you how to completely uninstall apps from Mac, including all their remaining files, so they’re really gone. You can do it manually or use a special Mac cleanup tool to make it easier.
Contents:
- Why deleting the .app file isn’t enough
- The quickest way to uninstall apps
- Remove apps using the Trash bin
- Remove apps using the Launchpad
- Remove apps using their native uninstallers
- Remove apps using Terminal
- How leftover app files can affect your Mac
- FAQs
A comparison table of the ways to delete programs
| Third-party tools | Manually | Native uninstaller | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid | Free | Free |
| App coverage | Supports 1000+ apps | Manual per app | 1 app a time |
| Time required |
Very fast |
Time-consuming |
Fast |
| Ideal for | All users, including beginners | Tech-savvy users | Tech-savvy users |
| Cleanup reliability | Removes all service files | Often leaves behind files | May leave tracking or marketing components |
Why deleting the .app file isn’t enough
When you drag an application to the Trash, you’re only removing the main app file. But most Mac applications store additional files in hidden folders across your system — including logs, caches, preferences, launch agents, and more. These leftover files can take up disk space and potentially affect your Mac’s performance.
For example, uninstalling professional software like Adobe Creative Suite or Xcode can leave gigabytes of leftover data in your system unless fully removed.
According to discussions on Apple Support Communities suggest that system performance can begin to decline when free disk space drops below approximately 15%.
This is why using a dedicated uninstaller or manually cleaning up these files is essential for a complete removal.
The quickest way to uninstall apps from Mac
One of the easiest ways to uninstall programs from a Mac is to use special third-party tools like App Cleaner & Uninstaller from Nektony. Such programs are designed especially to remove any program correctly and completely. The app is easy to use and it lets you complete the task with several clicks.
How to use App Cleaner & Uninstaller:
- Download and launch App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
- You will see the list of all apps installed on your computer. Select the one you don’t need.
- Click the Uninstall button.
- Confirm the removal.
Video guide: How to use the uninstaller
App Cleaner & Uninstaller supports 1000+ Mac apps for removal. In addition, it has extra features that you can use to reset apps, clean up broken service files, find leftover files, update apps, and even manage user and system extensions.
Uninstall applications using Trash
This way takes a bit more time, and it requires understanding the macOS catalog system. The one thing you should always remember is that after moving a program into the Trash, you also need to find and get rid of its service files, which are located in hidden debris in your folders.
If you are a new Mac user, we highly recommend that you first learn about the hidden Library folder and then use this tutorial because you should be careful not to remove extra files by accident, which may damage the macOS system’s work.
Ok, let’s learn the manual way. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Quit the program.
- Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
- Locate and move the unneeded app to Trash.
- Now it’s time to find all its remains. While you are in the Finder, press the Cmd+Shift+G shortcut.
- In the window that appears, type ~/Library and press Return.
- Within the Library folder, find and delete all files and folders that are associated with the program you want to remove. This means that you should look for all items containing the name of the deleted app within the file name. Here is a list of the most common system file folders:
~/Library/Application Support
~/Library/Caches
~/Library/Logs
~/Library/Preferences
~/Library/Containers
~/Library/Cookies
- Don’t forget to clear the Trash after uninstallation.
How to remove apps from the Launchpad
Launchpad on Mac is like an iPhone home screen for your apps, that displays all installed apps in a grid so you can quickly find and open them without using Finder.
Here’s how to use it:
- Open Launchpad from the Dock panel. If you don’t see its icon there, find it in the Applications folder or use Spotlight.
- Press and hold the Option key.
- You will see “X” icon on the applications’ icons.
- Click the X icon of unneeded apps
- Confirm by clicking the Delete button.
Instead of using the Option key, you can also click and hold the app’s icon to see the “X” button.
Note
In this way, you can delete the app downloaded from the App Store. Applications that have been downloaded from websites cannot be removed from Launchpad.
Removing apps from Launchpad also doesn’t remove app service files. You will need to manually find and clean them from the Library folder.
How to delete apps using their native uninstallers
Some developers provide special uninstallers for their apps. These items are only for apps downloaded from the Internet and are used mostly if special preferences and drivers are needed.
Usually, the native uninstallers should be stored in the Applications folder in Finder but they don’t appear in Launchpad. If your application has such an uninstaller, find it in Finder (or use Spotlight) → launch it → follow the steps provided by the uninstalling process.
Take a look at the screenshot example. Here is what an uninstaller for Adobe Photoshop looks like. Each application has its own removal steps and window interface.
It may happen that you remove an uninstaller item accidentally. In this case, you can check the developer’s website to download it again or use one of the app’s removal ways as shown above.
How to uninstall programs on Mac using Terminal
Terminal on Mac default application that allows you to interact with the system’s underlying Unix-based operating system through a command-line interface.
Uninstalling apps on a Mac using the Terminal app involves a few steps:
- Open the Terminal application. You can find it in the Applications folder → Utilities.
- Type the command below:
sudo uninstall file:// - Drag and drop the application you want to uninstall into the Terminal window.
- Press Enter.
- If required, type your admin password and press Enter.
After uninstalling the app, you should also remove its associated service files, which are typically located in the Library folders within your user directory.
How leftover app files can affect your Mac
When your Mac’s available storage falls below 15-20%, system performance can slow down noticeably. Here’s how each type of leftover files impact your Mac’s performance.
| Type of leftover file | Potential Impact |
|---|---|
| Preferences (.plist) | May load settings or trigger errors if app is reinstalled |
| Caches | Accumulates over time and uses disk space |
| Application Support files | Stores large data (e.g. project files, history) |
| Launch Agents / Daemons | May auto-run leftover services on startup |
| Saved States / Logs | Can bloat storage and slow app re-launch times |
Frequently Asked Questions
How to delete the apps that won’t delete?
By default, Apple doesn’t allow to delete preinstalled apps. Trying to delete them can damage your system. If you want to get rid of third-party apps that won’t delete, try first force quitting them, closing all related processes working in the system background, and restarting a Mac.
Is it safe to delete system apps from Mac?
Deleting system apps from a Mac is not allowed by Apple, as they are essential for macOS to function properly. App Cleaner & Uninstaller does not remove system apps, but it allows you to clear their caches, reset them, and free up disk space without affecting system stability. To display system apps, go to App Cleaner & Uninstaller’s settings, navigate to the General tab, and check “Display System Applications.”
The app will automatically rescan the list of apps and display system apps. Turn on the Expert mode → select the data like caches, logs, and preferences and remove them.
How to delete apps downloaded from the App Store?
Before starting the removal process of apps downloaded from the App Store, cancel any subscriptions for them. For this, open the App Store → click your name in the sidebar → find the app you don’t need → click the three dots icon next to the icon → select Delete app. Then confirm the deletion.
Please note that you also need to get rid of leftover files of the deleted apps. Use the guide above to get rid of apps completely.
What is the best way to completely remove programs on a Mac?
When you drag an app icon to the Trash Bin, you might leave megabytes of junk files in hidden folders on your Mac. To get rid of programs completely, you have to find all of their related files and move them to the Trash. While manual removal through Finder is free, it may leave behind residual files. Utilizing third-party uninstaller tools such as App Cleaner & Uninstaller ensures a thorough and swift removal process, eliminating associated files and optimizing system performance.
