How to Uninstall Apps on Mac: A Complete Guide for 2023

How to Uninstall Apps on Mac in 2023 and Beyond

If you own a Mac, you probably have installed many apps over time. Some of them may be useful and enjoyable, while others may be outdated, unnecessary, or problematic. In any case, you may want to uninstall some apps from your Mac to free up space, improve performance, or avoid compatibility issues.

However, uninstalling apps on a Mac is not as simple as dragging them to the Trash. Many apps leave behind files and folders that take up storage and clutter your system. To fully remove an app from your Mac, you need to delete all its associated components.

In this blog post, we will show you how to uninstall apps on Mac in 2023 and beyond using different methods. We will also explain how to find and remove leftover files from uninstalled apps. By following these steps, you can keep your Mac clean and optimized.

Method 1: Uninstall Apps Using Launchpad

Launchpad is a feature that allows you to access and manage your apps in a grid-like interface. You can use Launchpad to uninstall apps that you downloaded from the App Store. Here’s how:

Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock or press F4 on your keyboard.

Find the app that you want to uninstall and press and hold its icon until it starts jiggling.

Click the X button on the top left corner of the app icon.

Click Delete to confirm.

This method will delete the app and its preferences file from your Mac. However, it may not remove all the files related to the app, such as caches, logs, or plugins. To delete these files, you need to use another method.

Method 2: Uninstall Apps Using Finder

Finder is the file manager of your Mac. You can use Finder to uninstall apps that are not from the App Store or that cannot be deleted using Launchpad. Here’s how:

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar.

Locate the app that you want to uninstall and drag it to the Trash in the Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click the app and choose Move to Trash.

Enter your administrator password if prompted.

Empty the Trash by right-clicking it and choosing Empty Trash.

Method 3: Uninstall Apps Using Native Uninstaller

Some apps come with an uninstaller program that can help you remove them completely from your Mac. You can usually find the uninstaller in the same folder as the app or in a separate folder named Uninstall or Uninstaller. Here’s how to use a native uninstaller:

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar.
Locate the app that you want to uninstall and open its folder.
Find the uninstaller program and double-click it.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

This method will delete the app and all its associated files from your Mac. However, some uninstallers may not be updated for newer versions of macOS or may not work properly. In that case, you need to use another method.

Method 4: Uninstall Apps Using Terminal

Terminal is a command-line interface that allows you to perform various tasks on your Mac using text commands. You can use Terminal to uninstall apps that are difficult to remove using other methods. However, this method requires some technical knowledge and caution, as deleting the wrong files or commands can damage your system. Here’s how to use Terminal to uninstall apps:

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar.
Locate the app that you want to uninstall and right-click it.
Choose Show Package Contents from the menu.
Open the Contents folder and find a file named Info. list.
Right-click the file and choose Open With > TextEdit.

Look for a line that starts with CFBundleIdentifier and copy the text between <string> and </string>. This is the bundle identifier of the app.

Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities or Spotlight search.

Type sudo rm -rf /Applications/ followed by the name of the app (including .app extension) and press Enter. For example, sudo rm -rf /Applications/Zoom.app

Enter your administrator password if prompted.

Type sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/ followed by the bundle identifier of the app (including .plist extension) and press Enter. For example, sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/us.zoom.xos.list

Type sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/ followed by the name of the app (without .app extension) and press Enter. For example, sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Zoom

Type sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/ followed by the bundle identifier of the app (without .plist extension) and press Enter. For example, sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/us.zoom.xo

Type sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/ followed by the name of the app (without .app extension) and press Enter. For example, sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/Zoom

Type sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/ followed by the bundle identifier of the app (with .savedState extension) and press Enter. For example, sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Saved\ Application\ State/us.zoom.xos.savestate

This method will delete the app and all its associated files from your Mac. However, this method is not recommended for beginners or casual users, as it can be risky and complicated. If you are not comfortable with using Terminal, you should use another method.

Method 5: Uninstall Apps Using Third-Party Tools

Many third-party tools can help you uninstall apps on Mac easily and thoroughly. These tools can scan your system for all the files related to the app and delete them with one click. Some of the popular tools are:

CleanMyMac X: A powerful tool that can uninstall apps, remove junk files, optimize performance, and protect your Mac from malware. here

AppCleaner: A simple tool that can uninstall apps and their related files with drag and drop.

AppZapper: A tool that can uninstall apps and their related files with a zap sound. here

AppDelete: A tool that can uninstall apps and their related files with a delete sound. here

Here’s how to use one of these tools to uninstall apps on Mac:

Download and install the tool of your choice from its official website.

Launch the tool and find the app that you want to uninstall in its interface.

Select the app and click the Uninstall or Delete button.

Confirm the action and wait for the tool to remove the app and its related files from your Mac.

This method will delete the app and all its associated files from your Mac. However, some tools may not be compatible with newer versions of macOS or may not detect all the files related to the app. In that case, you need to use another method.

Additional Tips to Keep in Mind

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when uninstalling apps on Mac:

Always back up your Mac before uninstalling any apps, as some apps may have important data or settings that you don’t want to lose.

Always check for updates for your apps, as some apps may have improved uninstallation features or bug fixes that can make the process easier.

Always empty your Trash after uninstalling any apps, as some files may still take up space in your Trash until you do so.

Always restart your Mac after uninstalling any apps, as some changes may not take effect until you do so.

Conclusion

Uninstalling apps on Mac is not as straightforward as it may seem. Many apps leave behind files and folders that can clutter your system and waste your storage space. To fully remove an app from your Mac, you need to delete all its associated components.

In this blog post, we showed you how to uninstall apps on Mac in 2023 and beyond using different methods. We also explained how to find and remove leftover files from uninstalled apps. By following these steps, you can keep your Mac clean and optimized.

We hope you found this post helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. And if you liked this post, please share it with your friends and followers. Thanks for reading!