How to Uninstall Apps on macOS

You dragged an app to the Trash, emptied it, and assumed it was gone. But hidden deep in your Library folder are hundreds of megabytes of leftover files: preferences, caches, logs, and support files quietly taking up space. This "app corpse" problem affects nearly every macOS user who's ever installed and removed software.

Unlike Windows with its uninstaller programs, macOS makes deleting apps deceptively simple: just drag to Trash. But this method leaves behind a trail of hidden files that accumulate over time, wasting storage and potentially causing conflicts with future installations.

The good news? You have multiple ways to uninstall apps on Mac, some built-in and others requiring third-party tools, each serving different needs. Whether you're a casual user wanting to free up space or a power user managing dozens of applications, this complete guide covers everything you need to know about properly uninstalling apps on macOS.

Why Proper Uninstallation Matters

Before diving into the methods, let's understand why dragging apps to the Trash isn't enough.

When you install an app on macOS, it creates support files across multiple locations:

• ~/Library/Application Support/ - App data and settings
• ~/Library/Preferences/ - Configuration files (.plist files)
• ~/Library/Caches/ - Temporary cached data
• ~/Library/Logs/ - Crash reports and diagnostic logs
• ~/Library/Containers/ - Sandboxed app data
• ~/Library/Group Containers/ - Shared data between related apps
• ~/Library/Saved Application State/ - Window state and session data
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ - Background processes
• /Library/LaunchDaemons/ - System-level background services
• /Library/Application Support/ - System-wide app files

When you simply move an app to the Trash, only the main application bundle (usually in /Applications) gets deleted. All these support files remain on your Mac indefinitely, wasting storage space and potentially causing issues if you reinstall the app later.

For most apps, these leftovers are small (a few kilobytes). But for professional applications like Adobe Creative Suite, development tools, or games, leftover files can occupy gigabytes of space.

Apple's Official Uninstall Methods

Let's start with the methods Apple provides out-of-the-box. These are simple, safe, and don't require any third-party software.

Method 1: Drag to Trash (The Basic Method)

This is the most straightforward approach and what Apple officially recommends.

How to do it:

1. Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder (press Command+Shift+A)
2. Locate the app you want to remove
3. Drag the app icon to the Trash in your Dock, or
4. Select the app and press Command+Delete, or
5. Right-click the app and choose "Move to Trash"
6. Enter your admin password if prompted
7. Choose Finder > Empty Trash to permanently delete

Pro tip: Hold Option key while dragging an app to the Trash to delete it immediately without moving it to Trash first.

When to use it: For simple app removal when you don't need to clean up leftover files, or when you plan to reinstall the app later and want to keep your settings.

Limitations: This method only removes the main app bundle. All support files, preferences, caches, and logs remain on your system.

Method 2: App Store Deletion

For apps downloaded from the Mac App Store, you can uninstall directly from the App Store app.

How to do it:

1. Open the App Store app
2. Click your account icon in the bottom-left corner
3. Hover over the app you want to remove
4. Click the "…" (three dots) menu
5. Select "Delete App"
6. Confirm the deletion

Limitations: Like the Finder method, this only removes the main app and leaves behind support files.

Method 3: System Settings Storage Management

macOS includes a built-in storage management tool that shows all installed apps and their sizes.

How to do it:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
2. Go to General > Storage (or click "Manage" next to storage bar)
3. Click on "Applications" in the sidebar
4. Click the info (i) button next to any app
5. Click "Delete" to remove the app

When to use it: When you want to see how much space apps are using before deleting them.

Method 4: Built-in App Uninstallers

Some apps include their own uninstaller within the app itself.

How to find it:

1. Launch the application
2. Check the menu bar for an "Uninstall" option (usually under the app name menu or Help menu)
3. Follow the on-screen instructions

When to use it: Whenever an app provides its own uninstaller. This is the most complete removal method for that specific app, as developers know exactly which files their app created.

What About Built-in macOS Apps?

You cannot delete apps that macOS requires to function, including:

• Safari, Mail, Messages, FaceTime
• Music, Podcasts, TV, Books, News
• Maps, Photos, Notes, Reminders
• Calendar, Contacts, Find My
• System Settings, App Store

These apps are protected by System Integrity Protection (SIP) and attempting to remove them can cause system instability.

Manual Uninstallation Methods

For more control over the uninstall process, you can manually remove apps and hunt down their leftover files.

Method 5: Manual Cleanup of Leftover Files

After moving an app to the Trash, you can manually delete its associated files.

Step-by-step process:

1. Delete the main app - Move the app from /Applications to Trash

2. Access the Library folder:

   • In Finder, click the "Go" menu
   • Hold Option key and "Library" will appear in the menu
   • Click Library to open your user Library folder

3. Search for leftover files:

   • Look in these folders for files/folders named after the app:
     • Application Support
     • Preferences (look for .plist files)
     • Caches
     • Logs
     • Containers
     • LaunchAgents
     • Saved Application State

4. Delete app-related items:

   • Search for the app name or its bundle identifier (like "com.company.appname")
   • Carefully delete only items clearly related to the uninstalled app
   • Don't delete folders themselves, only the app-specific files inside

5. Empty the Trash - Don't forget to actually delete everything permanently

Caution: Be careful when manually deleting files from Library folders. Deleting the wrong file can affect other applications or system functionality.

Third-Party Uninstaller Applications

Third-party uninstaller apps automate the process of finding and removing all traces of an application, including leftover files scattered across your system.

1. AppCleaner: The Best Free Uninstaller

Price: Free (open-source)

AppCleaner is the gold standard for free Mac uninstallers. It's been around for years, actively maintained, and trusted by millions of users.

What makes AppCleaner special:

The SmartDelete feature is brilliant. Enable it in Preferences, and AppCleaner runs quietly in the background. When you drag any app to the Trash, it automatically detects the action, finds all related files, and asks if you want to delete them too. No need to even launch AppCleaner.

The interface is dead simple. Drag an app into the AppCleaner window, and it instantly scans and displays all associated files. Check the items you want to delete, click "Delete," and you're done.

Website: freemacsoft.net/appcleaner

2. Pearcleaner: The Modern Open-Source Alternative

Price: Free (open-source)

Pearcleaner is a newer open-source Mac app cleaner that's quickly gaining popularity as a modern alternative to AppCleaner. Built with Swift/SwiftUI, it offers a more contemporary interface.

What makes Pearcleaner special:

• Orphaned Files mode - Finds and removes leftover files from apps you've already deleted
• Homebrew Manager - Manage Homebrew packages directly from the interface
• Sentinel monitoring - Automatically detects when you move apps to Trash
• Finder integration - Right-click any app in Finder and select "Pearcleaner Uninstall"

Note: Requires macOS 13.0 or later.

Website: itsalin.com/appInfo/?id=pearcleaner

3. CleanMyMac X: The All-in-One Premium Solution

Price: $40.20/year (subscription) or $119.95 (one-time purchase)

CleanMyMac X is the most popular paid Mac cleaning utility, developed by MacPaw. It's notarized by Apple.

What makes CleanMyMac special:

The Uninstaller module is incredibly thorough. It scans your entire system for installed apps, automatically locates all associated files, and removes everything in one click.

Beyond uninstallation, CleanMyMac X includes:

• System Junk removal - Clear caches, logs, language files
• Malware protection - Real-time scanning and removal
• Privacy tools - Clear browsing history, chat logs
• Performance optimization - Free up RAM, manage login items

Website: macpaw.com/cleanmymac

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose AppCleaner if: You want a proven, reliable free uninstaller that works on any Mac with the excellent SmartDelete feature.

Choose Pearcleaner if: You're running macOS 13+ and want modern features like Homebrew management and orphaned file cleanup.

Choose CleanMyMac X if: You want an all-in-one Mac maintenance suite with uninstaller, system cleaning, malware protection, and optimization tools.

For most users: Start with AppCleaner (classic and reliable) or Pearcleaner (modern and feature-rich). Both are free and excellent.

Best Practices for Uninstalling Apps on macOS

1. Use a third-party uninstaller for complete removal - Free options like AppCleaner or Pearcleaner are excellent.

2. Check for built-in uninstallers first - Some apps, especially system utilities and VPN clients, provide their own uninstallers.

3. Quit the app before uninstalling - Make sure the application is fully closed before attempting to remove it.

4. Don't delete system apps - Built-in macOS apps are protected for good reason.

5. Periodically clean up leftover files - Use Pearcleaner's Orphaned Files mode or AppCleaner's search function to find orphaned files.

6. Back up before major cleanups - Create a Time Machine backup first.

7. Be cautious with manual deletion - Only delete files you're absolutely sure are related to the uninstalled app.

Common Questions Answered

Will uninstalling apps speed up my Mac? Removing apps frees up disk space but generally won't improve performance unless you're deleting apps that run background processes or have login items.

Is it safe to delete everything in ~/Library/Caches? Generally yes, but it's not necessary. Cache files are temporary data that apps will regenerate. Delete individual app caches if troubleshooting issues.

Can I recover an app after uninstalling it? If you emptied the Trash, the app is gone and must be reinstalled. Re-download from the App Store or the developer's website.

Which apps take up the most space? Open "About This Mac" > Storage > Manage, then click "Applications" to see which apps use the most space.

Final Thoughts

Uninstalling apps on macOS doesn't have to mean leaving behind digital debris. While Apple's drag-to-Trash method is simple, it's incomplete. Third-party uninstallers make the process thorough and automatic.

For most users, my recommendation is simple: download AppCleaner or Pearcleaner and enable the SmartDelete/Sentinel feature. Both are free and reliable, ensuring you'll never leave behind leftover files again.

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