I’m trying to free up space on my Mac and need help uninstalling apps. I want to make sure I properly remove them and don’t leave behind unwanted files. What steps or tools should I use to fully uninstall apps on macOS?
Alright, uninstalling apps on a Mac… sounds simple, right? It’s not rocket science, but oh, the hidden junk files lurking in the shadows! Here’s how you can ACTUALLY clean house:
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Trash Bin Classic: Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash. Old-school method, looks satisfying, but wait—this leaves behind random files buried in your Library like a bad ex’s hoodie. Incomplete!
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Library Hunt: Navigate to Finder, press Shift + Command + G, and type
~/Library. Now, dig through folders like Application Support, Caches, Preferences, etc., to remove files connected to the app. CAREFUL—delete the wrong thing, and your Mac might get… moody. -
Uninstaller Tool: Some apps (Adobe, seriously?) come with their own uninstaller. Look in the app folder for clues.
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Third-Party App Cleaners: Get a tool like AppCleaner (it’s free). Drag the app to it, and it hunts down all the extra files like a digital golden retriever.
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System Applications? Forget it: Apple’s apps are like clingy roommates—they don’t leave. You can’t uninstall Safari or Messages without hacking into macOS, which isn’t worth the headache.
Now, for those haunting leftover files you missed? Use Spotlight or Finder search to look for stuff around the app name.
Warning: If you’re an overzealous Library cleaner, you could break something. Back up before you go full-on digital Marie Kondo, okay?
I get it, Mac apps can be clingy little pests leaving traces everywhere. Honestly, @techchizkid laid down some solid suggestions, but let me throw a wrench in the ‘Library hunt’ one—they’re right, messing with the Library can feel like defusing a bomb. You sneeze wrong in there, and suddenly Bluetooth stops working, or Finder throws a tantrum. Proceed only if you’re feeling bold.
That said, here’s another angle: Use macOS’s Storage Management tool. Click on the Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage. From there, hit “Applications.” It lists all apps, their size, and when they were last used. You can zap them directly—and nope, it’s not as thorough as AppCleaner, but it can help weed out the ones you haven’t touched since 2017.
Now, if you’re suspicious of third-party tools for cleaning (fair, some can be sketchy), take the manual method a step sideways: Activity Monitor. Open it up, sort processes by the app in question, and close anything related to it. Then do your trashing. Sometimes apps are running sneakily, and this ensures you’re not wrestling with “I can’t delete the app because it’s in use” notifications.
Final nudge – if you’re uninstalling something like an antivirus or VPN, humor their built-in uninstaller. Skipping it usually haunts you later with random background services slurping your CPU like they still belong there. And don’t trust Spotlight entirely—it’s like a well-meaning friend who mostly guesses.
So yeah, drag to trash, check storage tools, and if third-party options scare you… minimal Library spelunking should do it. But don’t go overboard deleting like your Mac crime scene investigator instincts just kicked in.