If you’re relatively new to the Mac, it may not be immediately obvious as to how you would delete an app—after all, OS X doesn’t come with any sort of uninstaller like Windows does.Removing.
I bought the full version of app delete and it worked on my Mac Book Pro with Leopard at the time ( i now use Snow Leopard) I wanted to do the right thing and also purchase a full copy for my Imac. USP: All-Rounder Mac Cleaner; Uninstaller, One-Click Cleaning, Duplicate Finder. Method 2: How To Uninstall Apps On Mac Using The Manual Method. If you intend to remove the apps on Mac with the traditional method without the use of a tool, you can follow the steps below. Step 1: To remove an app from Mac, firstly you need to make sure that it is not in use. If so, close the program before proceeding to the next step.
Apple unveils a new MacBook Air during an Apple launch event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Oct. 30, 2018 in New York City. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Removing programs from a Macintosh can be very easy. In many cases, all you have to do is drag the application's icon to the Trash. Sometimes, though, applications store the files they need to run in other locations on your computer's hard drive, and finding them can take some detective work. If you are used to the uninstall option in Windows, you have a little culture shock — macOS does not have this feature built in.
Why would you want to uninstall a program? For the same reason you occasionally tidy your office or clean your garage. Clutter breeds inefficiency. Applications take up space on your hard disk and can slow your computer. Also, a new version of a program may not work correctly unless you get rid of the old one [source: Ritchie].
Advertisement
Advertisement
Most of the time, uninstalling is this simple:
- Exit the program you want to delete.
- Open the Applications folder, which you'll find by opening a new window in the Finder, or clicking on the hard disk icon.
- Drag the icon of the program you want to uninstall to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash.
When files for the application you want to delete are all stored in one location, dragging the icon to the Trash will take care of most of the work. In Mac talk, apps like this are 'bundled.' To see the files in an application's bundle, click on its icon while holding down the Control key. You should see an option that says, 'show package contents.' Uninstalling applications downloaded from the Mac App Store is even easier — just delete the application from the Applications Folder and its accompanying folder in UserLibraryContainers [source: Tanous].
For some other programs, removal is more complicated. When installed, these programs create files in several locations, often in the System Folder. The first step in removing them is to check the program's documentation to see if there is an uninstall utility. If your program has an uninstall utility associated with it, it may have been installed with the program or included on the disk that came with it. If you downloaded a disk image to install the software, sometimes you'll find an uninstaller there. Running an uninstall utility can make removing a program much easier.
![App delete mac free App delete mac free](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126592074/343857733.png)
You should be aware that removing an unbundled program by moving it into the Trash can leave behind orphan files on your computer. Preferencefiles are usually small and you might want to ignore them if you're just trying to free up disk space. Background files or support files can be larger, especially for multimedia programs like GarageBand [source: MacRumors]. These files are likely to reside in Library folders in your hard drive or Home folder. They will usually be labeled with the name of the program, like Office or Acrobat, or the developer, such as Microsoft or Adobe. You can search for the relevant names using Spotlight, which is included with the Mac OS. Drag the files you find to the trash to get rid of them [source: Tanous]. .
Check out the next page for tips to make your uninstallation go even more smoothly.
If searching through obscure corners of your computer for what could be hundreds of files sounds like something a machine could do better than you, you're right. There are plenty of software programs that do just that. They're usually your best bet for really cleaning an app off your Mac, and some of them are free. Popular examples include AppTrap, Appcleaner, and AppZapper.
Some of the files that a program might create on your hard disk are invisible. It may be tempting, especially for neat freaks, to find and delete these files. But some files are deliberately hidden because they are essential to the computer's operating system. Deleting the wrong file could land you in deep trouble [source: Landau]. The best advice is not to go where even experienced techies fear to tread. Uninstall utilities can search out and destroy these files, but doing so on your own invites trouble.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Another important thing to do is empty your Trash when you're finished uninstalling. Moving a program's icon to the Trash doesn't actually remove the files from your hard disk or clear up any space. Only when you empty the Trash is the application really gone.
Here are some other important tips:
- When you install a program, check to see how to uninstall it. Make a note if it has its own uninstall utility or instructions.
- Before you begin any uninstalling process, check to make sure your Trash is empty or contains nothing you might want to save.
- Log on as your computer's administrator whenever you uninstall. If you're uninstalling at work and don't have administrator privileges, you'll have to consult with your tech people [source: Ritchie].
- If you opt for a third-party uninstall utility, look at the features. Some developers charge for their software, but you may not need the bells and whistles. Free utilities may work fine.
- It often makes sense to leave preference files alone. If you ever reinstall the same software, you won't have to set the preferences.
- Suites of software from a developer, such as the Office suite from Microsoft, often share files. Removing the files of one component may affect the others, so it's good to be cautious with these [source: The X Lab].
- If, after you remove a program, the icon is still in your dock, you can get rid of it by simply dragging it off the dock and letting it go [source: Tech-FAQ].
Removing software from your Mac is a lot less of a hassle than cleaning your office or garage. But clearing away computer clutter and making space on your hard disk can be just as satisfying.
Originally Published: Aug 8, 2011
Related Articles
Sources
- Landau, Ted. 'Tutorial: Now you see 'em, now you don't: Invisible files in Mac OS X,' cnet.com, May 19, 2004. (Feb. 14, 2019) https://www.cnet.com/news/tutorial-now-you-see-em-now-you-dont-invisible-files-in-mac-os-x/
- FacRumors. 'Uninstalling Applications in Mac OS X,' MacRumors.com. (Feb. 16, 2019) https://web.archive.org/web/20170715163609/http://guides.macrumors.com/Uninstalling_Applications_in_Mac_OS_Xp
- Ritchie, David. 'How to Uninstall Mac Programs,' TheMacLawyer.com. October 13, 2010. (Feb. 16, 2019) http://www.themaclawyer.com/2010/10/articles/guest-posts/guest-post-how-to-uninstall-mac-programs/
- Tanous, Jim. 'How to Uninstall & Remove Mac OS X Programs and Applications,' The Mac Observer. Feb. 1, 2013. (Feb. 16, 2019) https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/answers/how-to-uninstall-remove-mac-os-x-programs-and-applications
- Tech-FAQ. 'How to Uninstall Programs on a Mac,' Tech-FAQ.com. (Feb. 16, 2019) http://www.tech-faq.com/how-to-uninstall-programs-on-a-mac.html
- The X Lab. 'Uninstalling applications,' TheXLab.com. (Feb. 16, 2019) http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/uninstallingapps.html
To uninstall apps on macOS completely, you must perform several steps. Often we install applications on our Mac and forget to uninstall them, when not in use, this creates clutter. . When we decide to get rid of these apps, we look up for a way on how to remove apps on Mac.
It can be as simple as dragging the application to trash sometimes. But at other times, it is required to delete all the files associated with the application to wipe it out completely from the system.
So let’s learn how to uninstall apps on Mac in two ways. The first method will make your task very easy with the help of a tool called Smart Mac Care. This app not only provides you with a handy way to remove apps from Mac quickly but also keeps your system secure. Smart Mac Care is a one-stop solution to all your needs for Mac from removing junk to securing it from any kind of infection.
Two Ways To Uninstall Apps On macOS
Method 1: How To Uninstall Apps On Mac Using A Tool
When you want to declutter your mac, you can rely on Smart Mac Care. This is a great tool when it comes to working in the direction of removing junk from your Mac. Along with it, you can avail all of the additional functions which will improve the performance of the system, while securing it from all types of malicious activities. Smart Mac Care will take care of your Mac in every way and prove to be a worthy product to be added on your list.
Let’s learn the steps on how to remove apps on Mac with the help of Smart Mac Care.
Step 1: Download Smart Mac Care from the link below.
Step 2: Once you run the setup and successfully install the app.
A quick system scan will appear as the tool runs for the first time scanning the current state of your Mac.
It shows you the junk files present on your Mac under the section- Optimization and Tune-up.
Whereas the ‘Security’ section covers the malware scan and theweb protection.
For a quick fix solution to optimize your Mac, click on the Fix All Items.
Step 3: However, to uninstall an app, go to the Tools section from the grid on the top. Here, you can see the list of all of the available tools. First will be the Uninstaller which will quickly show you the list of all the unused and potentially harmful apps present on Mac.
This list shows the file size alongside the apps to make it easier for you to decide in deleting the app to retain storage space.
Step 4: To remove apps on Mac, you need to select the apps by marking the checkbox in front of each one.
Step 5: Once you are done checking all the apps, click on Clean Now button to delete them from your system.
The process will take a few minutes and all the files associated with the apps will be removed from Mac in one click.
Uninstall apps and remove all the related files present in the system & clean your Mac with the help of Smart Mac Care.
Along with it, you can free up space by removing large files which are not being used for a long time.
Method 2: How To Uninstall Apps On Mac Using The Manual Method
If you intend to remove the apps on Mac with the traditional method without the use of a tool, you can follow the steps below.
Step 1: To remove an app from Mac, firstly you need to make sure that it is not in use. If so, close the program before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Click On Finder->Go>Applications and you will get a list of apps installed on your Mac.
Now select the app which you wish to remove and drag it to bring it to the Trash icon in the dock.
Step 3: Open Trash and delete the app from it.
Step 4: Now to delete the related files, you need to scour several locations, we have listed them below. In the Finder bar, click on Go and you will see options in the drop-down menu. Press Alt Key to get the option of Library.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126592074/768357136.png)
Note: We suggest that you move forward this step only if you are an advanced user of Mac. Else you might end up losing some data or modifying the setting which might result in a malfunction of the system.
Now click on it to browse through the uninstalled app’s related files.
1.Application support files on the Library> Application Support. You need to delete all files of the uninstalled app from this section.
2.Support Cache files in Library> Caches. Delete the cache files for the app uninstalled.
Delete all the related files for the app you uninstalled to clear out the traces completely from Mac.
Conclusion:
Whenever you are looking for a solution on how to uninstall apps on Mac, you can use Smart Mac Care tool over the manual method to get precise results. Smart Mac Care is the best Uninstaller app for Mac because it helps you remove the apps along with all its related files at once. It will help you remove the apps from the Mac in one go and also optimize your computer for improved performance.
App Delete Mac Free
We Love To Hear From You
How To Delete Apps For Macbook
Please tell us your views on this post on how to uninstall apps on macOS in the comments section below. We post regularly on the tips and tricks along with solutions to common issues related to technology. Subscribe to our newsletter to get regular updates on the tech world. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube and share our articles.
Delete App For Mac
What Do You Think?
Responses
Responses