Just wondering how to uninstall apps on a Mac. We should just drag an undesired app to the Trash, according to logic. Sadly, that is not entirely true. It works great to drag common files like papers and videos to the Trash. However, doing the same with programs leaves a ton of useless stuff behind on your hard drive:
- An application is kept in multiple locations.
- There are numerous little “satellite” apps.
- Some apps are located in odd places.
For instance, Steam games are kept in their own folder. This makes removing these programs a little more difficult. We’ll demonstrate what remains once an app is completely uninstalled as well as the steps you can take moving forward.
How to uninstall apps on a Mac
Removing all components of the program is crucial if you want to uninstall an outdated application, reinstall a faulty program, or simply clear up disk space on your Mac. These consist of the app itself, its support and preference files, and occasionally other hidden files.
On a Mac, you can select from one of four methods to entirely uninstall a program:
- Trash
- Launchpad
- App Uninstaller
- Third-party applications
You can manually assist in the ways outlined above. I prefer to clean my Mac quickly and easily with CleanMyMac X, a program designed specifically for this purpose. Its app-killing Uninstaller function removes any program you don’t want on your Mac and gets rid of any leftover garbage.
1. Uninstall apps using Trash
Using the Trash or Bin approach is another quick and easy way to delete apps. Here’s how:
- Launch a new Finder tab.
- Applications can be found in the sidebar.
- Find the app you wish to get rid of and drag it there.
- Next, empty your trash.
Many users are unaware that, although being widely used and appears to be very quick and simple, this method does not always completely remove all traces of the software.
Support files and other digital trash are frequently left behind in difficult-to-reach locations, taking up valuable space and slowing down your Mac.
To safely delete any program traces, use a dedicated uninstaller instead. I’ll explain to you how to do this in the next section.
2. Uninstall Mac apps with Launchpad
How do I uninstall a program on a Mac using Launchpad? This manual approach is simple and operates as follows:
- On your Mac, click the Launchpad icon on the Dock.
- Locate the app that you wish to remove.
- As soon as the app begins to shake, click and hold it.
- On the app icon, click the X in the upper-left corner.
- Press Delete.
This will remove the application from your Mac. However, as previously mentioned, you must still manually remove any leftovers.
Not all apps on Launchpad can be deleted, please note.
3. Uninstall Mac apps with CleanMyMac X
It’s a painful job to delete apps. So, using CleanMyMac X, I was able to do the task more swiftly and simply. Its Uninstaller module makes it easier to remove several programs at once. What you must do is as follows:
- Start CleanMyMac X free version after downloading it (it takes less than a minute).
- Go to Uninstaller, and click.
- Select All Applications.
- Select Uninstall after selecting the boxes next to the applications you want to delete.
As you can see, CleanMyMac X clearly displays how much space each app uses, making it simpler to identify the programs that are the heaviest. Additionally, all of the manual stages are optional!
In my opinion, this method of deleting programs is by far the simplest and safest. It saves time and gets rid of all that residual digital junk.
No problem if you’re not a huge lover of third-party tools. Here are a few additional pointers on how to remove apps from your Mac.
Is it possible to delete system apps on Mac?
You cannot uninstall system applications like Safari with CleanMyMac X. No Mac cleaner can accomplish that. However, CleanMyMac X enables you to completely reset system apps and erase all of the data related to them. Preferences can be found by selecting the menu option in CleanMyMac X’s upper-left corner. Click Uninstaller after going to the Ignore List. Here, deselect “Ignore system apps” in the checkbox.
4. Use the native uninstaller
Many programs (e.g. Adobe apps) are built with self-cleaning features. They include a self-destructing program called an uninstaller that is integrated into the primary app. The majority of third-party programs that you download from the internet fall under this category.
Some applications include native uninstallers right in the application itself. These are probably available on apps that you have downloaded from the internet.
Open Finder and choose Applications from the sidebar to find them.
Finder > Applications is where you may find the original uninstallers. Your app probably has a separate uninstaller if it resembles a folder (inside the Applications folder). If not, its uninstaller will resemble a different software. The name will say Uninstall [Your App] or [Your App] Uninstaller.
Simply locate the launcher in the open folder and follow the onscreen directions. After the removal is finished, you can make use of the extra storage!
You will nevertheless need to get rid of any remains. App deletion might be a laborious process. However, using the advice I provided will make it simpler and less painful, especially if you choose third-party programs like CleanMyMac X.
FAQ
In order to wrap off this tutorial, let’s look at some frequently asked questions about app uninstallation.
You can either do it automatically with specialized third-party programs like CleanMyMac X or manually by moving it to the Trash and deleting all of the remnants.
Some apps require administrator privileges to be deleted. If you have it and are still unable to uninstall a program from your Mac, it is likely that it was installed automatically and should remain there.
The techniques described in this article can be used to safely uninstall certain of Apple’s pre-installed programs, such as iMovie. At a later time, you may always reinstall them from the App Store.
However, because they are essential to your macOS, many basic Apple programs like Mail and Safari are guarded against deletion.
