To uninstall an app completely on a Mac, quit the app, move it to the Trash, empty the Trash, and remove leftover support files from your user Library when necessary. Apps installed through the App Store can usually be deleted from Launchpad or Finder. Apps with their own uninstallers should be removed with those tools instead.
Quick Answer
- Quit the app.
- Open Finder and select Applications.
- Drag the app to the Trash, or Control-click it and choose Move to Trash.
- Empty the Trash if you are sure you no longer need the app.
- Remove the app’s leftover files from
~/Libraryonly if you want a more thorough cleanup. - Restart your Mac if the app installed login items, extensions, or background processes.
Deleting an app does not always remove its settings, saved data, browser extensions, or helper files. Also, removing an app will not necessarily cancel a subscription or delete files stored in cloud services.
Before You Uninstall an App
Before deleting anything, check whether the app contains data you may want later. This is especially important for email clients, photo and video editors, note-taking apps, password managers, virtual machines, and games.
Check for important app data
Open the app and look for options such as Export, Back Up, Save, or Sign Out. If the app stores documents in a dedicated folder, copy those files to another location first.
Warning: Uninstalling an app can delete local data, downloaded content, profiles, or virtual machines. Back up anything important before continuing.
Check subscriptions separately
Deleting an app does not automatically cancel a paid subscription. Cancel subscriptions through the service that billed you, such as the App Store, the developer’s website, or another payment provider.
Quit the app completely
An app cannot always be removed while it is running. Choose the app’s name in the menu bar and select Quit, or press Command-Q.
If the app will not close, press Option-Command-Escape, select it in the Force Quit Applications window, and click Force Quit.
Warning: Force quitting can discard unsaved work.
Method 1: Uninstall an App from Finder
Finder is the most reliable general method for removing a Mac app.
- Open Finder.
- Select Applications in the sidebar. If it is not visible, choose Go > Applications from the menu bar.
- Find the app you want to remove.
- Drag the app to the Trash, or Control-click it and choose Move to Trash.
- Enter an administrator password if macOS requests one.
- To permanently delete the app, Control-click the Trash in the Dock and choose Empty Trash.
Warning: Emptying the Trash permanently deletes the items inside it. Check the Trash first if you might need to restore anything.
If macOS says the app is in use, quit the app and try again. If the message continues, restart your Mac and repeat the steps before considering Force Quit.
What happens when you move an app to the Trash?
Moving an app to the Trash removes its main application bundle. An application bundle is the single item that contains the program and many of the files it needs to run. It does not necessarily remove separate files stored in your user Library or shared system folders.
For many simple apps, removing the application bundle is enough. Leftover files are usually small, but they can include preferences, saved states, caches, logs, extensions, and licensing information.
Method 2: Uninstall an App from Launchpad
Launchpad is useful for apps downloaded from the App Store.
- Open Launchpad from the Dock or Applications folder.
- Locate the app.
- Click and hold the app until the icons begin to jiggle, or hold the Option key.
- Click the Delete button, shown as an X, if it appears.
- Confirm the deletion.
The Delete button may not appear for apps installed outside the App Store. In that case, use Finder instead.
Launchpad removes the app itself, but it does not guarantee that every related file is deleted. If you need a deeper cleanup, follow the leftover-file steps below.
Method 3: Use the App’s Uninstaller
Some apps install system components, background services, drivers, browser extensions, or licensing tools. These apps may include a dedicated uninstaller.
Look in one of these locations:
- The app’s folder in Applications
- A folder named Uninstall or Utilities
- The app’s Help menu
- The developer’s official support website
If an uninstaller is included, use it before dragging the app to the Trash. Follow the prompts carefully.
Warning: An uninstaller may remove shared components, plugins, drivers, or app-created files. Read each confirmation screen and back up important data first.
Do not download third-party “cleaner” tools from unfamiliar websites just because an app has leftover files. An uninstaller supplied by the app’s developer is generally the safer choice.
Remove Leftover App Files Manually
If you want to uninstall an app more completely, inspect the Library folders associated with your user account. These folders are hidden by default because deleting the wrong item can affect macOS or another app.
Open the user Library safely
- Click the desktop so Finder is active.
- Choose Go in the menu bar.
- Hold the Option key.
- Select Library.
You can also choose Go > Go to Folder, enter ~/Library, and press Return.
Look for files and folders whose names clearly match the app or its developer. Common locations include:
~/Library/Application Support/~/Library/Caches/~/Library/Containers/~/Library/Group Containers/~/Library/Preferences/~/Library/Saved Application State/~/Library/Logs/
For example, an app might leave a preference file with a name based on its bundle identifier, developer name, or product name.
- Open each relevant folder.
- Search for the app’s name or the developer’s name.
- Move only files that clearly belong to the app to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash after checking that you have not selected data belonging to another app.
Warning: Do not delete unfamiliar Library files merely because they look technical. Some folders are shared by multiple apps, and deleting the wrong item can cause data loss or unexpected behavior.
Check Application Support and Containers first
The most meaningful leftover data is often found in Application Support, Containers, or Group Containers. These folders may contain downloaded content, databases, templates, profiles, or account data.
Delete these folders only when you are certain they belong exclusively to the app you removed. Some developer-named folders may support several related apps.
Remove login items and background activity
An app may continue launching a helper process after its main application is gone.
- Open System Settings.
- Select General.
- Click Login Items.
- Review Open at Login and Allow in the Background.
- Select entries clearly associated with the removed app and click the – button, or turn off background permission where available.
Warning: Removing a login item changes what starts automatically when you sign in. Do not disable Apple services or entries you do not recognize without confirming what they do.
If the app installed a menu bar utility, browser extension, VPN profile, system extension, or device driver, check the app’s documentation for removal instructions. These components may not be removed by deleting the main app.
Remove an App Using Terminal
Terminal is not necessary for most app removals. Finder is safer because it displays the item you are deleting. Use Terminal only when you understand the path and have confirmed that the app is closed.
List an app without deleting it
Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities, then run:
ls -ld "/Applications/App Name.app"
Replace App Name.app with the exact app filename. This command only displays information about the item; it does not change anything.
Move the app to the Trash
mv "/Applications/App Name.app" ~/.Trash/
This moves the application bundle from the Applications folder to your personal Trash. It does not empty the Trash, so you can restore the app by opening the Trash and dragging it back if you change your mind.
If the app is located elsewhere, replace the first path with its actual location. Use quotation marks when the name contains spaces.
Warning: Confirm the path carefully before pressing Return. A mistyped command can move the wrong item.
Reverse the Terminal action
If you have not emptied the Trash, open the Trash in Finder and drag the app back to the Applications folder. If you already emptied the Trash, restore the app from a backup or download it again from a trusted source.
Avoid using broad commands such as rm -rf for app removal. They permanently delete files without placing them in the Trash and can cause serious data loss if the path is wrong.
Troubleshooting
The app says it is still open
Quit the app from its menu bar, then try again. Check the Dock for a small dot beneath the app icon, which indicates that it is running. If necessary, use Option-Command-Escape to force quit it.
Restarting the Mac can also close background processes that prevent removal.
macOS says you do not have permission
Make sure you are signed in to an administrator account. macOS may request an administrator password when an app was installed for all users or contains protected components.
If the app was installed by an employer or school, device-management settings may prevent you from deleting it. Contact the administrator rather than trying to bypass those controls.
The app keeps appearing after deletion
Check System Settings > General > Login Items. Remove the app’s login item or disable its background activity.
Also check whether the app is being restored from a backup, synchronized through cloud storage, or reinstalled by a management service.
The app’s data is still taking up space
Search for the app’s name in Finder:
- Open Finder.
- Choose File > Find.
- Search for the app or developer name.
- Select This Mac if available.
- Review the results carefully before deleting anything.
You can also open System Settings > General > Storage to review categories that use disk space. Do not delete files from the Storage view unless you understand what they contain.
The app affected external displays or other hardware
If the app installed display utilities, virtual screens, capture drivers, or graphics tools, removing the main app may not remove every component. Check the developer’s uninstall instructions and review System Settings > General > Login Items.
After removal, reconnect the display or restart the Mac. If display performance remains poor, a background utility or system extension may still be active. For related display behavior, see this guide to reducing WindowServer CPU usage when using an external display on a Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dragging an app to the Trash uninstall it completely?
It removes the main application, but related preferences, caches, support files, and background components may remain. For many apps, those leftovers are harmless. Use the Library checks above when you need a more thorough removal.
Will uninstalling an app delete my documents?
Usually not. Documents stored in your personal folders remain unless they are located inside the app’s own support folder or you delete them separately. Always back up app-specific data before uninstalling.
Can I reinstall the app later?
Usually, yes. You can download it again from the App Store or the developer’s official website. Reinstalling may restore settings if they were synchronized or left behind, but it cannot recover data that was permanently deleted.
Does uninstalling an app cancel its subscription?
No. Cancel the subscription through the billing provider. Removing the app only removes software from the Mac.
Should I delete every file with the app’s name?
No. Delete only files you can confidently identify as belonging to that app. Developer folders and shared containers can support multiple products.
Final Thoughts
For most Mac apps, quit the app, remove it from Applications, and empty the Trash when you are ready. For a more complete uninstall, review the app’s Library files, login items, and any dedicated uninstaller supplied by the developer. Work carefully around hidden folders and always protect important data before deleting it.