How to uninstall apps on Mac: fully delete programs and reclaim space [2026 tips]

On average, Mac users install 50+ third-party apps. Obviously, some of them are never even opened. But how do you remove unneeded programs? If you simply drag one to the Trash from the Applications folder, such deletion is incomplete — it leaves behind caches, preference files, and other items that can clutter your Mac. But what to do then? Keep on reading, and learn how to uninstall apps on Mac and get rid of all leftover files.

Why proper app uninstallation matters for your Mac

Obviously, deleting apps correctly is a sure way to reclaim some space — caches alone can take up gigabytes of space, not to mention logs, temporary docs, and other app-related files.

But are there other pros of removing apps completely? Yes, and one such advantage is potentially improved Mac performance partially due to more free space but also because leftovers files won’t conflict with the apps that are still there on your MacBook and make it lag.

Why do apps leave leftover files after uninstalling?

Unlike Windows, macOS does not use a central registry, meaning that apps scatter related files all over the system. When you delete the app binary (it is what happens when you drag an app to the Trash), these files still remain on your Mac unless you remove them, too. These leftover files are not always easy to find, and apps leave them for different reasons: user retention, the ease of reinstallation, or running background tasks even after deletion.

How to delete apps on Mac (7 ways that actually work)

If you are trying to delete an old application, reinstall corrupted software, or just free up disk space on your Mac, removing all components of the program is important. These include the app, its preferences and support files, and sometimes other hidden files. 

In this article, we'll guide you through each step to help you completely remove any unwanted app. We'll start with the basics, then walk you through manually deleting app-related files from hidden locations like the Library folder, and show you how to uninstall apps faster with dedicated cleanup tools. With these steps, you can uninstall all kinds of apps: you can uninstall apps installed from the App Store, .pkg or .dmg files downloaded from the internet, and even a disc. So, let’s go ahead and delete some apps!

1. Uninstall Mac apps using Trash

Whether you’re running a newer macOS, such as Golden Gate or Tahoe or an earlier macOS, like Catalina or Mojave, the process of manually uninstalling apps remains relatively similar. If the app is open, quit it first. Then follow these steps:

1. Open Finder > Applications.
2. Choose the app you want to delete.
3. Press Command + Delete (⌘⌫).
4. Click the Trash in the Dock, then click the Empty button in the upper-right corner of the window.

In the future, you can use the Option + Command + Delete shortcut to delete it immediately instead of sending it to the Trash and then emptying it. Note that if you use this shortcut, you can recover an accidentally deleted app from a backup only. Otherwise, you can select the deleted app in the Trash, right-click it, and choose Put Back — it will be moved back to the Applications folder.

You can also delete apps in System Settings: choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then click Storage. Click the Info button next to Applications, select the app, then click Delete.

Once sent to the Trash, the app is gone. Almost.

Uninstalling apps on macOS Golden Gate still requires getting rid of leftovers, despite the fact that Apple has done such a good job in terms of deinstallation on recent macOS versions.

To completely remove programs from Mac manually, you have to find all the associated files that come along with the app. That means not just dragging the app icon to the Trash from your Applications folder but searching the depths of the system files on your Mac.

For example, here’s one app storing cache in different places on your Mac:

To completely remove the app, you have to go over each of these folders one by one and delete the following:

• Binary and dock icons are located in /Applications/
• Application support files are stored in ~/Library/Application Support
• Support Caches can be found in /Library/Caches/ and ~/Library/Caches
  
• Plugins are located in ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/
• Library can be found in ~/Library/
• App preferences (.plist files storing user settings) are located in ~/Library/Preferences/
• Crash reports are found in ~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/
  
• App saved states are located in ~/Library/Saved Application State/ (for macOS Sonoma or older) and ~/Library/Daemon Containers (for macOS Sequoia and later)
  
• Data of sandboxed apps, including apps from the App Store, is stored in ~/Library/Containers/ and ~/Library/Group Containers/
• Launch agents, background processes, and login items can be found in~/Library/LaunchAgents,/Library/LaunchAgents, and /Library/LaunchDaemons
  
• Kernel extensions (kexts extending macOS functionality) are in /Library/Extensions. System extensions don’t need to be deleted by hand: macOS uninstalls them when you delete the app that installed them
  

There are many more hidden files, some of which cannot be accessed by the user. And macOS/OS X will prevent you from deleting some app files. 

Remember, please be careful when deleting system files — you never know how it will affect your Mac if you remove the wrong ones (or the right ones, for that matter!).

Before you delete anything from these folders, back up your Mac with Time Machine. Remove only items whose names clearly belong to the app you deleted or its developer: a similar name alone doesn’t prove that a file belongs only to that app. Drag items to the Trash instead of deleting them right away, so you can put them back if another app stops working.

Note: If you want to remove app-related browser extensions, look for the Extensions section in the settings of your browser. You can remove them as a part of complete app deletion or choose to get rid of extensions without uninstalling apps. If you get an error when trying to remove an extension, restart your browser, and if the error still pops up, disable the extension before deleting it.

2. Uninstall Mac programs with Launchpad (great for App Store apps) — for macOS Sequoia or older

How to uninstall on Mac by using the Launchpad? It’s easy, and this manual method works like this:

1. Click the Launchpad icon in your Mac’s Dock.
2. Find the app you want to delete.
3. Click and hold the app until it starts shaking.
4. Click X in the top-left corner of the app icon.
5. Click Delete.

This will uninstall the app from your Mac. But you still have to remove leftovers manually, as described above.

Note: Not all apps can be deleted from Launchpad. The X appears only for the apps downloaded from the App Store. To remove other apps, drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash or follow any other app removal step described in this article.

3. Uninstall apps with CleanMyMac (removes the app and its leftovers)

Deleting apps is a pretty tiresome task. So, we’ve found a way to do it more quickly and easily — CleanMyMac. Its Uninstaller tool helps get rid of multiple apps at once. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Get your free CleanMyMac trial.
2. Go to Applications and run a scan.
3. Click Manage My Applications > Uninstaller.
4. Select the checkboxes next to the apps you want to remove and click Uninstall.

As you can see, CleanMyMac shows precisely how much space each app takes, so it’s easier to detect the heaviest programs. And you can skip all of the manual steps!

And if you want faster access to Uninstaller, you can use My Tools. It lets you jump directly to uninstalling apps without running the Applications scan. Also, you can add it to your Favorites, along with all other tools you run frequently.

Is it possible to delete system files on Mac?

CleanMyMac doesn’t let you delete system apps like Safari. macOS doesn’t allow it. But with CleanMyMac, you can delete the data associated with system apps and reset them completely. Click CleanMyMac’s menu in the upper-left corner and choose Settings. Go to Ignore List and click Uninstaller. Here, deselect the checkbox next to “Ignore system applications.”

Now, you can quit Settings and go back to Uninstaller.  Click > next to the app’s icon to show its files. Then select the data you want to delete and Click Remove.

It will help clear some space on your Mac. Note that your app logs may also disappear after the reset.

The benefits of using CleanMyMac

• The Applications feature is blazing fast — on average, you'll need 8 seconds for a scan and 5 more seconds for the complete deletion of an app (based on internal data)
• Based on internal reports, with the help of the Applications feature, on average, users remove 7 items per scan (leftover files, unnecessary apps, or forgotten app installers)
• Can help remove malicious apps, too — on average, users find and delete 1 malware after the first scan (based on internal reports)
• Not only does it help you remove unneeded apps, but it also lets you keep your Mac clutter-free: according to internal data, on average, users find and remove 8 GB of safe-to-delete junk files, 4 duplicates, and 5 similar images after the first scan

Try CleanMyMac for free — see how easy it is to declutter your Mac with its help. 

4. Use the native uninstaller

Many applications are designed to clean up after themselves. They come with a built-in uninstaller — a self-destroying utility bundled with the main app. This is mostly true for third-party apps that you download from the internet.

The original uninstallers can be found in Finder > Applications. If your app looks like a folder within the Applications folder, most likely, it will have a separate uninstaller. Otherwise, its uninstaller will look like a separate app. The name will read [Your app] Uninstaller or Uninstall [Your app].

Open the folder, double-click the uninstaller, and just follow the onscreen instructions. After the removal is complete, you can enjoy your extra storage space!

Afterward, you can check the folders listed above for anything the uninstaller left behind.

5. Uninstall programs with Terminal (advanced users)

Like with all things Apple, there are different ways to do things, and deleting apps on Mac is no exception. So, here’s another way to remove programs — use a native tool named Terminal. It is a powerful utility that can control Mac, but it requires certain expertise. So, if you are not a confident command line tools user, it is better to choose one of the app removal techniques described above. 

If you’re willing to run several Terminal commands, follow these steps: 

1. Go to Applications > Utilities and open Terminal.
2. Enter the following command: sudo uninstall file://
3. Drag the app icon into the Terminal window — you will see the path to the app. 
4. Press Return and enter your admin credentials.

It should remove all app leftovers, along with the binary file. However, it is still recommended to check for related files following the steps above to ensure complete app removal. 

You can use another Terminal command to hunt down stubborn orphan (leftover) files:
find ~/Library /Library -iname '*appname*' (replace appname with part of the app’s name; you can ignore lines that say “Operation not permitted”)

Check each result before you remove it: a matching name doesn’t prove that a file belongs only to that app. To remove a file you’re sure about, type trash followed by a space, drag the file into the Terminal window and press Return. Avoid rm here: it deletes files right away, without the Trash, so you can’t put them back.

6. How to uninstall apps downloaded from the App Store

You can also use the App Store to delete apps from MacBook. Before you do it, make sure to cancel any subscriptions for the app you no longer need. You can do it by going to System Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases and clicking Manage next to Subscriptions.

Next, follow these steps: 

1. Open the App Store and click your name in the sidebar. 
2. Click Apps & Purchase History > Your Apps.
3. Find the app you no longer need and hover your mouse over the blank space next to the Open or Update button until you see the ellipsis. 
4. Click the ellipsis and choose Delete App and confirm the deletion. 
5. Follow the steps we outlined above to get rid of leftover files.

Note: If you’ve already removed some apps via Launchpad, the Apps view or the Finder, you will see a download button next to the app in your App Store account.

7. How to remove an app that won’t delete

Unfortunately, manual methods won’t get everything. Some apps are preinstalled macOS components and protected by the system, while others will refuse to delete because they are already open.

So, how to delete the apps on Mac that won’t delete? Try the manual removal after force quitting the app in question (press Command-Option-Esc, and if the app is on the list, shut it down) or restarting your Mac. If your Mac still says the app is in use, start up in safe mode and try again. Next, check the permissions. Select your app and press Command + I. Under Sharing & Permissions, choose Read & Write for your user. If you still cannot delete it, it may be preinstalled, so it should stay on your Mac.

Apps that are part of macOS, such as Safari and Mail, can’t be uninstalled. macOS keeps its system content on a read-only system volume that Apple signs and that your Mac checks when it starts up.

Security considerations while removing apps

There are a few things more important than your privacy, so keep in mind a few things:

• Always have a recent backup. This way, if something goes wrong while you manually delete files, you will be able to restore your Mac.
• If you notice any suspicious app, delete it right away — it may be malware. Better use a dedicated cleaner app (e.g., CleanMyMac and its feature that can scan for viruses and other malicious software — Protection). 
• If you have any sensitive information, look for a reputable shredder app before deleting your programs so that no one can recover them should they gain unauthorized access to your computer. 
• If you do not delete your apps, make sure to keep them up-to-date — outdated apps are a security risk since they can not only conflict with other applications but also be a backdoor to malware.

App management best practices

Let us wrap up with a bonus cleaning tip for you. What you need to remember is that apps do take a lot of space, so take some time to delete those you no longer need. What’s the point in keeping an app that you haven’t opened in, say, 6 months? If you happen to need it, you can always redownload it later.

Better still, avoid clutter in the first place. Take some time monthly to review the Applications folder and remove any unnecessary stuff. Ideally, delete the app right away after opening it for the first time if you understand that you don’t like it.

And for some specific examples of app removal, jump to these articles about uninstalling Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, Xcode, and drivers.

Deleting apps can be a cumbersome task. Nevertheless, with the help of the tips we shared, it will become easier and less painful, especially if you give preference to third-party apps, such as CleanMyMac. And if you need to uninstall apps on iPhone, check out this article with everything you need to know.