This is how to uninstall Eclipse from your Mac
Before we start
Having spent some years coding applications for macOS, we’ve created a tool that everybody can use. The all-round problem fixer for Mac.
So here’s a tip for you: Download CleanMyMac to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article. But to help you do it all by yourself, we’ve gathered our best ideas and solutions below.
Eclipse is an integrated development environment, or IDE, as it’s commonly known. It’s written in Java and used to write, compile and run code in Java and several other languages. If you no longer need to write Java, or you now use a different IDE, you may want to uninstall Eclipse. We’ll show you how to do that in this article. We’ll also show you how to uninstall plug-ins from within Eclipse.
What is Eclipse?
It’s an IDE written in Java and mostly used to develop Java code. However, if you install plug-ins, you can also use it to develop in other languages such as C, C++, Python, and Ruby. It can also be used to develop documents with LaTeX and packages for Mathematica. It’s open source and free to use.
However, many developers using a Mac prefer to use Apple’s Xcode. That’s because Xcode is built from the ground up as a Mac application and designed to build apps for iOS, iPad OS, and tvOS, as well as the Mac. Xcode includes emulators and runtime environments for every version of macOS, iOS, iPad OS, and tvOS that Apple currently supports, allowing developers to test their apps in each version. It also makes it easy to submit completed apps to the App Store. Other developers prefer Visual Studio as an IDE. Like many things, it’s a matter of personal choice and which tool best fits your needs.
How to uninstall Eclipse on your Mac manually
Eclipse doesn’t live in your Applications folder like other apps, and there is no uninstaller supplied, so uninstalling it and removing all of its component parts can be a bit tricky.
- Quit Eclipse.
- Go to Applications > Utilities and launch Activity Monitor.
- Search for Eclipse in the search bar and if you find any processes, select them and press Quit Process.
- Open a new Finder menu and choose your user Home folder in the sidebar.
- Look for two directories. One is called ‘eclipse’ and the other, ‘eclipse-workspace’. Drag both to the Trash.
- Click the Go menu in the Finder and then Go to Folder. Paste each of the locations below into the box, one at a time. Drag the folders to the Trash.
~/
~/Library/Caches/
~/Library/Saved Application State/o
~/Library/Preferences/
Drag any files you find there that have Eclipse in their name to the Trash.
Finally, empty the Trash.
How to uninstall Eclipse the easy way
That’s quite a lengthy process, but there is a workaround. The popular Mac maintenance app CleanMyMac X has an uninstaller utility that is designed to take all the effort out of uninstalling applications. This is how to use it.
- If CleanMyMac X is not already installed on your Mac, download its free version and install it, then launch it.
- Choose the Uninstaller module in the sidebar.
- Locate Eclipse in the right-hand window.
- Check the box next to it and press Uninstall.
How to uninstall Eclipse plug-ins
Eclipse has a huge ecosystem of third-party plug-ins that add functions and features and allow for increased customization. If you’ve installed plug-ins and no longer need them, you can uninstall them from within the app.
- Launch Eclipse and click on the Eclipse menu in the menu bar.
- Select About Eclipse from the menu.
- At the bottom of the window that opens, click on Installation Details.
- Select the Installed Software tab.
- Select the plug-in or plug-ins you want to remove.
- Press Uninstall at the bottom of the window.
In addition to uninstalling applications, CleanMyMac X can also uninstall browser extensions, login items and launch agents. If your reason for uninstalling an app is that it is misbehaving, you may want to try rolling it back to its freshly installed state first.
That often fixes problems. CleanMyMac X allows you to do that too, using its Reset feature. In the Uninstaller module, click the dropdown next to the name of the app and choose Reset, then press the Reset button.
Eclipse is an integrated development environment, built in Java and primarily intended for developing Java software. However, with the addition of plug-ins, it can also be used to develop software in many other languages. If you’ve downloaded it and installed it, but now no longer need it, follow the steps above to uninstall it. Using CleanMyMac X will speed up and simplify the process, and also make it easier to uninstall or reset other applications.
