Uninstall apps
(Updated: )Most Mac users drag apps to the Trash to uninstall them, but this method often leaves behind residual files scattered across their computers. Using the Applications module in CleanMyMac, you can fully remove apps along with their components, including files that aren't located in the Applications folder. These leftover components can run small service apps, adding unnecessary load to the processor and memory of your Mac. By completely uninstalling apps with CleanMyMac, you'll free up disk space and improve your Mac performance.
The App Store edition of CleanMyMac can't remove the core binaries of the App Store apps because of the restrictions. However, you can delete other related files and manually remove the corresponding app binary later.
To review and uninstall apps:
In CleanMyMac, go to Applications.
Click Scan to begin and wait for the results.
After scanning finishes, review the scan summary.
Apps recommended for quick review, update, or removal will appear in tiles.
To repeat the scan, click Start Over, confirm, and click Scan again.
Click Manage My Applications above the tiles to review all apps in detail, then go to the Uninstaller category.
Select the apps you no longer need, then click Uninstall.
Review the results.
App details
When viewing apps in Applications in detail, apps are organized in groups. Clicking a group shows all apps within that group.
You can sort apps in ascending or descending order by size, name, or the last opened date.
For each app, you can view its name, last opened date, and total size (including the size of its resources).
Right-click an app to:
- Open it
- Select or deselect it along with all associated resources
- Reveal it in Finder
- Get app info
- Add it to the ignore list
- Preview it using Quick Look
Also, when something looks unfamiliar or you're not sure about an app, click the Smart Insights icon next to that app's name to get more details. This works in macOS Tahoe 26 or later and if you have Apple Intelligence turned on.
To view resources of an app, click the disclosure arrow next to its size.
App groups
Because of the macOS restrictions, CleanMyMac can't remove system apps. These apps are added to the ignore list by default and don't appear in the Uninstaller category.
CleanMyMac organizes apps into the following groups for easier navigation:
All Applications — all apps installed on your Mac.
Unused — apps you haven't opened in the last six months.
Suspicious — apps from developers or sources in Russia and Belarus, as they may pose a risk to your Mac or data security.
Selected — apps or resources you've selected for removal.
Stores — apps grouped by installation source such as the App Store, Setapp, Steam, and so on.
Vendors — apps from different vendors such as Apple, MacPaw, Google, Microsoft, and so on.
Plugins — for example, audio plug-ins, and so on.
