Uninstalling apps on a Mac: Secrets to complete removal

Uninstalling an app on your Mac might seem like a straightforward process, but often, files and data are left behind, taking up unnecessary disk space. To completely get rid of an unwanted app and all its traces, follow these additional steps.

It would help if you also realized that due to the closed nature of the system, you may not always be able to uninstall applications on your Mac completely. This is because the manual uninstallation process can leave traces that slow down the system as a whole. This causes unstable operation of the OS, even if the “hardware” is not yet outdated. In this guide, we will consider how to completely uninstall a program on a Mac and what you need to do for this.

Why can it be difficult to uninstall apps on a Mac completely?

Uninstalling apps on a Mac can be challenging for several reasons. While the uninstallation process may seem simple at first glance, numerous nuances can make it difficult, namely:

1. Residual files and folders

When you uninstall applications on your Mac, you’re often left with numerous files that affect system performance:

• Configuration files. These files store user settings and preferences that remain on the system after an application is uninstalled:
• Cache files. This is temporary data that apps store on your device to speed up their work.;
• Log files and temporary files. These files are created to track application performance and temporarily store data.

2. Difficulty in finding all components

Library folder. This folder may contain files related to the application, such as plugins, scripts, and libraries. Some files may be hidden from the user and not displayed in the Finder by default. Also, installed applications create files in system folders that may be restricted.

3. Access rights and security

Macs have security and permissions management, which can make it difficult to uninstall applications. These include features such as:

• File Protection with Administrator Rights: Some files may be protected by the system and require administrative rights to uninstall;
• SIP Integrity Control: This mechanism protects system files and directories from changes, which can make it difficult to remove components associated with the application.

4. No built-in uninstaller

Not all Mac applications have their uninstaller, making it difficult to remove them completely. Users have to manually search for and delete all files associated with the app, which can be time-consuming and not always effective.

You may need to use additional programs such as AppCleaner or CleanMyMac to uninstall applications completely.

5. The complex structure of programs

There are also software that are difficult to uninstall. Such programs include Xcode, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, antivirus programs (Norton, McAfee) and Java. They have a complex structure, and therefore it is not always possible to remove them completely.

Why is it important to completely uninstall programs on Mac?

Completely uninstalling programs on a Mac is an important task to keep your system stable and use resources efficiently. Unlike simply moving an application to the trash, a full uninstallation involves removing all files associated with the program.

Why you should completely uninstall a program on your Mac:

• Residual files can take up a significant amount of disk space. Complete uninstallation frees up a significant amount of disk space that can be used for other needs;
• Accumulated cache files and temporary data can slow down system performance. Removing them regularly helps keep performance high;
• Residual files of old programs may conflict with newer versions or other installed applications, resulting in reduced performance and stability;
• Residual files may contain outdated libraries or components that can be a target for malware. Settings and cache files may contain sensitive information that can be exploited by malicious users.

How to uninstall a program on your Mac

Uninstall applications through the trash

Open the “Programs” folder, which is located in the Finder sidebar, or the “Go” menu in the top bar.

Next, drag an app to the trash — find the program you want and drag its icon to the trash in the dock.

It is worth noting that this is a quick way to uninstall. However, there is a nuance — it does not allow you to clean your Mac from programs completely. It leaves behind files that later slow down the system.

Uninstalling a program via Finder

Open the Finder and select “Go to”. From the Finder’s top menu, select “Go to”, then “Go to folder…”;

Type ~/Library and press Enter. This command will open the user’s hidden library folder.

As with the Trash, the Finder will not uninstall the program completely.

Uninstall applications on a Mac using Launchpad

Locate the Launchpad icon on the Dock. Click the Launchpad icon to open it. Launchpad will display all of your installed apps. Find the app you want to uninstall by scrolling through the pages.

There is a search bar at the top of the Launchpad window. Start typing the name of the app and Launchpad will automatically filter the results. Tap and hold the icon of the app you want to uninstall. After a couple of seconds, all the icons will start to jiggle and some of them will have a cross on them in the top left corner.

Please note! The cross will only appear on apps downloaded from the Mac App Store. System applications and third-party programs installed outside the Mac App Store cannot be uninstalled via Launchpad using this method.

How to completely uninstall a program on a Mac

Uninstalling from the terminal

Before you can uninstall an application, you need to know its exact location in the file system. Usually, apps are located in the /Applications folder, but they can also be located in user directories.

How to uninstall:

• open a terminal: you can find it via Spotlight (Cmd + Spacebar) or in the Applications/Utilities folder;
• to uninstall, use the command — sudo rm -rf /Applications/ApplicationsName.app;
• to remove from the /Library folder — rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/ApplicationName.
• Also — rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.ApplicationName.plist or rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.ApplicationName.

Important: Uninstalling via terminal is suitable for advanced users.

Using macOS built-in tools

Open Finder and go to “Libraries” with Command + Shift + G. Next, you need to find and delete the residual files in the folders:

• ~/Library/Caches;
• ~/Library/Preferences;
• ~/Library/Application Support;
• ~/Library/Caches;
• ~/Library/Preferences;
• ~/Library/Application Support.

Requires manual search and deletion of files, which can be time-consuming.

Uninstalling applications on your Mac with cleanup utilities

Another way to remove apps quickly and completely is to use third-party cleaning utilities. Let’s take the example of one such program — JWIZARD Cleaner.

Open JWIZARD Cleaner from your Programs folder or desktop. At the first launch, the utility may ask for access to system files — grant the necessary permissions.

In the main window of the program, select the “Uninstall Applications” option. Click the “Scan” button to have the program analyze the installed applications and related files. Wait for the scanning process to complete — it may take a few minutes, depending on the number of installed programs. Select the programs and click the “Uninstall” button.

What are the benefits:

• Complete program removal — the process is much faster and easier than manually;
• JWIZARD Cleaner allows you to clean your computer even from difficult-to-remove programs;
• The utility is easy to understand — you don’t need to use a terminal or write complicated commands;
• The whole uninstallation process is done in a couple of clicks.

From the limitations — there is only a paid version of the program.

You can download the program here.

Summary

It’s important to completely uninstall programs on your Mac to free up extra space. There are several ways to do this, using the Finder, Launchpad, the built-in Programs utility, Terminal, and third-party applications.

Using third-party applications like JWIZARD Cleaner can make it easier to uninstall programs and their residual files completely.