Whether you want to free up storage space or organize your system, uninstalling an application on your Mac is an easy process. In many cases, deleting an application is as simple as dragging it to a trash, but depending on how the application is installed, there may be some extra steps involved. Third-party tools are an option, but in most cases you can easily uninstall your Mac app. Some applications also leave related files that you may need to get rid of the space, or delete the last trace for cleaner uninstall. This is a step-by-step guide for uninstalling applications on your Mac, covering several different ways to help you manage your device effectively.
How to Uninstall an Application from LaunchPad
LaunchPad provides an easy way to delete apps downloaded from the App Store.
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Open Launchpad By clicking its icon in the dock, or closing it with your thumb and pinching three fingers on the trackpad.
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Find the app you want to delete. You can look in the search bar at the top if you need it.
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Press and hold the app icon until it starts to shake.
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Click Small x Button in the corner of the application icon.
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Click OK delete.
If you can't see it x button, the app may not be installed from the App Store. In this case, you need to use another method to delete it.
How to uninstall an app by moving it to junk
For applications downloaded from the internet or installed from disk, you can uninstall them manually through Finder.
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Open discoverer.
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Navigate to Apply Folder.
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Find the application you want to uninstall.
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Drag the application to Rubbish In the dock, or right-click on the application and select Move to garbage.
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To completely delete the application, right-click Rubbish And choose Empty garbage.
Some applications may require you to enter an administrator password to complete the deletion. Also, don't empty the garbage too quickly after installation. Whether it's a program or a program associated with a program, it's easier to retrieve these things if they're still wandering in garbage.
How to use the application's uninstaller
Some applications come with their own built-in uninstaller, especially large programs such as Adobe products, Microsoft Office, or Antivirus software. These uninstallers are designed to delete applications and all related files.
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Open Apply Folders in Finder.
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Find the folder associated with the application you want to uninstall.
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Open the folder and find the uninstall tool, usually marked as uninstall [App Name] Or something like that.
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Double-click the uninstaller and follow the on-screen instructions.
If you can't see the uninstaller, check out the official website of the app for specific instructions for deletion.
How to manually delete remaining applications
Dragging an app to the trash usually deletes the app, but some support files, caches, and preferences can be kept on your Mac. These remaining files usually don't harm your system, but over time they can take up unnecessary space.
Manually delete remaining files:
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Open discoverer Then click go In the menu bar.
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choose Go to folder.
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Type ~/Library and press return.
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Search for any folder or file related to the application. The inspection places include:
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Move any related files or folders to Rubbish.
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Empty garbage Delete them permanently.
Be cautious when deleting files from library folders. Delete only files that are obviously associated with the application you uninstalled.
How to uninstall an application using a terminal
For users who use command line tools, Terminal provides another way to delete applications. This method is useful for stubborn applications that cannot be easily uninstalled by other methods.
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Open terminal From Applications > Utilities.
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Type the following command:
sudo rm -rfÂ(Do not press Return/Enter), then drag the application you wish to uninstall and the terminal will automatically paste its path. Then press Enter/Return. -
Enter your administrator password when prompted and hit back to complete the operation.
The terminal does not provide a confirmation message, so make sure to enter the correct application name before executing the command.
How to uninstall system applications and default applications
MACOS does not allow users to delete core system applications such as Safari, messages or mail through standard methods. These applications are protected to maintain system stability.
Although it is technically possible to delete system applications using terminal commands and disable system integrity protection (SIP), this is not recommended. Deleting system applications can lead to unexpected behavior and security vulnerabilities and can interfere with system updates.
For applications, you can't uninstall, and if you want to keep your workspaces organized, consider hiding them or removing them.
How to reinstall the app on your Mac
If you change your mind after uninstalling the app, it is usually easy to reinstall it.
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For applications downloaded from the App Store, please open App Storesearch for the application and click get Or download button.
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For applications downloaded from the network, please revisit the official website and download the latest version.
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If you delete the default MacOS application, you also need to reinstall MacOS or use MacOS recovery feature.
If you need to reinstall them later, keeping a backup of important applications or their installers can help avoid any inconvenience.
