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Apps are an essential part of life these days. They help us improve our workflow, organize our lives, stay connected, and provide entertainment. If there is something that needs to be done, it’s likely there’s an app for it! But as developers studiously fulfill our every need with apps, have you ever considered how much memory they all take up and do you even know how many you have?
Many apps are huge and consume loads of memory. They slowly but surely accumulate and chew into your hard drive space until your Mac starts to become sluggish and you notice your machine isn’t performing how it used to.
Deleting or uninstalling apps will free up storage space on your Mac and allow your computer to run smoother with fewer interruptions. If you think it’s time for a cleanup, we’re going to show you a few ways how to uninstall apps on Macs, and remove them for good.
If you’d like an automated way, you can download CCleaner for Mac and let it do the hard work for you. It also comes with plenty of other features that will optimize your precious Mac so it performs as it should. More on that later. In the meantime, here are some manual ways to find and uninstall apps you no longer use (or perhaps never did!).
Use Finder to locate and uninstall apps
Perhaps the easiest manual method to locate and uninstall apps on a Mac is to use the built-in Finder. Simply follow these steps:
- To open a new Finder window, all you have to do is click anywhere on your desktop and use the keyboard shortcut “command + N”.
- Click on “Applications” on the sidebar to the left and select the app you want to uninstall.
- Select “File” then “Move to Bin”. Alternatively, right-click on the app and select “Move to Bin”, or use the hotkey shortcut “command + delete”. Note: your Mac may ask you for a security password if you have security settings activated.
- Right-click on the bin icon in the dock and select “Empty Bin”.
And that’s it, you’ve successfully removed an unwanted app from your Mac. Congratulations, it feels good right?
How to remove an app from your mac using Launchpad
If you’re using macOS X Lion or newer then you’ll have Launchpad as one of the default features on your Mac. Launchpad is an easy way to organize, find, and delete your apps. To open and delete an app using Launchpad, follow these instructions:
- Press the “F4” key on your Mac to bring up the Launchpad display. Alternatively, go to your dock and find the Launchpad icon.
- Click and hold for 2 seconds on one of the apps and you’ll see all of the apps jiggle.
- Click on the app you wish to delete. Apps that are from the App store will show a small “X” which means they can be deleted.
- In the upper-left corner of the app, click on the “X”.
Note: any app that is not from the App store (or apps that came with your Mac e.g. Facetime) cannot be deleted using Launchpad.
How to uninstall apps on Mac the easy way
As we mentioned at the start, you may be interested in using an automated tool to find any apps you don't use and uninstall multiple at once. Just think of the freedom you’ll feel and the space your Mac will gain. This tool will also help you clear other clutter, find duplicate files and cleverly identify any poor-quality or bad photos you probably didn’t know you had so you can make room for shiny new memories.
CCleaner for Mac is popular for all of these reasons and more. Why not download it and start your Mac spring clean right away?
Knowing how to delete apps on a Mac correctly is essential for keeping your device optimized and running smoothly.
Not everyone realizes that the process of removing apps varies depending on whether you downloaded them from the App Store or the internet. Don't worry; it's simple enough; we'll cover all the methods right here, so let's get started.
To delete an application that you downloaded from the App Store, follow these simple steps:
Open Launchpad.
Select and hold the app icon until they start to move.
Press the X top left.
Confirm you want to delete it by pressing Delete.
If the application you wanted to remove doesn't have the X button, you likely downloaded this app from the internet, and you'll need a different method. Jump to the next section.
How to uninstall programs on Mac via Trash
Another simple way to remove apps is by using the Trash or Bin method; here's how:
Open a new Finder window.
Select Applications from the sidebar.
Locate the app you want to remove and drag it to your Trash.
Empty your Trash afterward.
Although this method is popular and seems relatively quick and easy, many users don't realize that it doesn't guarantee to remove every single trace of the app entirely.
Digital debris like support files is often left behind in hard-to-reach places, which can consume valuable space and clog up your Mac.
Instead, use a dedicated uninstaller that can safely remove all app traces, jump to the next section, and I'll show you how.
How to uninstall applications using an uninstaller
If you want to thoroughly and safely remove all traces of applications, then a third-party tool like CleanMyMac X is exactly what you need. This powerful tool comes with an Uninstaller Module that removes apps and their files altogether. It also sorts your data into categories, including unused, leftovers, vendors, and stores, to help you quickly find the app you want to remove.
I find this level of detail handy, and it's surprising what you have installed on your device when you see your apps categorized like this.
Here's how to remove your apps the smart way:
Launch the app — download the free version here.
Select Uninstaller from the sidebar and click View Applications.
Browse through the categories and select the apps you want to delete.
Press Uninstall.
In my opinion, this is by far the easiest and safest way to delete applications; it saves time and removes all of that leftover digital debris.
If you're not a big fan of third-party tools, no problem. I've got a few more tips for you below on uninstalling programs on your Mac.
How to delete apps with native uninstallers
Not all, but some applications come with built-in, native uninstallers; you'll most likely find these on apps that you've downloaded via the internet.
To find these, open Finder and select Applications from the sidebar.
For example, in the picture below, my application Team Drive has a folder within Applications, and its native uninstaller tool is available there.
You would now just need to double-click the uninstaller to launch it and follow the on-screen instructions to remove the app.
If the app you're trying to remove doesn't have a native uninstaller, no problem; jump to the next section for more tips.
How to manually delete app-related files from Library
Application resources are files that our apps need to function correctly; these are located and stored in a hidden Library folder.
When you delete an application from your Mac using the Launchpad or Trash methods, these files often remain behind; it's the digital clutter that I mentioned earlier in the article taking up valuable space on your drive.
It is possible to remove this clutter manually but take caution when deleting items from the Library folder; you can cause serious issues to your macOS if you delete the wrong thing.
Here's how to manually delete app-related files:
Open Finder, hold down your Option key, and select Go from the top menu.
Select Library.
In the top search bar, enter the name of the app you want to delete, then select the Library filter to ensure it searches for files in the right location.
When you locate all the related files, move them to the Trash.
That will remove all the app traces. If you don't feel comfortable poking around in your Library folder, use the third-party uninstaller method from earlier in the article.
Uninstall apps on a Mac using Terminal
Another way to delete apps on a Mac is by using Terminal, and contrary to popular belief, it's pretty simple; here's how:
1. Open Finder > Applications > Utlitlies > Terminal.
2. Type in the below command
sudo uninstall file://
3. Now, simply drag the app icon into Terminal, automatically updating the path.
4. Press Enter and input your admin password when requested.
How to reset a misbehaving app
Occasionally, apps refuse to be uninstalled. This is a particularly annoying yet common issue. There can be several reasons why this happens, from corrupt files to outdated software. The best way to solve this annoying issue is to reset the app.
You can use the application I mentioned earlier, CleanMyMac X, to reset misbehaving applications via its Uninstaller module; here's how:
Open the application and select Uninstaller.
Press View All Applications.
Locate the troublesome app in the list and select it.
Now select Reset from the dropdown next to its name.
Press Reset.
If you've still got questions about app removal, jump to the step below.
FAQ
Let's close up this article by taking a look at some common app removal questions.
Which apps should I remove?
Depending on what you need your apps for, consider removing the following if they apply to you:
Applications downloaded from suspicious or untrustworthy sites.
Apps that consume too much RAM.
Apps you no longer use.
How often should I remove apps?
To keep your Mac fully optimized, it's worth checking the applications you have installed on your Mac regularly; this way, you can remove programs you no longer use that simply take up space and keep your Mac running smoothly.
Is it safe to remove default Apple apps?
Some of Apple's pre-installed applications, like iMovie, can be removed safely, just like any other app, using the methods mentioned in this article. You can always reinstall them from the App Store at a later date.
However, many default Apple applications like Mail and Safari are protected from deletion as they are integral to your macOS.
This can be overwritten via Terminal; read this great article here.
What to do If I delete an app accidentally?
You've got two options here; if you've accidentally removed an app you originally downloaded from the App Store, you can simply reinstall it.
The other option is to recover your app from Trash: open Trash and right-click the app you want to restore. Then, click Put Back.
So here we are, we've reached the end; now you know exactly how to delete Apps on a Mac and the answers to commonly asked questions around app removal. Remember to keep a regular eye on what apps you've installed on your Mac to keep your device fully optimized.
See you again soon for more great Mac tricks and tips!