How to Uninstall App from Mac on macOS 10.15
2024-09-19 14:12:38 • Filed to: macOS 10.15 • Proven solutions
After installing the Mac OS Catalina upgrade, you might come across apps that you want to do away with, either because they’re of no use, or are problematic, or are taking up too much space and dragging down your system.
If you don’t completely uninstall an app on a Mac on 10.15, some parts of it might still linger on and continue to affect your system. But after reading this article, you know how to uninstall programs on Mac correctly on macOS 10.15.
How to Uninstall Applications on macOS 10.15
You can uninstall Mac apps on Mac OS 10.15 using three different methods, depending on the type of app. These methods are all easy to follow.
Method 1: Using Provided Uninstallers
Some apps come with special uninstallers provided by their creators to help users easily delete them anytime they want to. You can check the app’s folder using the Finder to see if it came with a special uninstaller. If so, then you’ll find a set of instructions that you can easily follow to use the installer. Each provided app installer will come with its own unique set of instructions. But for apps that do not have a special uninstaller, you can try the other two methods.
Method 2: Delete Apps from App Root Folder
To delete apps from your mac on Mac OS 10.15 completely, you need to know how to access hidden library files. Some apps create various files and folders automatically for in-app purchases, storing information during trial periods, and fast-tracking reinstallation. These files can be buried in hidden library files and still linger on even after you’ve deleted the app folder. To delete apps and all of their hidden files,
1. Open Finder, and then open the Application folder on the left side of the Finder window, and then click on the app you want to delete.
2. Right-click on the app, and then select “Move to Trash” from the drop-down menu, or drag and drop the app icon into the trash icon.
3. Next, delete the apps from the Trashcan and Recycle bin.
4. Now, check for any of the app’s subfolders or hidden files that might have been left behind by launching Finder and then clicking “Go > Go to folder.”
5. Search for the hidden folders by entering any of the following paths:
~/Library/
~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/
~/Library/Saved Application State/
~/Library/Caches/ and /Library/Caches
~/Applications/
~/Library/Address Book Plug-Ins/
~/Library/Application
~/Library/Preferences/
Method 3: Using Third-Party Uninstallers
If you can’t uninstall programs on mac correctly on macos 10.15 using the two methods, and some parts of the app are still taking up storage space, you can try out third-party uninstallers.
One of the best app uninstallers for Mac is the Clean My Mac software, and we’ll be using it here for our illustration. You can as well use any software that’s easier for you to use.
1. Download, install, and launch Clean My Mac on your Mac.
2. Select the “Uninstaller” option from the left menu under Applications. This brings up all your apps. Now, select the app you want to uninstall (you can select many apps at once by checking their boxes).
3. Next, click on the “Uninstall” button at the bottom of your screen. After that, Clean My Mac will delete all the selected apps along with all their hidden files.
Note, however, that there are some apps that are
After installing the Mac OS Catalina upgrade, you might come across apps that you want to do away with, either because they’re of no use, or are problematic, or are taking up too much space and dragging down your system.
If you don’t completely uninstall an app on a Mac on 10.15, some parts of it might still linger on and continue to affect your system. But after reading this article, you know how to uninstall programs on Mac correctly on macOS 10.15.
How to Uninstall Applications on macOS 10.15
You can uninstall Mac apps on Mac OS 10.15 using three different methods, depending on the type of app. These methods are all easy to follow.
Method 1: Using Provided Uninstallers
Some apps come with special uninstallers provided by their creators to help users easily delete them anytime they want to. You can check the app’s folder using the Finder to see if it came with a special uninstaller. If so, then you’ll find a set of instructions that you can easily follow to use the installer. Each provided app installer will come with its own unique set of instructions. But for apps that do not have a special uninstaller, you can try the other two methods.
Method 2: Delete Apps from App Root Folder
To delete apps from your mac on Mac OS 10.15 completely, you need to know how to access hidden library files. Some apps create various files and folders automatically for in-app purchases, storing information during trial periods, and fast-tracking reinstallation. These files can be buried in hidden library files and still linger on even after you’ve deleted the app folder. To delete apps and all of their hidden files,
1. Open Finder, and then open the Application folder on the left side of the Finder window, and then click on the app you want to delete.
2. Right-click on the app, and then select “Move to Trash” from the drop-down menu, or drag and drop the app icon into the trash icon.
3. Next, delete the apps from the Trashcan and Recycle bin.
4. Now, check for any of the app’s subfolders or hidden files that might have been left behind by launching Finder and then clicking “Go > Go to folder.”
5. Search for the hidden folders by entering any of the following paths:
~/Library/
~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/
~/Library/Saved Application State/
~/Library/Caches/ and /Library/Caches
~/Applications/
~/Library/Address Book Plug-Ins/
~/Library/Application
~/Library/Preferences/
Method 3: Using Third-Party Uninstallers
If you can’t uninstall programs on mac correctly on macos 10.15 using the two methods, and some parts of the app are still taking up storage space, you can try out third-party uninstallers.
One of the best app uninstallers for Mac is the Clean My Mac software, and we’ll be using it here for our illustration. You can as well use any software that’s easier for you to use.
1. Download, install, and launch Clean My Mac on your Mac.
2. Select the “Uninstaller” option from the left menu under Applications. This brings up all your apps. Now, select the app you want to uninstall (you can select many apps at once by checking their boxes).
3. Next, click on the “Uninstall” button at the bottom of your screen. After that, Clean My Mac will delete all the selected apps along with all their hidden files.
Note, however, that there are some apps that are protected in Mac OS Catalina and cannot be deleted through any of the three methods. However, with software like Clean My Mac, you can reset such apps to their default settings to correct any wrongful settings that might cause the app to misbehave.
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