How to uninstall apps on Mac completely
Contents
With WIWIClean
- Download and open WIWIClean. Allow Full Disk Access.
- In Storage, open Applications: every app shows its size and when you last opened it. The Unused 6+ mo label marks forgotten ones.
- Click Delete next to the app and confirm. Protected apps are removed without asking for your password again.
- Open App Data: apps you've already deleted are marked App deleted. Delete their data the same way.
Every row has a “?” that explains what it is and what happens after deletion.
Manually
- Quit the app: ⌘Q. If it doesn't quit, press ⌥⌘Esc and force quit it.
- In Finder, open Applications, drag the app to the Trash and empty the Trash.
- Remove the leftovers: in Finder press ⇧⌘G, open each folder from the table and move items with the app's name or bundle ID to the Trash.
| Folder | What's inside |
|---|---|
~/Library/Application Support | App data and databases — usually the biggest part |
~/Library/Caches | Cache — the app re-creates it |
~/Library/Preferences | Settings, .plist files |
~/Library/Containers | Data of App Store apps |
~/Library/Group Containers | Data shared between apps of one developer |
~/Library/LaunchAgents | The app's login tasks |
Only delete items with the app's full name or bundle ID, like com.spotify.client. A partial name match may belong to another app.
Adobe, Microsoft, antivirus and VPN apps, and printer drivers install background services — remove them with their own uninstaller (“Uninstall …”) in the app's folder or on the developer's website.
FAQ
Why won't an app uninstall on my Mac?
Usually it's still running — quit it or force quit with ⌥⌘Esc. Built-in macOS apps like Safari or Mail can't be removed: they live on the protected system volume.
Do I need to delete an app's leftover files?
If you don't need the app anymore — yes: data and cache of large apps take gigabytes. If you might come back to it, keep the data: settings and local files are lost with it.
How do I uninstall an app that isn't in Applications?
Find it with Spotlight (⌘Space), select the result and press ⌘Return — Finder shows its folder. Then delete it as usual.
Can I uninstall apps from System Settings?
Yes: System Settings → General → Storage → ⓘ next to Applications → select the app → Delete. Leftover files stay in ~/Library.