Effective Methods to Uninstall Programs on Mac

Are you wondering how to uninstall programs on Mac? Do you want to free up some space and get rid of unwanted applications? If so, you are not alone. Many Mac users struggle with removing programs completely from their devices.

In this article, you will learn the best methods to uninstall programs on Mac, including how to delete the associated files and folders. You will also discover some useful tools that can help you with this task. By following this guide, you will be able to uninstall programs on Mac without leaving any traces behind.

Why You Need to Uninstall Programs on Mac

Uninstalling programs on Mac is not as simple as dragging them to the Trash. Unlike Windows, Mac does not have a built-in uninstaller that can remove all the components of a program. Instead, Mac programs often create additional files and folders in various locations on your system. These files and folders can take up valuable disk space and slow down your Mac. They can also cause conflicts and errors with other programs.

Therefore, if you want to uninstall programs on Mac properly, you need to find and delete these files and folders manually. This can be a tedious and time-consuming process, especially if you have many programs to uninstall. Moreover, you need to be careful not to delete any important system files or folders by mistake.

How to Uninstall Programs on Mac Manually

The manual method to uninstall programs on Mac involves two steps: deleting the program from the Applications folder and deleting the associated files and folders from other locations. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Delete the Program from the Applications Folder

The first step to uninstall programs on Mac is to delete the program from the Applications folder. This is the easiest part of the process, and you can do it in two ways:

• Drag and drop the program icon to the Trash. You can find the Trash icon on the Dock or in the Finder sidebar.
• Right-click on the program icon and select Move to Trash from the menu.

After you move the program to the Trash, you need to empty the Trash to delete it permanently. To do this, right-click on the Trash icon and select Empty Trash from the menu. Alternatively, you can press Command + Shift + Delete on your keyboard.

Step 2: Delete the Associated Files and Folders from Other Locations

The second step to uninstall programs on Mac is to delete the associated files and folders from other locations. These files and folders are usually hidden and scattered across different directories on your system. To find and delete them, you need to use the Finder and the Terminal.

Using the Finder

The Finder is the default file manager on Mac. You can use it to search for and delete the files and folders related to the program you want to uninstall. Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Finder and click on the Go menu at the top of the screen.
2. Select Go to Folder from the menu or press Command + Shift + G on your keyboard.
3. In the dialog box that appears, type or paste one of the following paths and click Go:
   • ~/Library/Application Support
   • ~/Library/Caches
   • ~/Library/Preferences
   • ~/Library/LaunchAgents
   • ~/Library/LaunchDaemons
   • ~/Library/PreferencePanes
   • ~/Library/StartupItems
   • /Library/Application Support
   • /Library/Caches
   • /Library/Preferences
   • /Library/LaunchAgents
   • /Library/LaunchDaemons
   • /Library/PreferencePanes
   • /Library/StartupItems
4. In the folder that opens, look for any files or folders that have the name of the program you want to uninstall or the name of the developer. For example, if you want to uninstall Adobe Photoshop, you can look for files or folders that have “Adobe” or “Photoshop” in their names.
5. Drag and drop the files or folders to the Trash. Repeat this process for each of the paths listed above.
6. Empty the Trash to delete the files and folders permanently.

Using the Terminal

The Terminal is a command-line interface that allows you to perform various tasks on your Mac. You can use it to search for and delete the files and folders related to the program you want to uninstall. Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Terminal app from the Applications > Utilities folder or by pressing Command + Space and typing “Terminal”.
2. In the Terminal window, type or paste one of the following commands and press Enter:
   • find ~ -iname “program” -exec rm -rf {} ;
   • find / -iname “program” -exec rm -rf {} ;
3. Replace “program” with the name of the program you want to uninstall or the name of the developer. For example, if you want to uninstall Adobe Photoshop, you can replace “program” with “Adobe” or “Photoshop”.
4. The first command will search for and delete the files and folders related to the program in your home directory (~). The second command will search for and delete the files and folders related to the program in your root directory (/). Be careful with the second command, as it can delete important system files or folders if you are not specific enough.
5. Repeat this process for each of the commands listed above.

How to Uninstall Programs on Mac Using Third-Party Tools

If you find the manual method to uninstall programs on Mac too complicated or risky, you can use third-party tools that can do the job for you. These tools are designed to scan your system for the files and folders related to the program you want to uninstall and delete them automatically. Some of the most popular tools to uninstall programs on Mac are:

• AppCleaner: A free and simple tool that allows you to drag and drop the program icon to uninstall it. It also shows you the files and folders related to the program and lets you choose which ones to delete.
• AppZapper: A paid and user-friendly tool that allows you to uninstall programs on Mac with a single click. It also shows you the files and folders related to the program and lets you preview them before deleting them.
• CleanMyMac X: A powerful and comprehensive tool that not only uninstalls programs on Mac, but also cleans up junk files, optimizes performance, protects privacy, and more. It has a Smart Scan feature that analyzes your system and suggests the best actions to take.

Conclusion

Uninstalling programs on Mac can be a tricky and tedious task, but it is necessary to keep your system clean and fast. By following this guide, you will be able to uninstall programs on Mac manually or using third-party tools. You will also be able to delete the associated files and folders that can take up space and cause problems on your Mac.