How to uninstall apps on Mac that won’t delete: Complete guide

Some Mac apps just won’t go away, even after you drag them to the Trash. Others will uninstall but leave behind tons of support files, login items, and even background processes. These can be annoying and even affect how smoothly your Mac runs, but there are several ways you can deal with them.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to uninstall programs on Mac without leaving a single file behind. We’ll start with the basic methods like Finder and Launchpad, then go to more powerful options like Terminal, CleanMyMac, and iBoysoft MagicMenu.

How to uninstall apps from Mac

There are two classic ways to uninstall apps on Mac: through Launchpad and Finder. 

Both are easy to perform, but they also have their limitations. Launchpad, in particular, only works for apps you’ve installed from the App Store but not from the web. Finder works with both types of apps, but like Launchpad, it tends to leave behind support files you’ll need to clean up after the uninstallation.

Through Launchpad

Here’s how to uninstall apps on Mac using Launchpad:

1. Open Launchpad (F4 or from Dock).

2. Hold the Option key.

3. Click the cross that appears. 

4. Click Delete to confirm.

This method is fast and easy, but you’ll need to manually clean support files or use a tool like CleanMyMac to clear them

Through the Finder

This option gives you more control as you can uninstall all types of apps, except system ones.

Here’s how to uninstall apps on Mac using Finder:

1. Open Finder.

2. Go to the Applications tab.

3. Right-click the app you want to remove.

4. Click Move to Trash.

5. Enter your password if prompted.

If this operation was a mistake, press Command + Z immediately, and the app will return. After you delete a program, empty the Trash to complete the uninstallation. You can then delete the main support files from ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Caches, and ~/Library/Preferences.

Why classic uninstall methods leave leftover files

When you uninstall Mac apps through Finder or Launch, macOS will only remove the main .app bundle. Many apps usually store data outside the bundle, so this leaves behind the logs, caches, preferences, and any helper processes that the app had stored in your Library folders.

Separating the data is beneficial to macOS’s sandboxing and also helps you preserve app settings, but the leftovers can cause issues. They take up your storage space and can slow down the performance of your Mac and even conflict with other apps.

After using Finder or Launchpad to uninstall apps, here are a few of the folders you should clean out manually: 

• ~/Library/Caches

• ~/Library/Logs

• ~/Library/Containers

• ~/Library/Application Support

• ~/Library/Cookies

• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

To delete files on Mac after uninstallation, open the Finder, press Shift+Command+G, and paste the desired path. Be careful, you might delete an important file.

Tip. For a safe and effective app removal, we recommend CleanMyMac. It uninstalls the app with all its remaining files and even finds leftovers of apps you uninstalled manually.

Common reasons you can’t uninstall apps on Mac

Uninstalling via Finder and Launchpad doesn't always work. Sometimes, the deleted app still shows up on the Mac. Sometimes, the deletion is blocked. We've compiled the most common reasons for failed software removal and ways to fix them.

What’s wrong?	Reason	How to solve?
Dragging to Trash doesn’t work	macOS protects essential apps like Safari and Mail from accidental deletion.	To remove related files, use CleanMyMac.
App still in Launchpad	Uninstall is not complete.	Empty Trash, restart Mac. If it still appears, use a third-party uninstaller.
App files are still showing	Finder and Launchpad don’t delete support files.	Uninstall app or cleanup leftover files with CleanMyMac.
Open app can't be deleted	App is running in the background	Press Command + Option + Esc to Force Quit or use a utility app like QuitAll to stop multiple background processes. Uninstall the app.

If an app keeps crashing on your Mac and the usual fixes don't work, try the Fix My Mac: Beyond Basic Fixes GPT assistant. It helps fix app issues on Mac by walking through diagnostics, like checking for conflicting processes and permissions problems.

Tip. If you encounter the problem "App can't be moved to Trash because it's open," it's good to have a tool that quickly quits many programs. We recommend QuitAll. It lives in the menu bar and shows all running programs, including those in the background. Any of them can be turned off with a single click.

QuitAll will also come in handy in everyday use to quickly kill unnecessary processes, free up the CPU, and speed up your Mac.

“When I’m working with 4K footage and heavy After Effects comps, every bit of performance matters. My Mac used to slow to a crawl under the weight of open preview windows, reference browsers, and background apps. Manually quitting everything was a hassle — and I never knew which apps were draining the most power.

With QuitAll, I instantly see what’s running and shut down the memory hogs with a click. Right before a big render, I use it to clear the decks and give my Mac the breathing room it needs — without breaking my creative flow”, says Stefan-Radu Gogolan, video editor, digital marketing specialist.

How to delete apps on Mac that won't delete from Launchpad or Finder

If the previous methods didn't work, use this guide on how to delete apps on Mac that won't delete.

Method 1: Use Terminal to force delete apps

If Finder and Launchpad won’t uninstall a particular app, you can try Terminal, as it forces the app’s deletion.

However, note that this process is entirely manual and therefore requires a bit more precision. Always double-check the name of the app before deleting. Even a single typo can affect your crucial apps, so I suggest using this method when others fail. 

Here’s how to delete applications on Mac using Terminal:

1. Open Terminal (press Command + Space, type Terminal, and press Return)
2. Type and enter cd /Applications. Note: If your app is in a subfolder (like /Applications/Setapp), specify the full path. E.g., cd /Applications/Setapp.

   

3. Type and enter ls to list all apps in the folder.
4. Delete the app using the command sudo rm -rf AppName.app. Replace “AppName” with the exact name of your app. E.g., sudo rm -rf Firefox.app
5. Enter your password if prompted.

Read also:

After these steps, the program will be removed. The icon may still appear in the Dock, but it will disappear after you restart your Mac.

However, some folders may still contain files related to the uninstalled app. Ideally, you should go to the cd ~/Library/Application\ Support/ and cd ~/Library/Application\ Support/ and delete them.

But for the average user, it is difficult to determine which of those files are safe to delete.

Method 2: Automated Terminal script to uninstall apps on Mac

Instead of using Terminal to manually uninstall apps on Mac, you can create an automated script. It makes everything safer by reducing typos, and it also allows you to uninstall multiple apps quickly. After creating the script, you’ll only need to answer a few of its questions.

However, despite the automation, it’s still important to confirm the names of the apps to avoid removing system-critical or personal files by mistake.

Here’s how to delete apps on Mac using an automated Terminal script:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Type nano script.sh and press Enter.
3. Paste the script:

   
   

   #!/bin/bash
   # Ask for the application name
   read -p "Enter part or full name of the application to delete (e.g., chrome for Google Chrome): " appName
   # Find applications in the Applications folder (case-insensitive)
   while IFS= read -r appPath; do
       appPaths+=("$appPath")
   done < <(find /Applications -iname "*$appName*.app")
   declare -a filteredApps
   # Exclude subdirectory matches
   for appPath in "${appPaths[@]}"; do
       isSubDir=0
       for filteredApp in "${filteredApps[@]}"; do
           if [[ $appPath == $filteredApp/* ]]; then
               isSubDir=1
               break
           fi
       done
       if [ $isSubDir -eq 0 ]; then
           filteredApps+=("$appPath")
       fi
   done
   # Check if any applications were found
   if [ ${#filteredApps[@]} -eq 0 ]; then
       echo "No applications found matching \"$appName\"."
       exit 1
   fi
   echo "Applications to be considered for deletion:"
   printf '%s\n' "${filteredApps[@]}"
   # Ask for confirmation for each application
   for appPath in "${filteredApps[@]}"; do
       read -p "Do you want to delete $(basename "$appPath")? (y/n): " confirm
       if [[ $confirm == [Yy]* ]]; then
           sudo rm -rf "$appPath"
           echo "$(basename "$appPath") has been deleted."
       else
           echo "Skipped $(basename "$appPath")."
       fi
   done

4. Press Ctrl+O to write the file.
5. Press Enter to confirm the file name.
6. Press Ctrl+X to exit nano.

   

7. In Terminal, type chmod +x script.sh and press Enter to make the script executable.
8. Type ./script.sh and press Enter to run the script.

Now, you have to answer the Terminal's prompts:

When answering Yes or No, be careful not to delete files with similar names. For example, if your app is named ABC, the script may find an ABCD file if it exists in this directory.

This method is effective but not perfect. For example, it doesn't clear the cache or search for leftover files in other directories. You'll need third-party programs to clean them up anyway.

Method 3: Use third-party apps to completely remove apps

Considering that the built-in options to uninstall apps on Mac will leave you with a lot of manual cleanup work, you may need to consider third-party apps. These remove the app bundle and then proceed to search for and remove associated files with a single click.

There are many options out there, but we recommend two tools: CleanMyMac and iBoysoft MagicMenu. Both options are super-effective and easy to use. They also clean up all leftover files, caches, and related data to eliminate the need for manual file deletion.

However, they work in different ways, and you may actually need both depending on your workflow.

• CleanMyMac: Allows you to scan the entire system for apps and leftover files. Cleans up everything, and you can even reset misbehaving apps.

• iBoysodft Magic Menu: Adds an uninstallation option to the right-click menu. Quick and convenient, but also cleans up leftover files.

Let’s see how to uninstall apps on Mac using both options.

CleanMyMac for removing apps that won't delete

CleanMyMac removes apps without leaving a trace. We also love that it lets you uninstall multiple apps at once. 

1. Install and run CleanMyMac.
2. Click Applications > Scan > Manage My Applications.
3. Click the Uninstaller tab.
4. Select the unwanted apps and click Uninstall.

I also recommend checking if your laptop is clogged with leftover files after manual program uninstallations. In the Uninstaller section, select the Leftovers tab and delete unnecessary files.

During the cleaning process, CleanMyMac may ask you to quit some apps. That's normal. However, before you click Quit, make sure there are no unsaved files in these programs.

“My Mac used to get full fast with all the video files and cache piling up. CleanMyMac does the cleanup for me now — no more digging through folders or stressing about space. I just run a scan and boom, gigabytes freed up in minutes”, says Stefan-Radu Gogolan, video editor, digital marketing specialist.

iBoysoft MagicMenu to remove apps with your Mac's right click

iBoysoft MagicMenu allows you to add the Uninstall function to the right click (or two-finger click on the touchpad). All app-related junk files are also cleaned up as if they never existed. Just like that:

Actually, you can add dozens of other functions, such as Create File, Move, etc., but this story is about something else.

1. Install and run iBoysoft MagicMenu.
2. Go to the Menu Editor tab.
3. Click Add Item > Add from Library in the right menu.
4. In the search menu, find Uninstall and click on it.

   

You're done! Now, you can right-click to uninstall apps. 

How to completely uninstall apps on Mac

The classic method of deleting apps through Finder or Launchpad leaves a trail. These are unnecessary files and folders you don't notice but which, over time, can clutter up your Mac. The same goes for uninstalling from the Terminal.

You can go into some folders (e.g., ~/Library/Caches) and delete some files. But the manual method doesn't guarantee that you'll remove all the leftovers or that you won't accidentally delete a file you need.

On Mac, using a third-party tool is the only reliable way to uninstall a program completely.

We recommend CleanMyMac or iBoysoft MagicMenu. They're fast and safe, and they remove everything you don't need. Both tools are part of Setapp, a platform with dozens of Mac apps with a single subscription. Try them free for 7 days. You'll have access to all the same features as paid subscribers. Sign up to get started.