Uninstalling applications on your Mac is a crucial skill for maintaining a clean, efficient, and well-organized system. Removing unwanted apps not only frees up valuable storage space but also declutters your digital environment, ensuring your Mac runs smoothly. Whether you’ve downloaded an app from the App Store or installed it from the internet, macOS offers several straightforward methods to delete them. This guide will walk you through each process step-by-step, ensuring you can confidently remove any application from your Mac.
Method 1: Deleting Apps Using Launchpad
Launchpad provides an intuitive and visually appealing way to delete apps, especially those acquired from the Mac App Store. This method is quick and ideal for managing apps you’ve downloaded directly through Apple’s official marketplace.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Launchpad Uninstallation
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Ensure the App is Closed: Before attempting to delete any application, it’s essential to ensure it’s completely closed. If the app is running, even in the background, Launchpad might not allow you to delete it. Quit the application by right-clicking its icon in the Dock and selecting “Quit,” or by using the keyboard shortcut Command + Q while the app is active.
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Open Launchpad: Access Launchpad by clicking its icon in the Dock, which resembles a rocket ship, or by navigating to your “Applications” folder in Finder and double-clicking the Launchpad icon. Alternatively, you can use a trackpad gesture: pinch closed with your thumb and three fingers.
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Locate the App: Once Launchpad is open, you’ll see a grid of all your installed applications. If you have many apps, swipe left or right on your trackpad with two fingers or click the dots at the bottom of the screen to navigate between pages. If you’re struggling to find the app, use the search bar at the top of the Launchpad window and type in the name of the application you wish to delete.
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Enter Jiggle Mode: To initiate the deletion process, press and hold the Option key on your keyboard. Alternatively, click and hold any app icon until all the icons begin to jiggle. This indicates that you’ve entered “jiggle mode,” and apps available for deletion will display a delete button.
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Delete the App: Look for the app you want to remove. If it was downloaded from the App Store, you’ll see a small “X” delete button in the top-left corner of the app icon. Click this “X” button. A confirmation dialog box will appear, asking “Are you sure you want to delete [App Name]?” Click “Delete” to confirm your decision. The app will be instantly deleted from your Mac.
When to Use Launchpad for App Removal
Launchpad is primarily designed to delete applications downloaded from the Mac App Store. You’ll typically find the delete button (“X”) only for these apps. For applications installed from other sources, such as directly from a developer’s website or using a disk image (.dmg file), you’ll need to use the Finder method described below.
Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I Delete an App from Launchpad?
If you don’t see the delete button (“X”) next to an app in Launchpad, it’s likely because the app wasn’t installed from the App Store. In such cases, you’ll need to use the Finder to remove the application. Proceed to the next method for instructions on deleting apps via Finder.
Method 2: Deleting Apps Using Finder
Finder is the default file manager on macOS and offers a versatile method for deleting all types of applications, regardless of their origin. This method is slightly more involved than Launchpad but provides greater control and works for virtually any app on your Mac.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Finder Uninstallation
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Quit the Application: As with Launchpad, ensure the app you intend to delete is not running. Quit the app completely before proceeding with the uninstallation steps.
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Open Finder: Switch to Finder by clicking on your desktop background or by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock, which resembles a blue and white smiley face.
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Navigate to the Applications Folder: The most common location for applications on macOS is the “Applications” folder. You can access it in several ways:
- Sidebar: In any Finder window, look for “Applications” in the sidebar. Click on it to open the folder.
- Go Menu: In the Finder menu bar at the top of your screen, click “Go” and then select “Applications” from the dropdown menu.
- Keyboard Shortcut: Press Command + Shift + A while in Finder to directly open the Applications folder.
- Spotlight: Use Spotlight search (Command + Spacebar) to type “Applications” and press Enter when the Applications folder appears as the top hit.
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Locate and Select the App: Once you’re in the Applications folder, find the application you wish to delete. You can scroll through the list or use Finder’s search bar in the top-right corner of the window to quickly locate the app by name. Click on the app’s icon to select it.
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Move to Trash: There are multiple ways to move the selected application to the Trash, which is the first step in deleting it:
- Drag and Drop: Click and drag the app’s icon from the Applications folder directly to the Trash icon in your Dock. Release the mouse button to drop the app into the Trash.
- File Menu: With the app selected, click “File” in the Finder menu bar and then choose “Move to Trash” from the dropdown menu.
- Keyboard Shortcut: Select the app and press Command + Delete (⌘ + ⌫) keys simultaneously.
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Empty the Trash: Moving the app to the Trash doesn’t immediately delete it from your Mac; it simply moves it to the Trash bin. To permanently delete the app and reclaim the storage space, you need to empty the Trash.
- Right-Click Trash Icon: Right-click (or Control-click) on the Trash icon in the Dock. Select “Empty Trash” from the context menu.
- Finder Menu: Alternatively, in the Finder menu bar, click “Finder” and then select “Empty Trash.”
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Confirmation: A dialog box will appear, asking “Are you sure you want to permanently erase the items in the Trash?” Click “Empty Trash” to finalize the deletion. You might be prompted to enter your administrator username and password to confirm the action, especially for system-level changes.
When to Use Finder for App Removal
The Finder method is universally applicable for deleting applications on macOS. It’s the go-to method for apps not downloaded from the App Store and is equally effective for App Store apps as well. Use Finder when Launchpad doesn’t offer a delete option or when you prefer a file-system-based approach.
Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I Delete an App Using Finder?
You might encounter situations where Finder prevents you from deleting an app. Here are common reasons and solutions:
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App is in Use: If you receive a message stating that the app is in use and cannot be deleted, ensure the app and any related background processes are completely closed. Use Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities) to check for and quit any lingering processes associated with the app.
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System Applications: macOS prevents the deletion of essential system applications like Mail, Safari, Music, and Notes using Finder. These apps are integral to the operating system and cannot be removed through standard deletion methods.
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Permissions Issues: In some cases, you might lack the necessary permissions to delete an app, especially if it was installed by a different user account or requires administrator privileges. Ensure you are logged in to an administrator account. If prompted for a username and password, enter the credentials for an administrator account on your Mac.
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Restart or Safe Mode: If you still cannot delete an app, restarting your Mac can resolve temporary glitches preventing deletion. In more persistent cases, starting your Mac in Safe Mode can help. Safe Mode starts macOS with minimal extensions and system processes, which might allow you to delete stubborn applications. To start in Safe Mode, restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login window. Then, try deleting the app using Finder again.
Important Considerations After Deleting an App
Deleting an app primarily removes the application itself, but it’s important to understand what happens to associated files and subscriptions.
Residual Files and Data
Uninstalling an app using Launchpad or Finder typically removes the main application files. However, it might not remove all associated files, such as preference files, support files, or data files created by the app. These files are often stored in your Library folder.
To completely remove all traces of an application, you might need to manually delete these residual files. This is generally recommended for freeing up the maximum amount of space and ensuring complete removal. However, be cautious when deleting files from the Library folder, as deleting essential system files can cause problems. If you’re unsure, it’s best to leave these files or use a dedicated uninstaller application.
Subscription Services
Deleting an app does not automatically cancel any subscriptions you might have purchased through that app, especially for apps downloaded from the App Store. If the app is associated with a subscription (e.g., for a streaming service or a productivity tool), you need to cancel the subscription separately to avoid future charges.
To manage and cancel subscriptions for App Store apps, open the App Store app, click on your name at the bottom of the sidebar, click “View Information” at the top right, scroll down to “Subscriptions,” and click “Manage.” From there, you can view, modify, and cancel your subscriptions.
Using Uninstaller Applications
For complex applications or those that are deeply integrated into the system, using a dedicated uninstaller application can be beneficial. These uninstaller apps, like AppCleaner or CleanMyMac X, are designed to scan for and remove not only the main application files but also associated preference files, support files, and other related data, ensuring a more thorough uninstallation. Some applications, particularly professional software, may even come with their own dedicated uninstaller programs. Look for an “Uninstall” or “Uninstaller” application within the app’s folder in the Applications directory or on the developer’s website.
Conclusion
Deleting applications on your Mac is a simple yet essential maintenance task. By mastering the Launchpad and Finder methods, you can efficiently remove unwanted apps and keep your system running optimally. Remember to consider residual files and manage subscriptions separately for a truly clean uninstall. Whether you are freeing up space, decluttering your digital life, or troubleshooting application issues, knowing how to properly delete apps on your Mac is a valuable skill for every macOS user.
