The fastest way to remove an app from your MacBook
The simplest method is to open your Applications folder, find the app you want to remove, and drag it to the Trash. On most MacBooks, you can do this in about 30 seconds. Open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, locate the app, drag it to the Trash icon in your dock, then empty the Trash. That removes the app from your computer.
Some apps leave behind small files in hidden folders even after you move them to Trash. For most people this does not matter — the app is gone and that is what counts. If you want to remove those leftover files too, you can use the Finder's search function to look for the app's name in your Library folder, but this is optional and takes more time.
The method you use depends on how thorough you want to be and whether the app came from the Mac App Store or from a website. Both routes work, but they have small differences in what gets left behind.
Key Takeaways
- Dragging an app from Applications to Trash is the standard way to delete it and works for almost every MacBook app.
- You must empty the Trash afterward to fully remove the app from your computer — dragging it there alone does not delete it.
- Apps from the Mac App Store sometimes leave behind preference files in your Library folder, which you can remove manually if you want a completely clean deletion.
- Some apps have their own uninstallers, which you can find by right-clicking the app and selecting Show Package Contents.
- If an app will not move to Trash, it may be running in the background — quit it first through the Activity Monitor or by pressing Command+Q.
Deleting an app by dragging it to Trash
This is the method most people use because it is straightforward and works on every MacBook. Open Finder by clicking the Finder icon in your dock — it looks like a blue and white face. In the sidebar on the left, click Applications. You will see a folder full of all the apps installed on your MacBook.
Find the app you want to delete. Click it once to select it, then drag it to the Trash icon in your dock. The Trash icon looks like a small trash can and sits at the far right of your dock. When you drag the app over the Trash icon, the icon will highlight. Release your mouse or trackpad to drop the app into Trash.
The app is now in Trash but still takes up space on your MacBook. To finish removing it, right-click the Trash icon in your dock and select Empty Trash. A window will appear asking you to confirm. Click Empty Trash again. Now the app is completely gone from your computer.
What to do if an app will not move to Trash
Sometimes when you try to drag an app to Trash, nothing happens or you see a message saying the app cannot be moved. This usually means the app is still running in the background. You need to quit it first.
Press Command+Q while the app window is open. This keyboard shortcut closes most apps. If the app does not have a window open, open Activity Monitor instead. Click the Spotlight icon in the top right corner of your screen — it looks like a magnifying glass — type Activity Monitor, and press Enter. In the window that opens, find the app you want to delete by typing its name in the search box at the top right.
Click the app name once to select it, then click the X button labeled Force Quit in the top left corner. A window will appear asking you to confirm. Click Force Quit. Now the app is closed and you can drag it to Trash using the method described above.
Removing leftover files from the Library folder
When you delete an app, MacBook sometimes leaves behind small preference files and settings in a hidden folder called Library. These files take up very little space and do not affect your computer, so most people leave them alone. If you want to remove them too, you can search for them manually.
Open Finder and press Command+Shift+G. A window will appear with a text box. Type ~/Library and press Enter. You are now in your Library folder, which contains preference files for all your apps. Press Command+F to open the search box at the top right. Type the name of the app you just deleted.
Finder will show you any files or folders with that app's name. You can drag these to Trash as well. Be careful to delete only files related to the app you removed — do not delete anything you are unsure about. After you have deleted the files you want, empty the Trash as described above.
Using an app's built-in uninstaller
Some apps come with their own uninstaller program that removes the app and all its related files at once. This is less common on MacBooks than on Windows computers, but some larger apps use this method. To check if an app has an uninstaller, right-click the app in your Applications folder and select Show Package Contents.
A window will open showing the contents of the app. Look for a file or folder named Uninstall or Uninstaller. If you see one, double-click it and follow the instructions on screen. The uninstaller will remove the app and its files automatically. If you do not see an uninstaller, the app does not have one and you should use the drag-to-Trash method instead.
Deleting apps from the Mac App Store
Apps you downloaded from the Mac App Store can be deleted the same way as any other app — drag them to Trash and empty the Trash. However, the Mac App Store also lets you delete apps directly from the store itself if you prefer.
Open the Mac App Store by clicking the App Store icon in your dock or by opening Spotlight and typing App Store. Click the Purchases tab at the top. Find the app you want to delete in the list. Click the X button next to the app name. A window will appear asking you to confirm. Click Remove. The app will be deleted from your MacBook immediately.
Both methods work equally well. Using the Mac App Store is slightly faster if you remember which store the app came from, but dragging to Trash works regardless of where you downloaded the app.
Checking how much space an app uses before you delete it
If you are deleting apps to free up space on your MacBook, you might want to know how much space each app uses. Larger apps like video editors or games can take up several gigabytes. Smaller apps like calculators or note-taking programs use almost no space.
To see how much space an app uses, right-click it in your Applications folder and select Get Info. A window will appear showing details about the app, including its size. The size listed is the total space the app uses, including all its files. If you delete the app, you will free up approximately that much space — though leftover preference files in your Library folder may use a small amount more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo deleting an app?
Yes, as long as you have not emptied the Trash. Open your Trash folder by clicking the Trash icon in your dock, find the app, right-click it, and select Put Back. The app will return to your Applications folder. If you have already emptied the Trash, the app is gone and you will need to download it again from the Mac App Store or the developer's website.
What happens to my files if I delete an app?
Deleting an app does not delete the files you created with it. If you used a word processor to write a document, the document stays on your MacBook even after you delete the app. You will not be able to open the document with that app anymore, but the file itself remains safe.
Do I need to restart my MacBook after deleting an app?
No, restarting is not necessary. The app is removed immediately after you empty the Trash. You can continue using your MacBook normally without restarting.
Why does an app keep coming back after I delete it?
Some apps are part of macOS and reinstall themselves automatically. If you delete an app and it reappears, it is likely a system app that MacBook needs to function. You can disable it instead by opening System Settings, clicking General, then Startup Items, and unchecking the app. This prevents it from running without deleting it.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
Yes. In your Applications folder, hold down Command and click each app you want to delete. All selected apps will highlight. Then drag any one of them to Trash and all of them will move together. Empty the Trash to remove them all at once.