The three ways to uninstall an app on Mac

Most apps on Mac can be removed in one of three ways: dragging the app to Trash, using the app's own uninstaller, or removing it through System Settings. Which method works depends on how the app was installed and whether it came with its own removal tool. For most everyday apps downloaded from the App Store, dragging to Trash is enough. For apps installed from a developer's website or that came with your Mac, you may need to check for an uninstaller first.

The reason these methods exist is that Mac apps store files in different places. An app you see in your Applications folder is just the visible part — some apps also leave behind preference files, cache files, and support folders in hidden locations. Dragging to Trash removes only the main app. An uninstaller removes both the app and those hidden files. For most users, this difference does not matter much, but if an app was misbehaving or taking up space, using an uninstaller is more thorough.

Key Takeaways

  • The simplest removal method — dragging an app from Applications to Trash — works for most apps and removes the main program file.
  • Some apps come with their own uninstaller, usually found in the Applications folder or in a subfolder named after the app.
  • System Settings can remove apps purchased through the App Store, and shows you how much space each app uses.
  • Dragging an app to Trash does not remove hidden preference files and cache folders, but this rarely causes problems for most users.
  • Restarting your Mac after removal is not required, but closing the app before removing it prevents errors.

Dragging an app to Trash

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Find the app you want to remove, click and hold it, then drag it to the Trash icon in your dock. You can also right-click the app and select Move to Trash from the menu. The app is now in Trash but not yet permanently deleted — you can still recover it by opening Trash and dragging it back out.

To permanently delete the app, right-click the Trash icon in your dock and select Empty Trash. Once you do this, the app cannot be recovered. Before emptying Trash, make sure you are not removing something you need — Trash holds everything you have deleted recently, not just the app.

This method works for nearly all apps, including those from the App Store and those downloaded from websites. It does not remove hidden files the app may have created in your Library folder, but for most apps this causes no problems. If an app was buggy or you want to completely remove every trace of it, use the uninstaller method instead.

Using an app's built-in uninstaller

Some apps, especially larger ones like Adobe Creative Suite or Microsoft Office, come with their own uninstaller program. To find it, open Applications in Finder and look for a folder with the app's name. Inside that folder, look for a file called Uninstall [App Name] or something similar. Double-click it and follow the prompts.

If you do not see an uninstaller folder in Applications, check the app's website or documentation. Some developers put the uninstaller in a different location or include instructions for removal. You can also search your entire Mac for the uninstaller by opening Spotlight (press Command + Space), typing the app name plus "uninstall", and seeing what appears.

Using an uninstaller is more thorough than dragging to Trash because it removes the main app, preference files, cache files, and other support files the app created. This is useful if the app was taking up significant space, was misbehaving, or if you want to do a clean reinstall later. The uninstaller will tell you how much space it is freeing up.

Removing apps through System Settings

If you downloaded the app from the App Store, you can remove it directly from System Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings, then click General in the sidebar. Click Applications, find the app you want to remove, click it, and then click Remove or Uninstall.

System Settings shows you the size of each app, which is helpful if you are trying to free up storage space. It also shows you the date you last opened each app, so you can identify apps you no longer use. Removing an app this way is equivalent to dragging it to Trash — it removes the main app but not hidden preference files.

This method only works for apps from the App Store. If you installed an app by downloading it from a website, it will not appear in System Settings. For those apps, use the drag-to-Trash method or look for the app's uninstaller.

What happens to your files after removal

Removing an app does not delete files you created with that app. If you used a text editor to write documents, those documents stay on your Mac even after you remove the editor. However, you will not be able to open those files with that app anymore — you would need to install the app again or use a different program that can open the same file type.

Before removing an app, think about whether you have files you created with it that you might want to open later. If you do, either keep the app installed or move those files to a different format first. For example, if you are removing a photo editor, export your photos in a standard format like JPEG or PNG before uninstalling.

Removing hidden preference files manually

If you want to completely remove every file an app created, including hidden preference files, you can do this manually. This is rarely necessary, but it is useful if an app was misbehaving and you want to do a completely clean reinstall.

First, remove the app using one of the methods above. Then, open Finder, press Command + Shift + Period (the period key) to show hidden files. Navigate to Users > [Your Username] > Library. Look for folders named Preferences, Application Support, Caches, and Saved Application State. Inside each folder, search for files or folders with the app's name and drag them to Trash. This is tedious and easy to do wrong, so only attempt it if you are comfortable with your Mac's file system.

A simpler alternative is to use a third-party app cleaner like AppCleaner (free) or CleanMyMac X (paid). These apps find and remove all files associated with an app automatically. They are useful if you remove apps frequently, but for occasional removal, the manual method or the app's uninstaller is usually enough.

Troubleshooting removal problems

If you cannot drag an app to Trash or it says the app is in use, the app is probably still running. Quit the app first by clicking its name in the menu bar and selecting Quit, or by pressing Command + Q while the app is open. Then try removing it again.

If you still cannot remove an app, it may require administrator permission. Right-click the app and select Move to Trash while holding the Option key. If that does not work, restart your Mac and try again before any other apps have launched.

Some apps that came with your Mac, like Safari or Mail, cannot be removed using these methods. Apple restricts removal of system apps to prevent accidental damage. If you do not use these apps, you can hide them from your Applications folder by right-clicking and selecting Remove from Recents, but they will remain on your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing an app free up space on my Mac?

Yes, but the amount varies. Most apps take up between 100 MB and 2 GB. Larger apps like video editors or design software can take up 5 GB or more. System Settings shows you the size of each app before you remove it, so you can see how much space you will recover. Hidden preference files usually take up very little space.

Can I reinstall an app after I empty the Trash?

Yes. If you downloaded it from the App Store, you can download it again from your Purchased list. If you downloaded it from a website, you will need to download it again from that website. Emptying Trash permanently deletes the app file, but you can always get it back by reinstalling.

What if I remove an app by accident?

If you have not emptied Trash yet, open Trash, find the app, right-click it, and select Put Back. It will return to your Applications folder. If you have already emptied Trash, you will need to reinstall the app from the App Store or the developer's website.

Do I need to restart my Mac after removing an app?

No. Removing an app does not require a restart. However, if the app was running when you removed it, restart your Mac to make sure no leftover processes are still running in the background.

Why do some apps have uninstallers and others do not?

Apps from the App Store do not need uninstallers because the App Store handles removal automatically. Apps installed from a developer's website often include uninstallers because they may have created files in multiple locations on your Mac. Larger, more complex apps are more likely to have uninstallers than simple, single-file apps.