macOS is an excellent operating system capable of running and handling multiple apps at once. However, depending on your Mac’s model, your storage space might be limited, thus forcing you to remove some apps. However, for those unaware, it can quickly get confusing when trying to remove them. To help you in such cases and more, we have created a dedicated guide teaching you how to uninstall an app on Mac through multiple methods. So get your Apple machine by your side and let’s do this.
How to Uninstall Apps on Macs Through Finder
The first method we will be using requires macOS’s Finder. This will remove all kinds of apps and programs on your Mac. Follow the steps below to do so:
- Open Finder by clicking on the Finder icon on macOS Dock or going to the desktop.
- Move to your installed applications by clicking on the Applications icon on the sidebar.
- Select the app you want to delete and simply click Command + Delete on your keyboard to immediately move it to the Bin.
- Alternatively, you can right-click the app and then choose “Move to Bin.”
- Depending on your model, you will either be prompted to either authenticate via your fingerprint or enter your password. Go through either and the app will be moved to the bin immediately.
- Now, right-click on the Bin icon on the dock and choose “Empty Bin.” This will immediately delete the deleted apps from your machine.
And that’s it! For those wanting to learn how to delete an app or program from their Mac, you can choose to follow the above method for quick results.
How to Uninstall an App on Mac Using Launchpad
There are a lot of apps that Finder can delete. However, if you want to quickly uninstall apps that were downloaded from the App Store, Launchpad is yet another way we can do it. Follow the steps below for that:
- Open up Launchpad by either clicking on the Dock or pressing the F4 key if you have an Intel Mac.
- Look for the app you want to delete by either scrolling through or searching for it via the search box.
- Next, press and hold the “Option” key or hold any app till all of them start to jiggle.
- Click on the cross button on the app you want to delete. Finally, tap “Delete” on the box that appears and you’re all done.
And that’s it! The chosen app will now disappear from your machine. You don’t need to go to the bin or perform any other extra steps.
Note: If you don’t see the cross button next to the app in Launchpad, you need to use the Finder method.
How to Uninstall Apps from Mac Using Terminal
Note: If used incorrectly, the method below can unknowingly delete vital Mac directories. Ensure you paste the correct path of the app you want to uninstall as shown below.
While this method is a bit more technical than the ones above, you can use the Mac terminal to quickly uninstall any app that is too stubborn to go. Follow the steps below to do so.
- Start up Terminal on your Mac. You can find it under Finder > Applications > Utilities.
- Once in the terminal, type out sudo rm rf- to begin the uninstall command.
- Now, drag the application you want to uninstall on your Mac and the terminal will automatically paste its path. Now just press return.
- Enter your Mac’s password. You won’t see it while typing but it’s registering. Once done, press Return.
And that’s it! While you won’t see a confirmation message, the app has now been uninstalled from your Mac without any traces. You can keep repeating the steps above and keep deleting these apps. Just make sure you paste the right directory of the app as shown above.
How to Delete Apps on Mac Using a Third-Party App
For those who don’t want to go the manual way and instead need a little automation, there are a few options for you. The Apple App Store has its fair share of uninstallers that while don’t teach you how to delete an app on Mac, do it themselves. These are a mixture of free and paid and some also offer a trial. We will be using an app called Delete Apps: Uninstaller (Get, Free), an easy-to-use app.
Delete Apps is completely free and requires a few staple permissions like access to your Applications folder. Once done, simply select the apps you want to remove. You can then create a quick backup or proceed to remove the apps on your Mac easily. There are also other options on the App Store you can explore but in our experience, Delete Apps has worked well. However, those looking not to tinker at all should stick to our methods above.
What to Do If Third-Party App Icons Are Stuck on Menu Bar
There can be times when even after removing an app, you still might see its icon on the Menu Bar. This can be annoying especially when trying to get rid of it. This can happen because of remaining property list files (.plist) that can get in the way. While extremely small in size, you can get rid of them to fix this problem and free up a tiny bit more space. Check out how to do that using the steps below:
- Go to your Mac’s desktop and press CMD + Shift + G on your keyboard to open the Go to Folder window. Once there, type out /Library/Launch Agents
- You will now see a folder with a lot of .plist files. Find the one that resembles your uninstalled app and move it to the bin. If you don’t see the option then use CMD + Shift + Delete to do so. Ensure that you’ve chosen the correct file before you delete it though.
And that’s it! The stuck icon should now disappear from the Mac’s menu bar. If you don’t see your .plist file here then you can try out the the below directories and look for it there.
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents
- /System/Library/LaunchAgents
