SUMMARY: Uninstalling apps from your Mac is piece of cake, though there are some roguish programs. macOS doesn't have standalone App Uninstaller Programs like Windows does. So follow this tutorial to learn how to completely uninstall programs on your Mac.
If you just switched from Windows to macOS, or you are new to Mac however, you may feel confused as there is no Uninstall Programs from My Mac option. You're not alone. Even senior Mac user may still have trouble of removing apps, programs, extentions and widgets from their Mac computer.
In this tutorial, we are going to show you everything you need to know about how to uninstall programs on a Mac, including checkpoints you need to learn before uninstalling apps on Mac, 4 complete methods to uninstall programs on Mac and aftercare tips after you uninstalled programs from your Mac.
- Part 2: 4 Complete Methods to Uninstall Programs on Mac
How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Launchpad
How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Application Folder
How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Command Line/Terminal
How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Omni Remover
How to Delete Software on Mac: Find the Program in the Applications Folder. On the Mac systems, everything is different. When Apple acquired NeXT OS and launched Mac OS X in 2001, it also supported UNIX way of dividing system files from the user’s workplace.
How To Uninstall Programs from Mac
Part 1: Checkpoints You Need to Learn Before Uninstalling Apps on Mac
App Store offers thousands of apps to download and install on your Mac, and if you feel some apps are useless any more, or their trial period is over, or you've found better alternatives, you can uninstall them with ease. Don't go that hurry to remove any programs on your Mac as sometimes your operation may cause troubles. Here are some checkpoints you'd better have a look before starting.
- App deletions on your Mac, in most cases, is permanent. So make sure you have backup copies for the startup file.
- By uninstalling programs on your Mac, you have good chance that app caches and leftover files may remain and occupy your hard drive storage.
- You can't uninstall apps that are part of macOS, such as iTunes, Quick Time, Safari, Mail, App Store, etc, unless you use some 'hacking' skills via command line [Always Be Careful and Know Exactly What You're Doing].
Read Also: How To Uninstall Office 2011 for Mac >
Part 2: 4 Complete Methods to Uninstall Programs on Mac
The way to install app programs on a Mac is versatile. For example, you can buy and download apps from the App Store, install apps from a disc, or install third party apps downloaded from the Internet (Make sure the app you try to install is from an unidentified developer). That's the reason the method of uninstalling programs on your Mac varies. Here you go.
Method 1: How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Launchpad
If your app programs are downloaded from App Store, you can uninstall them like deleting an app from your iPhone or iPad. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock > click the app icon you want to delete > press and hold mouse until all the icons start to jiggle > then click the Delete button to uninstall this app from your Mac.
Pro Tips: By uninstalling this type of apps from your Mac, you can redownload and reinstall them from App Store. So it's relatively the most safe way to uninstall your Mac programs.
Method 2: How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Application Folder
If you find there is no Delete icon on the jiggling apps you want to uninstall, it means these app are download from Internet or installed via disc/thumb drive. If so, you can open Finder > on Finder sidebar, click Applications, then drag the apps you don't need to Trash. Or, simple click context menu for that app, and click Move To Trash to uninstall this program from your Mac.
How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Application Folder
Method 3: How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Command Line/Terminal
Uninstalling programs from Mac through Command Line/Terminal is intended for advanced Mac users who have a deeper knowledge of Mac OS X. Only if you are Command line expert and know exactly what you are doing, then you can have a try with these steps to remove your apps completely [NEVER Try this if you don't fully understand the syntax used in Command Line].
- Step 1: Trash the known application files from your Mac.
- Step 2: Launch Terminal and use the following syntax to find remnant components:
mdfind -name [application name]
- Step 3: Remove associated files from system locations with rm:
sudo rm -rf /Whatever
- Step 4: Repeat as necessary with associated component files returned by mdfind
Method 4: How To Uninstall Programs from Mac - Omni Remover
As you can see, uninstalling software programs on Mac OS X is generally simple and straightforward, as most applications don’t run background components or alter system settings files (like the Registry on Windows). However, in rare cases, if you want to remove an old, malfunctioning or corrupt program, reinstall a software to fresh register number or you need to free up space on your Mac, you hardly get a satisfied without the help from third party but professional Uninstaller Apps.
Omni Remover is what you need. This neat and agile Mac App Uninstaller program aims to ease up the pain in macOS program uninstalling and cleaning. With it, you can easy remove unwanted apps by dragging-n-dropping, while the extraordinary part is, it will automatically start scanning app leftovers, remaining caches, orphaned or corrupt junks, so as to give you complete Mac App Uninstalling solution.
Steps:
- Step 1:Download and install Omni Remover on your Mac > Launch Omni Remover.
- Step 2: Drag-and-drop your applications to the round zone in Omni Remover, or you can click on that zone to browse the apps that you want to remove. After that, Omni Remover will start scanning your apps and all its associated app files.
Completely Uninstall Application on Mac Step 2
Part 3: Aftercare Tips After You Uninstalled Programs from Your Mac
Unless the program you just uninstalled is downloaded from App Store, otherwise, the removal of your apps would be permanent. So alway make sure you can source of setup file for your removed apps, or create a backup before uninstalling. If you also worry about the storage space of your Mac, read on this tutorial to find out how to free up space on a Mac [3 Mins Read].