2 Ways to Delete App Leftover Files on Mac

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Jerome Mills
Last updated: Sep 14, 2022

Summary: Looking for ways to delete leftover files of unnstalled apps from Mac? Look no further. In this article, we've collected two ways for you. 

Did you know that when you uninstall an application by dragging it to the Trash, the application will leave traces on your Mac? Over time, these residual files will continue to take up your space, which may make your Mac perform poorly. To get rid of them completely, you can delete them manually or through a third-party uninstaller like BuhoCleaner.

In the following article, we will show you detailed steps on how to remove leftover files of uninstalled apps on Mac.

Let's get started.

2 Ways to Delete App Leftover Files on Mac

How to Manually Delete Leftover Files of Uninstalled Apps on Mac

Typically, leftover files of uninstalled apps include caches, application support files, preferences and more. You can locate them in the user library and system library folders.

Here's how:

  1. On a Finder window, press Shift + Command + G to open the Go to Folder window.

  2. Paste the file paths into the box, one at a time, and press the Return key on your keyboard.

    • ~/Library/Caches
    • ~/Library/Logs
    • ~/Library/Containers
    • ~/Library/Application Support
    • ~/Library/Cookies
    • /Library/Address Book Plug-Ins
    • /Library/Application Support
    • /Library/Application Support/CrashReporter
    • /Library/Preferences
    • /Library/Saved Application State
    • /private/var/db/BootCaches
Manually Remove the Leftover Files of Uninstall Apps on Mac
  1. Drag the files you don't need to the Trash.
  2. Empty your Trash.
note
You don't know what will happen if you delete a system file by mistake. If you are unsure whether a file can be deleted, leave it alone.

How to Quickly Delete Leftover Files of Uninstalled Apps on Mac

Manually deleting app leftover files is time-consuming and tedious. Fortunately, there's an easier way to do this. That's with BuhoCleaner, one of the best app uninstallers for Mac. With this handy tool, you can remove all leftover files of uninstalled apps in bulk and risk-free.

  1. Download, install, and launch BuhoCleaner.
  2. Click App Uninstall in the sidebar and you will see all installed apps.
  3. Click Leftovers and you will see all the leftover files of the uninstalled app.
  4. Tick the ones you want to remove and click the Remove button.
Quickly Delete All Leftover Files of Uninstalled Apps on Mac with BuhoCleaner

Related Article: 4 Proven Ways to Permanently Delete Files on Mac

The Bottom Line

That's how to remove the files remaining after uninstalling a program on Mac. Which method do you want to try first?

By the way, BuhoCleaner does more than cleaning up the leftovers. It can also help you clean and speed up your Mac with just a few clicks. Give it a try now. It's free.