MacOS Uninstall App: 5 Ways to Completely Remove Apps

Is your storage bar edging toward the red, yet you’ve already dragged every “unused” app to the Trash? Bad news: macOS is still hoarding each app’s caches, logs, launch agents, and preference files in the background—cluttering your drive and, over time, slowing everything down. In other words, “delete” doesn’t always mean “gone.”

That’s why we’ve tested and sorted the 5 ways to uninstall Mac apps—from a one-click bulk remover to the old-school Terminal route. Whether you’re a first-time Mac user or a command-line pro, you’ll know exactly how to reclaim space and peace of mind.

Below is a comparison of various uninstall methods. Choose the way that suits you the best.

1. How to Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac Using BuhoCleaner (Quick & Easy)

If you want a fast and hassle-free way to uninstall apps on your Mac, BuhoCleaner is a great choice. It’s one of the best app uninstallers for Mac, letting you remove multiple apps at once and clean up all their leftover files with just a few clicks.

Plus, BuhoCleaner works with macOS 10.10 through 15, so no matter which version you’re using, it’s ready to help you keep your Mac clean and clutter-free.

1. Download, install, and launch BuhoCleaner on your Mac.
2. Click App Uninstall and you will find all the apps installed on your Mac.
3. Locate the ones you want to uninstall, check the boxes next to them, and click the Remove button.

   

4. Switch to Leftovers if you want to clean up uninstalled apps on your Mac.

   

2. How to Uninstall Apps on Mac Using Native Uninstallers (Easy)

Large programs, such as antivirus utilities and Adobe products, often come with their own uninstallers. In most cases, you’ll find the uninstaller inside the app’s folder, located in the Applications directory. If it’s not there, try redownloading and reinstalling the app; the uninstaller may appear afterward.

3. How to Uninstall Apps on Mac Using Launchpad (Easy)

Launchpad is also a convenient way to uninstall apps on your Mac. Whether you’re using macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, or an earlier version, Launchpad is always available as an uninstall option.

However, keep in mind that this method only works for apps downloaded from the App Store.

Here's how to uninstall an app on your Mac using Launchpad:

1. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock.
2. Find the app you want to uninstall.
3. Click and hold the unwanted app until its icon starts shaking.
4. Click X in the top-left corner of the app icon to uninstall it from your Mac.

If a cross doesn't appear when you attempt to uninstall an app using Launchpad, it may be due to a lack of permission to uninstall it. In this case, proceed to the next method.

4. How to Manually Uninstall Apps on Mac Using Finder (Time-Consuming)

In addition to managing and organizing files, Finder also lets you uninstall apps downloaded from the App Store and the Internet. The best thing about using Finder is that it does not require the use of any third-party uninstallers. That is, you don’t need to pay for app uninstallation.

Here are the steps:

1. Close the app you want to uninstall to avoid any issues during the deletion process.

2. Open Finder > Applications.

3. Locate the app you want to delete, right-click on its icon, and choose Move to Trash.

   

4. Click the Go menu in Finder and select Go to Folder.

5. Paste the following paths into the blank box one at a time and press Enter.

   • ~/Library/Application Support/
   • ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/
   • ~/Library/Preferences/
   • ~/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/
   • ~/Library/Saved Application State/
   • ~/Library/Caches/
   • /Library/Caches/

   

6. Find and delete all files related to the app, then empty the Trash.

5. How to Uninstall Apps on Mac Using Terminal (Advanced)

You can also use Terminal to uninstall apps on your Mac. However, it's worth noting that this method is more suitable for users who are familiar with command-line operations.

1. Open Terminal via Finder or Spotlight.
2. Enter the command sudo uninstall file:// and drag the app icon into the Terminal.
3. Press Enter and enter your admin password to run the command.

The aforementioned steps only remove the application itself without addressing its related files. For a complete removal, you'll also need to delete the associated supporting files, which could be located in folders like Application Support, Caches, Preferences, and more.

Locating all of these files might be a challenge. To address this, we recommend installing Homebrew, a package manager for macOS, and using it to install the uninstall-cli.sh tool via the Terminal.

Here's what you should do:

1. Download and install Homebrew on your Mac.

2. Download and install Uninstall CLI using Homebrew.

3. Open Terminal.

4. To uninstall an app, run the command below. (Don't forget to replace app_name with the name of the app you want to uninstall.)

   uninstall-cli.sh /Applications/app_name.app

For example:

• uninstall-cli.sh /Applications/TeamViewer.app
• uninstall-cli.sh /Applications/Parallels\ Desktop.app

5. Follow the instructions in Terminal to complete the uninstallation.

[Video] Learn How to Completely Uninstall an App on Mac

We have prepared a 3-minute video guide to show you how to completely uninstall an app on a Mac. Check it out here:

Why Can't You Uninstall an App on Your Mac?

If you're unable to uninstall an app from your Mac, check whether one of these reasons is causing the issue:

• The app is currently in use.
• You lack the necessary permissions to uninstall the app.
• Background processes associated with the app are running.
• The app is the default app in macOS.
• Files within the app may be locked or corrupted.

How to Uninstall Apps on Mac That Won't Delete

Question: In the recent macOS Sequoia 15 update, some users reported that they were facing difficulties uninstalling certain apps on their Macs. Even though they try to delete them through traditional means like dragging these apps to the Trash or using third-party uninstaller apps, these undeletable apps stubbornly refuse to be removed from the system.

Best Answer: Based on our experience, for some particular apps, like Adobe Creative Cloud, MacKeeper, Avast Security, and more, it's not easy to get rid of them with the regular app uninstalling methods. It's suggested to use their in-built App Uninstaller program or refer to their official app removal manual guide.

The Bottom Line

Now that you know how to completely remove those unwanted apps from your Mac, you can go ahead and free up more space. If none of these methods successfully removes the app you don't want, check to see if it's a system app.

By the way, BuhoCleaner is more than just an app uninstaller. It is also a Mac cleaner that can easily remove all the junk files on your Mac in just a matter of seconds. Why not check it out and see for yourself?