When you no longer need an app installed on your Mac, you can simply uninstall it to make your Mac uncluttered. This post will show you how to install an application on Mac.
Although Mac is relatively easy to use, at least when compared to Linux, it still takes learning curve for new users. Even for a basic task like app management.
When it comes to uninstalling apps on Mac, there are at least three ways that you can choose. Depending on how the apps were installed. This post will cover every single method to uninstall an app on Mac.
Shortcuts ⤵️
- Uninstalling a Mac app via Launchpad
- Uninstalling a Mac app via Finder
- Uninstalling a Mac app via App Store
- Cleaning up the leftover files
Before You Start Uninstalling An App on Your Mac
Mac, just like Windows and most Linux distros, come with some pre-installed/default apps. You can’t uninstall the default Mac apps unless you disable the SIP (System Integrity Protection).
Even if you have disabled SIP, you might keep unable to install some default Mac apps like Safari and FaceTime. That’s because some default apps depend on them to run.
Uninstalling default apps can cause stability and performance issue on your Mac. Thus, we don’t recommend you uninstall the default apps.
3 Ways to Uninstall an App on Mac
As mentioned above, there are three ways to uninstall an app on Mac depending on how the app was installed.
If an app was installed via App Store, you can remove it via Launchpad and App Store itself. If an app was installed via a binary file (DMG or PKG) then you can remove it via Finder.
Uninstalling an App via Launchpad
This is the easiest way to uninstall an app on Mac. But remember again, this method works only for apps installed via App Store.
To start uninstalling an app via Launchpad, first, open Launchpad itself. Search for the app you want to uninstall. Then click on it and hold. You should see a close/X icon at the top-left corner of the app icon. Click on the icon.
Confirm the removal by clicking the Delete button.
The app has now been removed from your Mac.
Installing an App via App Store
App Store, as you have known, is the official app repository of Mac and other Apple devices. If the app you want to use is available on App Store, you can easily manage it via App Store.
From installing, updating to uninstalling.
To uninstall an app via App Store, first, you can open App Store itself. Click on your name on the bottom-left corner of the App Store window to see the list of apps you have installed.
Search for the app you want to uninstall. Hover your cursor over it and click the three-dot icon. Select Delete App.
The app should be gone from your Mac.
Uninstalling an App via Finder
Some developers prefer to distribute their app indepently via their own website and other marketing channels instead of via App Store.
They usually offer the app in a binary file. To install the app, you will be asked to move the binary file to the Applications folder on Finder. Thus, if you want to uninstall the app, you can simply delete the binary file from the Applications folder too.
First, open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
Search for the app that you want to uninstall. Right-click and select Move to Trash.
Alternatively, you can press the command+delete keys on your keyboard to delete the app more quickly.
Cleaning Up the Leftover Files
Some apps will leave footsteps on your Mac even if you have removed them. Although the leftover files won’t harm your system in most cases, yet removing them would be nice to completely remove an app on your Mac.
You can easily clean up the leftover files using a cleaner app. If you don’t have one, you can do it manually. Here are the steps.
First, open Finder and go to Library folder. To do so, press and hold the option key on your keyboard and click the Go menu on Finder. You should see the Library folder shows up.
You can find the files and folders associated with the app you have just uninstalled on the following folders under the Library folder.
| Application Support | To remove application support files |
| Caches | To remove support cache files |
| Internet Plug-Ins | To remove the plugin files |
Summary
Mananing apps is relatively easy on Mac. At least when compared to Ubuntu and other Linux distros. You can install and remove apps from App Store or Finder, depending on the source of the app files.
But it is totally understandable if you still don’t know how to uninstall an app on your Mac if you are a new user. Everything takes time to adapt.
A little tip. To keep your Mac clean and uncluttered, only install an app if you really need it. Having too many apps installed on your Mac meaning you need more effort to manage them.