How to Uninstall Apps on Your Mac: 6 Quick Ways

Written by

Hashir Ibrahim

Reviewed by

Ojash

Last updated: September 6, 2023

Expert verified

Let’s face it – we all have apps that we’ve downloaded, used once, and never touched again. Although accumulating apps on your Mac is as inevitable as taxes, they just hog up a ton of space on your Mac and clutter your desktop, making it slower than a sloth on a Sunday.

So, what’s the workaround? Uninstall apps on your Mac – the ones you don’t need, of course! Not sure how? I’ve got your back. Check out these quick and easy methods to free up space on your Mac and declutter like a boss by uninstalling unnecessary apps on your Mac.

Uninstall Unwanted Apps on Mac In One Click Using MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller

Uninstalling apps on your Mac is as easy as installing them, and there’s no rocket science behind it. While you can use the Apple native methods, they’re not as quick and accurate as using third-party software like MacKeeper. Plus, no native method deletes leftover files while uninstalling an app.

With MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller, you can bid farewell to those pesky unwanted apps in just a few clicks. Follow these steps, and your system will be free of unwanted apps in no time:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. After installation, launch MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller in the left-hand menu.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select the applications you want to delete from the list and click Remove Selected.

5. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up to confirm the deletion.

6. MacKeeper will uninstall the apps and remove associated files and folders. You will get a Removal Completed notification. If you want to scan your Mac again, click Rescan.

5 Alternative Ways to Uninstall Apps on Your Mac

Are you ready to declutter your life and bid adieu to apps you never use? Well, you’re in luck because I’ve got all the juicy details on how to uninstall them.

Since everyone’s got their own style, I’m giving you the lowdown on ALL the possible methods. So get ready to choose the one that suits you best.

1. Use Finder to Uninstall Apps on Mac

First up, we’ve got the built-in method. It’s the OG way of uninstalling apps on a Mac, and it’s as easy as ABC. Just find the Applications folder on your Mac, locate the app you want to remove, drag it to the Bin, and hit Empty Bin.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using Finder to uninstall apps on your Mac:

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock.

2. Open the Applications folder from the left sidebar.

3. Scroll through the list of apps in the Applications folder until you find the app you want to uninstall. Click the app icon and drag it to the Bin icon in the Dock. Alternatively, right-click the app icon and select Move to Bin from the context menu.

4. After dragging the app to the Bin, right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin.

5. Restart your Mac to ensure that all changes are applied.

2. Use Launchpad to Uninstall Apps on Mac

Launchpad is the ultimate app launcher on your Mac. It’s like having a personal assistant that can organize all your apps in one place and make your life easier. Plus, it can do way more than just launch apps – it’s also a pro at uninstalling them.

With Launchpad, you can easily delete any app you downloaded from the App Store. It’s super easy, and I’m gonna walk you through the steps to use Launchpad to uninstall apps on your MacBook:

1. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, or use the Mac keyboard shortcut key: F4.

2. Scroll through the list of apps in Launchpad until you find the app you want to uninstall.

3. Click and hold the app icon until it starts shaking, and an X icon appears on the top-left corner of the app icon. Click the X icon to delete the app.

4. A pop-up window will ask you to confirm if you want to delete the app. Tap the Delete button to confirm, and it will move the app to the Bin in the Dock.

5. After deleting the app, right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin.

6. Restart your Mac to ensure that all changes are applied.

3. Use the App’s Native Uninstaller

Believe it or not, most apps downloaded from the internet come with a built-in uninstaller or uninstall button specifically designed for your convenience. You don’t have to be a tech genius to use it to uninstall apps on your Mac.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you wave goodbye to those unwanted applications using their native uninstaller:

1. Find the application you’d like to uninstall in your Applications folder.
2. Right-click or control-click the app’s icon and select Show Package Contents from the drop-down menu.

3. Look at all the files inside the package and locate a file named [the app name] Uninstaller or something similar.
4. Double-click the Uninstaller file and follow the instructions given by an uninstall wizard that pops up (if there are none, the program has now been uninstalled).
5. Once finished, don’t forget to empty the Trash on your Mac to ensure all associated files are removed from your hard drive.

4. Use Terminal to Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac

Terminal is not just a bland old command line interface, but a powerful tool that can help you manage your Mac. One of the coolest things you can do using Terminal is uninstall apps on your Mac.

Now, you might be thinking, “Uninstalling apps through Terminal? That sounds like rocket science!” But don’t worry, it’s actually quite simple. And here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo uninstall file://

3. Now, open the Applications folder in Finder and drag the app you want to delete to Terminal. It will automatically paste the app path. Then, press Enter.

4. Enter your Mac admin password and press Enter.

5. The app will be successfully deleted. You can restart your Mac to ensure all changes are applied.

5. Delete App Leftovers to Completely Uninstall an App on Mac

So, you’ve decided to bid farewell to an app on your computer. But did you know that uninstalling apps on your Mac might not be enough to remove them from your system completely? That’s right, some pesky leftovers may still be lurking around on your computer, waiting to cause trouble.

Lucky for you, MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller is here to save the day. Smart Uninstaller ensures no trace of the deleted app is left behind. It’s like a ninja that sneaks in and deletes all the app leftovers.

So, follow these steps to use Smart Uninstaller and delete app leftovers on Mac:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Launch MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller in the left-hand menu.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. When the scan completes, click Leftovers in the left sidebar.

5. Select the leftover files you want to delete in the right pane and click Remove Selected.

6. Tap the Remove button to confirm the removal.

7. This will remove your selected app leftovers, and you’ll get a Removal Completed notification. Click Rescan to run the scan again.

Final Thoughts on Uninstalling Apps on Mac

Now that you know how to uninstall apps on your Mac, you may want to learn other ways to keep your Mac clean and organized. Here are a few tips:

• Declutter your Mac by emptying the Bin regularly, deleting old and unnecessary files, and clearing caches.
• Use folders, tags, and labels to organize your files and folders on Mac. It will help you easily find files on your Mac without sifting through hundreds of items.
• Free up space on your Mac by getting rid of duplicate files.

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