How to uninstall apps on Mac

Installing and uninstalling applications on Mac is not the same as on Windows. The process is designed to be more intuitive on a Mac, but if you’re a long-time Windows user, deleting apps on your Mac can be a bit confusing.

There are several ways to remove apps from your Mac, from a simple drag-and-drop method to using third-party apps to uninstall programs and supporting files for a more thorough uninstallation. Trying to get rid of an app on your Mac? Here are all the ways to remove apps on Mac.

Remove apps from Finder

The easiest way to remove an app is to use the Finder app on macOS. You can find your App Store and third-party apps listed in the Apps folder, so just move the app to the trash from there. Follow these steps:

• Make sure you do closed and left the application.
• Open Finderby clicking on the desktop or clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
• Go to Applications folder by clicking Applications in the left sidebar.
• On the right side, click to select the app you want to remove.
• Delete an app by clicking, holding and dragging it to the Trash right-click (aka secondary click) app and select Move to Trash from the menu bar.

Once you have selected an app, you can also use the File menu in the menu bar to remove it by clicking File > Move to Trashor by keyboard shortcut – just press Command-Delete on the keyboard.

Depending on your settings, you may be asked to authenticate the activity using the username and password of your Mac administrator account or Touch ID.

Remove apps from Launchpad

Launchpad displays all the apps available on your Mac, whether installed from the Mac App Store or from external sources. It also allows you to remove some of these apps, and the process is similar to uninstalling apps on your iPhone or iPad. Here are the steps to follow:

• Open Launchpad by clicking the icon in the dock or using the four-finger pinch gesture.
• Hover your mouse over any app icon, then click and hold it until the icons start moving.
• Press X button above the icon of the app you want to remove.
• Crash Delete.
• Click anywhere in empty space in the folder to prevent app icons from shaking.

You can also hold and drag the app icon to the Trash icon in the dock, then click Delete to uninstall it. Please note that macOS does not allow you to remove some basic applications that are necessary for the normal functioning of your Mac.

Uninstall apps using your own uninstaller

Some macOS apps have a built-in uninstaller that allows you to remove the app and clean up the associated files. Apps like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Creative Cloud, and other Adobe apps have their own installers that you need to run if you want to uninstall them.

For Adobe applications, uninstallers can be found in the Finder by going to /Applications/Tools/Adobe installers. You need to run it and follow the on-screen instructions. For other apps, the uninstaller path will be different, but before you search for it in the Finder, check to see if the app has its own uninstaller.

Cleaning remaining files using a third-party app uninstaller

If you have an app that cannot be uninstalled by any of the above methods, or if you are trying to deep clean and remove any remaining files to free up some disk space, you can use To’s third-party apps to do so. If you need a simple and free application, AppCleaner is a good solution. Download and install AppCleaner, then run it. Once open, follow these steps.

• Open Applications folder in Finder by clicking Applications in the left sidebar.
• Drag and drop the application icon into the AppCleaner window.
• Crash Make possible when an application asks for permission to read application data.
• AppCleaner will list all the files it finds in the application folder. Crash To remove to clean it up.

You can also opt for a more sophisticated app like CleanMyMac, which not only allows Mac users to uninstall apps, but also frees up a lot of space on your Mac by finding junk or redundant files. It’s paid, but you have a free trial for seven days.

Each of these apps is a great method to properly uninstall software on your Mac. True, some go deeper than others, but the job gets done either way. If you’re still not satisfied with the results, you can try restarting your Mac or, if that doesn’t solve the problem, Restore your Mac to factory settings. If you’re about to upgrade, you can shop for new options from our top recommendations best MacBooks right now.