How to Delete Apps on MacBook: A Simple Guide to Freeing Up Space

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 29 Aug 2024

Unnecessary applications on your computer take up space and can cause system slowdown. It is recommended that you periodically cleanup your device's disk and remove unnecessary programs. In this article, we will consider the ways and explain how to delete apps on Macbook safely as well as their residual files.

Why won't my apps delete on a Mac

The removal problem can be caused by several reasons:

the program is running or is used by some process (you need to exit the application);
you do not have permissions (you must use an account with administrator rights);
files are locked by the system (to unlock, click the application icon, select Show Info, and make sure the Locked option is disabled);
If you downloaded the software from the Mac App Store, you must also uninstall it from the Apple App Store or Launchpad;
In rare cases, the problem may be due to broken files or system errors (try to restart the computer and uninstall the app).

If you cannot solve the problem, you can try using specialized programs to uninstall apps on your Mac or contact Apple support for further assistance.

Also: MacBook Won't Download Files: Causes and Tips for Quick Fix

7 ways on how to delete apps on MacBook

Below you will find suggestions on how to uninstall unwanted apps on MacBook.

1. Moving to the basket

The easiest way showing how to delete an app from a Macbook, which even a user with no experience can cope with, is to place the unwanted application in the trash. To do this, right-click on the program icon and select Move to Trash from the context menu. Also you can simply drag the application icon to the Trash icon in the bottom right corner of the desktop. After that, empty the trash to completely remove the file from your device.

Another way is to select the program and press Command+Delete. In this case, you may need to enter your Mac password. After logging in, the application will be automatically deleted from the computer disk.

2. Using Launchpad

This method allows you to quickly and easily uninstall software that was not installed from the Mac App Store.

To get rid of an unnecessary application:

Find the Launchpad icon (silver rocket) or swipe three fingers up on the touchpad.
Scroll through the Launchpad screens to find the application icon you want to uninstall.
To enter delete mode, press Option (Alt) on your keyboard. The icons will start to shake and they will have red crosses (X) in the upper left corner.
Click on the X and click on "Delete" in the confirmation window.

To exit delete mode, click anywhere outside the Launchpad or Option (Alt) on the keyboard.

3. Deleting via Finder

This option is suitable for uninstalling programs (and residual files) installed from the Mac App Store or other sources. It's important to remember that some software may have specific instructions for complete uninstallation. You can always find them on the developer's website or in the software documentation.

To uninstall a program using the Finder:

Find the Finder icon on your desktop (white and blue icon with a smile) or use Spotlight (Cmd+Space key combination) to find and launch the application.
In the pane on the left, click on "Apps" and if this menu is missing, look for it in the "Favorites" section.
Find the application icon and drag it to Trash.
Click on the shopping cart (or double-click on the trackpad).
Select "Empty Recycle Bin" to completely uninstall. This action cannot be undone, so first make sure you have selected the right program to uninstall.
After emptying the Recycle Bin, the app will be completely uninstalled from your MacBook.

4. Uninstalling through the Mac App Store

This method showing how to uninstall apps on a Mac is simple and safe because the App Store automatically manages the removal of apps, including all associated files and settings.

To uninstall the application:

Find the Mac App Store icon on the dock (white letter A on a blue background) or use Spotlight (Cmd+Space) to find and launch the Mac App Store.
At the top of the Mac App Store window, click the "Installed" tab.
In the list of installed software, find the icon of the application you plan to uninstall.
Right-click (or double-click on the trackpad) on the application icon and select "Uninstall" from the menu.
A window where you need to confirm the action will appear.

After you confirm, the program will be removed from your MacBook. If the application was purchased from the Mac App Store, it will also be removed from the list of purchases in your Apple account.

5. Using the command line

This method is particularly useful if you want to remove an application completely and quickly, without using the GUI. However, be careful when using the rm -rf command, as it deletes files irrevocably.

To uninstall an application from your MacBook in this way, follow the below algorithm:

Launch Terminal. It can be found under "Utilities", "Programs" or using Spotlight (Cmd+Space).
Type the command ls /Applications/ in Terminal.
Find the name of the application you want to remove from the disk and remember it.
Go back to Terminal and type sudo rm -rf /Applications/.app, replacing with the name of the app you want to remove (without parentheses).
Press Enter (you may be prompted to enter your administrator account password).
Terminal will uninstall the program and all associated files. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you select the correct software to uninstall.

6. Using uninstallers

You can use special uninstallers to remove unwanted software on your MacBook easily and seamlessly. These tools safely remove applications and their files, free up disk space, and keep your system clean.

Here are a few popular programs and instructions on how to use them.

AppCleaner:

Download the software from the off-site, install and run it.
Drag and drop the icon of the required program into the AppCleaner installer window.
The program will find all files related to this software.
Click "Uninstall" button to uninstall it and delete all files.

CleanMyMac X:

Download CleanMyMac X from the off-site, install and run it.
Go to the "Uninstaller" section and select the application.
Click the "Uninstall" button to delete it along with the files associated with the software.

AppZapper:

Download AppZapper from the off-site, install it and run it.
Drag and drop the software icon into the AppZapper window.
The uninstaller will find all related files to this application.
Click the "Zap!" button to uninstall the program and all its files.

7. Clearing remote software folders

After you uninstall applications from your MacBook using uninstallers, some files and folders may remain in your system. You can use two simple methods to completely clear them.

Manual methods of cleaning of remaining files:

Open the Finder system file manager.
From the menu, select "Go to", then click on the "Go to folder..." tab and type ~/Library.
Check and delete the following folders if they exist:

Application Support;
Caches;
Containers;
Preferences;
Saved Application State.

Search for files by application name:

Open Finder.
Enter the name of the deleted application in the search box.
Delete the files and folders found associated with it.

Also: How to Hide Folders on Mac

Regular checking your system for residual files will help keep it clean and optimize its performance. Using system cleaning utilities will help automate this process and avoid storing of unnecessary files.

On the Techtoro website you can always buy parts for various MacBook models. In the assortment of the store you can find only original components, without fakes and budget analogs. We have favorable prices and for all our customers we offer free FedEx express delivery.

If you're not sure you can replace a part yourself, trust your MacBook to the experts and rest assured of a quality and reliable repair. You can always mail us your computer and get it back to us within 1-2 days after you pay your invoice.

Apple MacBook Air 13" 2020 (Core i3 1.1Ghz, 8GB, 256GB)

FAQ

1. Why can't I delete apps on my Mac?

You may not have administrator rights s or the applications may be system protected from uninstallation. Try using specialized uninstallers or perform the removal by logging in with an administrator account.

2. How do I delete running apps on my Macbook?

First close the application via "Force Quit Programs" (Command+Option+Esc) or via "System Monitoring". Then drag its icon from the "Programs" folder to the Recycle Bin and empty it.

3. How do I delete app data on my MacBook?

Remove application data by going to the ~/Library folder and deleting corresponding files in Application Support, Caches, Preferences, and other folders. Using CleanMyMac X, AppCleaner and similar utilities can also help you automatically find and remove application data.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Volodymyr Chubei
Computer Repair Specialist at TechToro.io

Volodymyr was born in Ukraine and has found his passion for electronics from his childhood. At the age of 13, he was capable of soldering some basic elements of a logic board and today he is one of the co-founders of TechToro.io