To uninstall an app on a Mac, quit it, open Applications in Finder and drag the app to the Trash, then empty the Trash. If the app came with its own Uninstaller, run that instead, because it also removes the extras the app installed elsewhere.
Uninstalling on a Mac is simpler than on Windows: most apps are a single item you drag to the Trash. But that simple route can leave bits behind, and some apps won't budge at all. Here's the right method for each case, and what stays on your Mac afterwards.
Uninstall an app in Finder
- Quit the app if it's open (Command-Q).
- Open a Finder window and click Applications in the sidebar, or choose Go, Applications from the menu bar.
- Drag the app's icon to the Trash in the Dock. Or select it and press Command-Delete.
- Type your Mac login password if asked.
- Choose Finder, Empty Trash to delete it for good and get the space back.
Can't find the app? Search for it with Spotlight (Command-Space), then hold Command while you double-click it in the results. Apple's tip opens the app's location in Finder instead of launching it. Some apps live in an Applications folder inside your home folder rather than the main one.
Look for an uninstaller first
Apple recommends this step for any app it didn't make. Bigger programs, such as security software, creative suites and anything that added a menu bar icon or browser extension, often ship with an app called Uninstall or Uninstaller in the same folder. Use it when it's there. Dragging to the Trash removes the app itself, but the uninstaller also clears the login items, extensions and other data the app stored in other places. Some apps put the option inside their own menus or settings instead, labelled uninstall, remove or reset.
Uninstall from Launchpad
For apps you got from the App Store, there's a shortcut. Open Launchpad, press and hold any app icon until the icons jiggle, then click the small delete button on the app you want gone. If an app shows no delete button, it either didn't come from the App Store or macOS needs it.
Apps you can't delete
Apple doesn't let you remove apps the Mac relies on. That includes many that come with macOS, such as Mail, Music, Books, Notes, Podcasts, Maps, News and Stocks, plus anything in the System folder. If you don't use them, remove them from the Dock instead so they're out of sight.
When the Mac says the app is in use
This usually means part of the app is still running, often a helper in the menu bar. Quit it from the menu bar icon, or check Activity Monitor for anything with the app's name. If it still won't go, Apple's advice is to restart the Mac, or start up in Safe Mode, and try again.
What uninstalling doesn't do
| Stays on your Mac | What to do |
|---|---|
| Documents you made with the app | Keep them, or move them to the Trash yourself |
| Settings and cache files | Use the app's uninstaller where there is one |
| A plan you signed up for through the app | Cancel it in the App Store or with the company |
Your files are safe: deleting an app doesn't remove documents you created with it. The flip side is that you may need the app again to open them, so check before you remove the only app that reads a file type. And removing an app doesn't cancel anything you signed up for inside it; you have to cancel that separately.
Leftover files
Most small apps leave very little behind. If you want to be thorough after removing a big app, look in the Library folder in your home folder: hold Option, click the Go menu and choose Library, then check the Application Support and Caches folders for a folder with the app's name. Only delete folders you're sure belong to the removed app. Cleaner apps offer to do this for you, but think twice; my review of whether MacKeeper is safe explains why I'm cautious about that category.
Free up space after uninstalling
The usual reason to remove apps is a full disk. Emptying the Trash is what gives the space back, so don't skip that step. To see where your space is going, open the Apple menu, System Settings, General, Storage. The Applications line shows which apps are biggest, and you can delete them from that list too. Games, video editors and design suites are often the largest. If the disk is still tight after that, large files in Downloads and old phone backups are the next places to look.
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Antivirus and security apps
These are the ones most worth removing with their own uninstaller, because they install background parts that keep running. If you're switching security tools, my reviews of Bitdefender and Avast are a useful starting point.
One more tip for app trials: if you installed something just to try it, uninstall it the same week. Apps you forget about are the ones that keep running helpers in the background and slow the Mac down months later.
My verdict
Drag to the Trash and empty it for most apps. Run the app's own uninstaller when there is one, especially for security and system tools. And remember that removing an app leaves your documents untouched and doesn't cancel anything you signed up for inside it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I completely uninstall an app on a Mac?
Use the app's own Uninstaller if it has one. Otherwise drag it to the Trash and empty the Trash.
Does deleting an app delete my files?
No. Documents you created with the app stay on your Mac.
Why can't I delete an app on my Mac?
It's either still running, or it's a built-in app macOS needs, such as Mail or Maps.
Is dragging an app to the Trash enough?
For most apps, yes. Larger apps can leave extensions and settings behind.
How do I uninstall App Store apps?
Open Launchpad, hold an icon until they jiggle, and click the delete button.
