How to Uninstall Programs on a Mac

Need to free up space on your Mac? Deleting apps you don't need is one of the best ways to get the job done! Most of the time, you can easily uninstall an application by dragging it from Finder to your trash bin. Some apps might come with a dedicated uninstaller you can use instead. In this article, we’ll talk you through all the options for removing apps, including advanced methods like using the Terminal app. We’ll also address common troubleshooting issues, like what to do if an app won’t delete.

How to Uninstall Programs on a Mac

The simplest method for uninstalling apps is to drag the app icon from Finder to the Trash. This option is reversible until you empty the Trash.
Some third-party programs come with an uninstaller application that you’ll need to run to delete the main app.
To instantly delete an app and its data without sending it to Trash, use System Settings or your Mac’s command line.
If you’re using macOS 15 or earlier, you can delete apps from the Launchpad.

Section 1 of 6:

Using Finder

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If the app is currently in use, you won’t be able to delete it. Quit the app from within the app itself, or right-click the app icon in your Dock and select Quit.
Finder is the two-toned smiley face icon on the Dock, which is usually at the bottom of the screen.

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Click Applications. You'll see this in the left sidebar of Finder.
- If you don't see this folder, click the Finder menu, select Settings, and check the box next to "Applications" in the Sidebar tab. You should now see an Applications link in the Finder sidebar.
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Find the program that you want to uninstall. Scroll through the programs here until you find an icon for the program that you want to remove.
- If the program is inside a folder, double-click the folder to open it and look for an app called "Uninstaller" or something similar. If the app comes with an uninstaller, you’ll need to use that to remove the app.
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Drag the app to the Trash. The Trash is the trashcan on your desktop or Dock. If you're in the UK, this icon is typically labeled "Bin" and not "Trash." If prompted to enter your password, you'll need to do so to confirm.^{[1]
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- Another way to move an app to the Trash is to click it once to select it, click the File menu, and then choose Move to Trash (or Move to Bin).
- You can also select the icon once and press Delete to send it to the Trash.
- In some cases, you may be prompted to enter your administrator password or use Touch ID to verify that you want to delete the app.
The deleted item will remain in your Trash (or Bin, if you're in the UK) for 30 days in case you change your mind. If you want to delete it sooner (like if you need to free up disk space), you can empty the Trash now. First, click the Trash icon on the Dock to make sure there's nothing you want to keep. Then, click and hold the Trash icon (or right-click/Ctrl-click it) and select Empty Trash.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 6:

Using an Uninstaller

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See if there’s an uninstaller app in the app folder. Some apps, especially third-party ones, come with special uninstaller programs that will help you cleanly remove all traces of the app. You can typically find these uninstallers in the same folder that contains the main app.^{[3]
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- Alternatively, some apps include an “Uninstall” option somewhere in the app menu or settings.
If you find an uninstaller for the program you want to delete, double-click it to run it like any other app. Follow the prompts on the screen to complete the uninstallation process.

Section 3 of 6:

Using System Settings

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Open the
Apple menu. Another way to delete apps is from your Mac’s storage settings. To get started, open the Apple menu at the top left corner of your screen.
- Make sure the app you want to delete is fully closed before you begin.
- This option will instantly and permanently delete the app without sending it to the Trash. You won’t be able to undo it. This is a good option if you’re trying to free up space on your Mac quickly.
The Settings menu will open.
It’s in the left-hand menu bar.
This is near the top of the General Settings menu, on the right side of the window.
You’ll see Applications near the top of the list of items in the Storage menu. Click the Info button to launch a new window with a list of your apps.
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Select an app and click Delete. The Delete button is in the lower right corner of the window. To confirm, click Delete again in the pop-up.
- When you’re finished, click Done at the bottom of the app information window.

Section 4 of 6:

Using the Terminal

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1
Open the Terminal app. This is your Mac’s built-in command line interface. To open it, open the Finder and click Applications in the left sidebar. Then, open the Utilities folder and double-click Terminal.
- You can also click the
  Spotlight search icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen and search for terminal. Double-click the first result to open it.
Most apps will be located in the /Applications directory, so this command would look like cd /Applications.^{[4]
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Research source} Type the command and press Return.
This command will list all the apps in the directory. Note the exact name of the app you want to delete.
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Enter the command sudo rm -rf <application name>. Be careful–this command will instantly and completely delete the app without sending it to the Trash. Enter the command and replace “<application name>” with the exact name of the app (without brackets). For example, to delete the Kindle app, you’d use the command sudo rm -rf Kindle.app. If there’s a space in the app name, put quotes around it.
- After you type in the command, press Return to execute it.
- You’ll be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in and press Return. You won’t be able to see your password as you type it.
- If you want, you can double-check if the deletion was successful by running the ls command again.

Section 5 of 6:

Using Launchpad (macOS 15 and Earlier)

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1
Open the Launchpad. In macOS 15 and earlier, if you installed apps from your Mac's App Store, you can delete them from the Launchpad. To open Launchpad, click the Launchpad icon on the Dock, which is usually at the bottom of the screen. If you are using Big Sur, you can see the Launchpad icon as nine small squares.^{[5]
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Research source} In older versions of macOS, you will find the Launchpad icon as a rocket image.
- You can also open Launchpad by double-clicking it in your Applications folder, or by pinching your thumb and three fingers together on the trackpad.
- Launchpad was removed with the release of macOS 26 (Tahoe). It has been replaced with an Apps widget that integrates Spotlight. Unfortunately, you can’t delete apps from the Apps widget.
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Click and hold the app you want to delete. After a few seconds, the icons will begin to jiggle.
- If you don't see the app, try typing its name into the search field to see if it's on another screen. If it doesn't show up, try using Finder to delete it.
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Click the X on the app you want to delete. A confirmation message will appear.
- If the app you want to remove doesn't have an X, it's either not from the App Store or it was included with your Mac and can't be deleted. If the app is something you installed through some other means than the App Store, use Finder or an uninstaller to delete it instead.
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Click Delete to confirm. This removes the app from your Mac.
- If you had a subscription to a service in the app, this will not cancel your subscription. You will need to cancel subscriptions separately in the App Store.

Section 6 of 6:

Troubleshooting

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Why can’t I delete an app? There are a few reasons you might have trouble deleting an app:^{[6]
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- The app might be a built-in part of your system. You can’t delete certain apps that came with your Mac, such as Mail, Music, Books, and Notes.
- The app might be in use. Even if you quit an app, there might still be some associated processes running. To completely exit the app, go to Apps > Utilities > Activity Monitor. Select any processes that you think might be linked to the app, then click the Stop icon in the menu bar at the top.
- The app might come with its own uninstaller. This is especially common with third-party apps that you didn’t get from the App Store. See Using an Uninstaller to learn more.
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How do I get rid of hidden files, folders, and data from an app I deleted? Sometimes an app leaves residual files and data after you uninstall it. While you can hunt through your Mac’s Library folder and hidden files for traces left behind, the easiest and safest way to clean up after deleting an app is with a tool like AppCleaner. This is a free app that’s available for all versions of macOS starting with 10.6.

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How can I delete a program from my computer?

Chiara Corsaro
Certified Apple Technician
Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).

Chiara Corsaro

Certified Apple Technician

Expert Answer

Move the program to the trash, then empty the trash. Once the trash has been emptied, we typically recommend restarting your machine to clear out any temporary cache files.

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What if it says the app can't be deleted because it's open but it's not open and I have already right clicked and selected quit?

Michael Everman

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That means it is a virus and keeps opening itself, or it is left open. You can try opening the activity monitor and forcing it to quit to be able to delete it.

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Will downgrading to Yosemite be my only option if previous uninstall attempts haven't worked?

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Yes, that could be an option. However, try reinstalling the apps first.

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If you delete an app that you purchased through the App Store, you can reinstall it for free from within the App Store.

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Some applications will leave behind folders with preferences, files, or other data. You can delete these files from the Library folder.

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