Uninstalling Mac Applications : The Basics

Mac applications come as a package and can be easily removed by just dragging to trash. Many users think that the entire associated files are deleted and need not to care about anything but that is not the case. Application create preference files which are stored in /Home/Library/Preferences/. Although, these files do not interrupt other applications but they do occupy some space in disk and the volume goes increasing with time.

Do you know how to go to library folder in Mac?

Click Go > Go to Folder type ~Library

Sometimes applications may have uninstaller too, which removes the application. In some cases the uninstaller can be invoked by customizing during the installation process.

Some applications may store these files in /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can see there if the application has created a folder. These can be deleted manually from Applications Support folder. Again, they are nothing but space occupiers once the application is trashed.

Some applications may install a Startupitems or a Log In item. These are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/. You can delete these items from the list by following the path Accounts icon -> LogIn Items tab. Select the item from the list, you want to remove and click the "-" (minus) button.

Do you know what are daemons?

I am not describing daemons here but mentioning the way to delete them. Follow  /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/.

If you want to see it the application has installed any other files then the best way is to search with finder. You can search for application name or developer name. Unfortunately, the Spotlight doesn’t search into certain folders. In such cases you need to go for some third party applications like Stellar SpeedUp Mac.

Some applications install items to determine if it is already installed. This is called a receipt which is stored in the /Library/Receipts/ folder. We must delete these items to which usually are stored with ".pkg" extension.

There are many utilities that can uninstall applications. Here is a selection:

·       Stellar SpeedUp Mac

·       AppZapper

·       Automaton

·       Hazel

·       CleanApp

·       Yank

·       SuperPop

·       Uninstaller

·       Spring Cleaning