How to Uninstall Apps on the Mac GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple 107 107 people found this article helpful

How to Uninstall Apps on the Mac

There's no need to keep applications you don't use

By Jennifer Karner Jennifer Karner Writer Jen Karner is a former Lifewire writer and expert on VR and Android phones. Her work has appeared on AndroidCentral, iMore, WindowsCentral and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 28, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad

What to Know

Drag the app to the Trash Can. Or, open a Finder window, click Applications, click the app, and then click File > Move to Trash.Some apps have an uninstall application you'll find in the Applications folder. Double-click the file called Uninstall inside the folder. Another option: Click the LaunchPad, click and hold the app's icon. When the icon starts shaking, click the X. Click Delete to confirm. This article explains how to delete and uninstall apps on the Mac using several methods. Information covers Mac OS X Lion and later macOS versions.

Uninstall Apps Using the Trash Can

The easiest way to uninstall an app or program from your Mac is by using the trash can located on the Dock. Drag the application from wherever it is located on your Mac and drop it on the trash can. When you empty the trash, the application is deleted.

Removing Apps With the Finder

The drag-and-drop method of deleting apps with the trash can doesn't work for all apps, but when you combine it with the Finder, you can delete almost any application. Here's how: Open a Finder window by selecting File > New Finder Window in the Apple menu bar or by clicking the Finder icon on the Dock. Click Applications in the left panel of the Finder window to view the installed applications on your computer. Click on the Application that you want to uninstall. Click File from the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner of the screen. Click Move to Trash. Click and hold the trash can icon in the Dock. Click Empty Trash in the pop-up menu to remove the application from your Mac.

Uninstall Apps Using an Uninstaller

Certain apps may include an Uninstall tool inside its Application folder. In this case, you want to uninstall using that tool. These are often large apps like Creative Cloud products from Adobe or Valve's Steam client. To ensure that they completely uninstall from your computer, use the uninstaller if it is included with the application. Open a Finder window and click Applications to view the applications installed on your computer. Click the application you want to uninstall. A folder opens to show its contents, including an Uninstall program if one exists. Double-click the file entitled Uninstall inside the folder. Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the application. The directions vary depending on the application you are deleting.

Uninstall Apps Using Launchpad

Another option for uninstalling apps on a Mac is by using the Launchpad. This is an easy no-fuss way to uninstall the programs that you purchase from the App Store. Click the Launchpad icon on Dock. Locate the app you want to delete by entering its name in the search field at the top of the screen or by scrolling the pages of the Launchpad. Click and hold the icon of the app you want to delete when you see it until all the apps start to shake. When the icon starts shaking, click the X that appears next to it. If there is no X next to the app, you can't delete it through the launchpad. It may be required by the operating system or have an uninstall option you need to use. Click Delete to confirm the app's removal. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Uninstall Dropbox on a Mac How to Uninstall Firefox for Mac How to Delete Streamlabs on Mac How to Delete Apps From Your iPhone How to Modify the Mac Finder Sidebar How to Delete a File in Terminal on Your Mac How to Uninstall Skype How to Uninstall Chrome on Mac How to Delete Apps on an Android Phone How to Import Photos from GoPro to Mac Can You Delete the Apps That Come With the iPhone? How to Uninstall the Epic Games Launcher How to Delete Apps on an Amazon Fire Tablet How to Add Favorites on Mac How to Delete Files on Mac How to Delete Apps on an Android Tablet Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies