Completely removing apps

[virginblue4]

I have a late 2012 iMac (my first ever mac) and I love it. The only thing I haven't worked out is how to completely remove an app downloaded from the app store.

Is there a way to do it without installing another app?

Thanks

 

[anzio]

Most app store apps are self contained and have data that goes into a container if it's sandboxed. Open your launchpad and hold Option (alt). Click the X. That will get rid of the .app– which is generally all that's really needed. Though if you want to totally clear your system of that apps content:

First check ~/Library/Containers (~ - is your username) for the apps files. (Do this by going to Finder and holding Option (Alt) and clicking Go in the menu bar at the top and choose "Library"

If it's not there, check

• ~/Library/Application Support
• ~/Library/Preferences
• /Library/Application Support
• /Library/Preferences

There's a few other folders.

Alternatively,
To fully remove an apps trace from your computer try this:

• Open Finder
• Go to Applications
• In the search bar at the top right type the name of your application
• Make sure "This Mac" is the search target
• Choose the + icon
• Click the "Kind" drop down menu and choose System Files (or other -> search for System Files)
• Choose "Are Included" in the right drop down menu
• This will bring up files related to that app.

Or you could try AppZapper.

 

[justperry]

Searching the disk with the Apps name most likely will find most files, and then there are a few places to check for leftovers.

/Library/Application Support
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDeamons
/Library/Preferences
/Library/StartupItems
/Users/****/Library/Application Support
/Users/****/Library/LaunchAgents
/Users/****/Library/LaunchDeamons
/Users/****/Library/Preferences
/Users/****/Library/StartupItems

Where **** is your User name

Some, very few, will also install kernel extension in

/System/Library/Extensions

If they are not need they won't load at startup, so it's only taking space

If you are knowing a Kext is 100% sure to belong to an App you want to remove then delete it, beware, you must know for sure otherwise your system might not startup the next time you reboot or startup.

 

[GGJstudios]

Or you could try AppZapper.

In most cases, app removal software doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.

The most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion:

Best way to FULLY DELETE a program​

 

[anzio]

Understood, but no method is completely thorough. Apps will store files without the apps name in the file name, most prominent in /var/ folders. Many suggestions were made for deleting files related to apps, but AppZapper will take care of a few as well. The most important is LaunchAgents / StartupItems / LaunchDaemons and the .app.

 

[GGJstudios]

Understood, but no method is completely thorough. Apps will store files without the apps name in the file name, most prominent in /var/ folders. Many suggestions were made for deleting files related to apps, but AppZapper will take care of a few as well.

AppZapper and similar apps will not find anything that the Finder method won't find. Even if the app name doesn't appear in the file name, it frequently appears within the content of the file and will be found via the Finder search method. You can also search for files installed at the same time that the app was installed. It is extremely rare that the Finder method will not find all the associated files.

 

[anzio]

AppZapper and similar apps will not find anything that the Finder method won't find. Even if the app name doesn't appear in the file name, it frequently appears within the content of the file and will be found via the Finder search method. You can also search for files installed at the same time that the app was installed. It is extremely rare that the Finder method will not find all the associated files.

My whole point is no method is 100% perfect. Most apps do not create all files on first launch, and many have been rebranded– so the name is not in the contents. Files can be created each day. Files will always be left behind.

 

[GGJstudios]

My whole point is no method is 100% perfect. Most apps do not create all files on first launch, and many have been rebranded– so the name is not in the contents. Files can be created each day. Files will always be left behind.

We're not talking about user files created with apps. We're talking about files related to the app's operation. The Finder method finds all such files in the vast majority of cases. In the rare cases that it doesn't (usually when an app has its own installer/uninstaller), apps like AppZapper will do no better.

 

[anzio]

We're not talking about user files created with apps. We're talking about files related to the app's operation. The Finder method finds all such files in the vast majority of cases. In the rare cases that it doesn't (usually when an app has its own installer/uninstaller), apps like AppZapper will do no better.

I wasn't talking about user made files. Apps operation files are created on a daily basis as well. Activity Monitor's open files and ports will verify this.

 

[GGJstudios]

I wasn't talking about user made files. Apps operation files are created on a daily basis as well. Activity Monitor's open files and ports will verify this.

Post an example of such a file that the Finder method wouldn't locate.

 

[anzio]

Post an example of such a file that the Finder method wouldn't locate.

VMWare Fusion leaves dozens of files in /var/ that the Finder method does not locate. Using the Finder method left about 50+ files in the /var/ folders including some in the db folder. This will happen with a lot of apps that use very idiotic naming schemes. Skype leaves quite a few as well, but I cannot recall the name.

Most of these apps store things depending on user configurations, which is why even the installer by the developer won't work for all files. A computer will fill up with unnecessary files. It won't kill anyone to leave them though.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not arguing that the Finder method is bad, nor that any software does the job better. I'm just saying that no method will ever clear all files. It isn't really a big deal to leave some behind. I don't want to argue against the methods that I've stated above (and you as well), as this may just add unnecessary worry to the OP.

 

[GGJstudios]

VMWare Fusion leaves dozens of files in /var/ that the Finder method does not locate. Using the Finder method left about 50+ files in the /var/ folders including some in the db folder. This will happen with a lot of apps that use very idiotic naming schemes.

Have you checked to see if "VMWare" or "Fusion" appears in the content of such files? If so, they would be located. If not, a search for "VM" as a variation of "VMWare" will locate such files. Even VMWare's own instructions for manually uninstalling Fusion doesn't mention the /var folder. I don't know if their uninstall app catches those or not.

I agree there are a few instances where some components may not share any variation of the app's name or the developer's name, but those are relatively rare. In the vast majority of cases, the Finder method finds everything. It certainly is more effective than any app such as AppZapper.

 

[MasterHowl]

I use an app called AppCleaner. Find it here

 

[MisterMe]

VMWare Fusion leaves dozens of files in /var/ that the Finder method does not locate. Using the Finder method left about 50+ files in the /var/ folders including some in the db folder. This will happen with a lot of apps that use very idiotic naming schemes. Skype leaves quite a few as well, but I cannot recall the name.

Most of these apps store things depending on user configurations, which is why even the installer by the developer won't work for all files. A computer will fill up with unnecessary files. It won't kill anyone to leave them though.

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not arguing that the Finder method is bad, nor that any software does the job better. I'm just saying that no method will ever clear all files. It isn't really a big deal to leave some behind. I don't want to argue against the methods that I've stated above (and you as well), as this may just add unnecessary worry to the OP.

Before you get happy about removing things that you don't understand, you should do a quick Google search. If you do so, then this is what you will find.

 

[anzio]

Before you get happy about removing things that you don't understand, you should do a quick Google search. If you do so, then this is what you will find.

Except I do understand it. It belongs to VMWare and can be removed. A quick Google Search brings me to a lot of VMWare postings. This is what I found.

In the vast majority of cases, the Finder method finds everything. It certainly is more effective than any app such as AppZapper.

I agree completely. Sorry if it sounded as though I was arguing in defense of AppZapper. Newfound knowledge for me is always a positive thing.

 

[GGJstudios]

I use an app called AppCleaner.

Read post #4.

 

[virginblue4]

Most app store apps are self contained and have data that goes into a container if it's sandboxed. Open your launchpad and hold Option (alt). Click the X. That will get rid of the .app– which is generally all that's really needed. Though if you want to totally clear your system of that apps content:

First check ~/Library/Containers (~ - is your username) for the apps files. (Do this by going to Finder and holding Option (Alt) and clicking Go in the menu bar at the top and choose "Library"

If it's not there, check

• ~/Library/Application Support
• ~/Library/Preferences
• /Library/Application Support
• /Library/Preferences

There's a few other folders.

Alternatively,
To fully remove an apps trace from your computer try this:

• Open Finder
• Go to Applications
• In the search bar at the top right type the name of your application
• Make sure "This Mac" is the search target
• Choose the + icon
• Click the "Kind" drop down menu and choose System Files (or other -> search for System Files)
• Choose "Are Included" in the right drop down menu
• This will bring up files related to that app.

Or you could try AppZapper.

Thanks, I used this method and it worked great!

In most cases, app removal software doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.



The most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion:

Best way to FULLY DELETE a program​

Thanks

I use an app called AppCleaner. Find it here

Thanks, however, I stated that I did not want to use another app to delete apps.

 

[anzio]

Thanks, I used this method and it worked great!

That's fantastic to hear. Isn't it so much more relieving having a squeaky clean Mac?

 

[MasterHowl]

Read post #4.

wow soz