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Resolved Unable to delete apps
- Thread starter xJustxMegx
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trying to delete Apple apps? (those came with your Mac)
Or, remove apps that you have installed?
Or, remove apps that you have installed?
One of the crummy things about any macOS I've used in the last 16 years is trying to completely get rid of apps. I start with this:
nektony.com
It's a paid app. Others may have one that's not.
Then I follow it up with multiple searches using this:
It's free. I search on the application's name and the publisher. And depending on the names involved, I might search "This App" and "thisapp."
It's still difficult a lot of the time to get all parts of an app.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller - Download from Official site
Uninstall apps on Mac completely without leaving any trace of them. A smart, intuitive and efficient solution to clean up your Mac and manage extensions.
nektony.com
It's a paid app. Others may have one that's not.
Then I follow it up with multiple searches using this:
It's free. I search on the application's name and the publisher. And depending on the names involved, I might search "This App" and "thisapp."
It's still difficult a lot of the time to get all parts of an app.
I think it depends on how many apps you uninstall. And understand you cannot remove the ones that Apple installs with the OS. For example, I'm using an Intel Mac without a T2 chip, but Sequoia installs iPhone Mirroring and partially installs Image Playground even though neither will work on my computer. I cannot even hide them with a third-party Finder replacement like Path Finder.
Once upon a time I installed and removed lots of apps--it was part of the fun of computing--and the OS seemed to do a pretty good job removing them. But this changed several years ago and now macOS is just as bad as Windows ever was at app removal, which is one reason I switched to Macs 16 years ago.
Right now I have too many apps on my current setup with Sequoia. As soon as 15.3 is released, I'm going to do a nuke and pave--back everything up a couple of different ways, reformat the internal disk, install the OS, copy my data back, then install ONLY the programs I know I'm going to use. For example, I won't be installing App Cleaner & Uninstaller until I reach the point where I need to remove something nor will I install something Air until I need to download a Youtube video. Doing a nuke and pave takes a long time, but it's the only way to get a clean system.
But to fully answer your question, I bought App Cleaner & Uninstaller in 2020 and have paid the $25 every year, so you can say I think it's worth it.
Free
AppCleaner https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/
Pearcleaner https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner
AppCleaner https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/
Pearcleaner https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner
I've been using Macs since 1985 (Apple ][ before that) and never found a need for any "app cleaner" type programs. I can recall very few times that I had problems deleting anything and when I did it was easy enough to use terminal with the rm command.
I can't imagine paying money for software to do that, but maybe that's just because I don't install very many apps?
I can't imagine paying money for software to do that, but maybe that's just because I don't install very many apps?
The app had a 2 or 3 day free trial, but now I can't uninstall that one and need another one to uninstall that and then I need another one to uninstall that.
*runs around and panics*
I thinks so, yes! Even finds app updates and does lots of other things for your Mac. Check out their website.
I think that's great you haven't found a need for an uninstaller. I wish I could say the same thing, but I cannot tell you how many programs I've tried from the App Store, then taken the advice of dragging them to the trash only to discover via EasyFind that 99% of the application was still on my disk.
I use Hazel, which is a paid app as well. But one of the features is removing all supporting files when deleting an app.
But, getting the app deleted to begin with is the problem you're having. I use a terminal command for that whenever Finder is being stubborn.
In Terminal I will paste that command, then type a space, then drag drop the app/file that I want to delete into terminal. Press Return, enter password, and assuming no other issues, the app/file is deleted.
But, getting the app deleted to begin with is the problem you're having. I use a terminal command for that whenever Finder is being stubborn.
Code:
sudo rm -RIn Terminal I will paste that command, then type a space, then drag drop the app/file that I want to delete into terminal. Press Return, enter password, and assuming no other issues, the app/file is deleted.
When I need to "get rid of" an app, I use the free "AppCleaner".
Get it here:
Then, do this:
1. Open AppCleaner
2. Open your Applications folder (in the finder)
3. Grab the app you want to delete, and "drag and drop" it into AppCleaner's window.
4. AppCleaner will "look around" and gather up all the files related to the app.
5. If any are "unchecked", put a check into them.
6. Click the "remove" button, and they're ALL moved to the trash.
7. Close AppCleaner and empty the trash.
8. Gone!
I'm guessing there might be a few applications that AppCleaner can't "clean out" (perhaps Adobe stuff, Microsoft stuff, etc.). Those software publishers usually make available a standalone "uninstall" utility to get rid of them.
Get it here:
Then, do this:
1. Open AppCleaner
2. Open your Applications folder (in the finder)
3. Grab the app you want to delete, and "drag and drop" it into AppCleaner's window.
4. AppCleaner will "look around" and gather up all the files related to the app.
5. If any are "unchecked", put a check into them.
6. Click the "remove" button, and they're ALL moved to the trash.
7. Close AppCleaner and empty the trash.
8. Gone!
I'm guessing there might be a few applications that AppCleaner can't "clean out" (perhaps Adobe stuff, Microsoft stuff, etc.). Those software publishers usually make available a standalone "uninstall" utility to get rid of them.
Just tried this on the incomplete and unneeded Image Playground and I get this:
override rw-r--r-- root/wheel restricted,compressed for /System/Applications/Image Playground.app/Contents/_CodeSignature/CodeResources?
So how do I answer? Thanks.
I imagine if it's an Apple installed app it probably is not going to work. That's the only thing I can think of.
It's an Apple installed app, and you are probably right that it won't delete. But will I kill anything if I say yes?
I have no idea. I've never used that terminal command to delete an Apple app. Just third party apps or files.