I was told by someone that uninstalling apps on macOS according to Apple that the files associated to the uninstalled apps were automatically deleted by the operating system after about a month. Can anyone confirm if this happens? Thanks
Never heard of this in 20+ years of working with Macs.Can anyone confirm if this happens?
I was told by someone that uninstalling apps on macOS according to Apple that the files associated to the uninstalled apps were automatically deleted by the operating system after about a month.
Free to download and try. After that not free. I do use it - but not sure it is worth the money.Download & Install the free app AppCleaner: https://nektony.com/mac-app-cleaner
For a free uninstaller, try AppCleaner.I was told by someone that uninstalling apps on macOS .....
Yes, that's usually what happens. It will pull data and configuration settings that were left behind. It really depends on the app though, and if you got it through the App Store or not. Some apps might include an uninstaller to clean all that out, but it's rare.But if we don’t delete associated files with a certain uninstalled app, if we install the app again it is immediately configured?
No, deleting apps on iPhone (and iPad) also deletes the data associated with them. That is not the case with Macs.The same happens with iPhone because we just delete apps like described in the link mentioned above, right?
There is a way to go before that happens.As Apple slowly turns macOS into iOS, deleting apps might soon remove associated data.
OSXDaily - “How to Uninstall Apps on MacOS Sonoma & Ventura via System Settings”
https://osxdaily.com/2024/04/23/how-uninstall-apps-mac-system-settings/
No, deleting apps on iPhone (and iPad) also deletes the data associated with them.
Just curious...how exactly do these "App Cleaners" work? Like, how does it know all the bits and pieces a particular application left behind? Is it using crowd sourced information, or is it just making a guess based on folder/file names?
I assume not, I have’t tried. By soon, I was thinking as soon as macOS 15There is a way to go before that happens.
1. Does the System Settings method delete any associated data for sandboxed apps? Right now the size of an app given by System Settings is smaller than the size indicated by Finder. The size certainly doesn't include any associated data.
2. Until all macOS apps are sandboxed (hopefully never)), deleting many apps can't become similar to iOS deletion.
Apps should have a unique bundleId (example: CFBundleIdentifier – net.freemacsoft.AppCleaner) and that can be used very effectively to search for the folders/files they have created.Just curious...how exactly do these "App Cleaners" work? Like, how does it know all the bits and pieces a particular application left behind? Is it using crowd sourced information, or is it just making a guess based on folder/file names?
Pearcleaner ask permission to access other apps data. Do you know why and can you tell me if I should allow it?Pearcleaner - “A free, source-available and fair-code licensed mac app cleaner inspired by Freemacsoft's AppCleaner and Sun Knudsen's Privacy Guides post on his app-cleaner script.”
https://github.com/alienator88/Pearcleaner
Why: Because Apple requires apps to get those permissions - for security reasons. Do you trust Pearcleaner not to do bad things?Do you know why and can you tell me if I should allow it?
AppCleaner do not ask permission to access other apps data. Why Pearcleaner needs access to other apps data? I deleted it because I don’t understand why Pearcleaner needs access to other apps data! Until I don’t understand why I will not use it!Why: Because Apple requires apps to get those permissions - for security reasons. Do you trust Pearcleaner not to do bad things?
Allow it: You will have to if you want to use it!
Don’t use it, just conjecture here based on knowledge and experience… how do you propose an app that uninstalls other apps and deletes those apps’ data files will work if it doesn’t have access to other apps data?If I do not allow Pearcleaner uninstall apps with no issues, but is always asking to allow to access other apps data.
The same way AppCleaner does. Why an app uninstaller needs to access other apps data to do the job? There are two ways for an uninstaller app do the job:how do you propose an app that uninstalls other apps and deletes those apps’ data files will work if it doesn’t have access to other apps data?
Isn’t Pearcleaner open source?We Like I said, I don’t understand why Pearcleaner needs to access others apps data.
"Requirements: Full Disk permission to search for files and also Accessibility permission to delete/restore files"Like I said, I don’t understand why Pearcleaner needs to access others apps data.