what's the best UnInstaller?

[genome2k]

Hi guys I am kind of an app maniac but I am also "neat freak". I am always tempted to try out softwares but also get obsessive to clean up every trace of a software when it comes to remove an APP.

I've tried a number of Uninstallers but none of them give me peace. Different UnInstallers would give you a different list of files to be removed. And comments were also inconsistent on MacUpdate.

As to my own observation, AppZapper was weak as I could manually find preference files left in the system folders after its "cleaning job". And CleanMyMac was sort of overkilling as it removed maybe some .plist file that were also related to other softwares, and caused other softwares failed to function (yes maybe i chose too many files to remove).

So whats your say?

1. What is your choice for uninstalling?

2. Is there any APP monitor all the system and ~/ folders for file changing/file generation and categorize all the changes by applications - so I could manually check if it was "clean"?

3. Btw, do you use any "sandbox" app when you test a software?


Thanks

 

[Jolly Giant]

see this post by GGJstudios.

 

[genome2k]

see this by GGJstudios.

Thanks a lot Jolly. Thats very informative.

However, I'd like to consider GGJstudios' manual solution the last resolve. Or it's a way to confirm an APP is really gone. But I guess we still need to discuss what the "Best practice" is, meaning the "best" way in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness.

1. Will that be a good strategy to use the combination of TrashMe (or alike) and a manual search? -- If we know what kind of files/locations are mostly missed by TrashMe we can use TrashMe for a "preliminary deletion" then we append a manual search to clean up the residues. The purpose of doing so is to reduce the manual work as much as possible.

2. Any idea about using AppleScript/Automator intead of doing the manual finder search everytime?

3 Btw, what do you guys use to edit a plist file? Sometimes a plist file is associated with multiple softwares and you cannot simply delete it -- you need to edit it.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Thanks a lot Jolly. Thats very informative.

However, I'd like to consider GGJstudios' manual solution the last resolve. Or it's a way to confirm an APP is really gone. But I guess we still need to discuss what the "Best practice" is, meaning the "best" way in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness.

1. Will that be a good strategy to use the combination of TrashMe (or alike) and a manual search? -- If we know what kind of files/locations are mostly missed by TrashMe we can use TrashMe for a "preliminary deletion" then we append a manual search to clean up the residues. The purpose of doing so is to reduce the manual work as much as possible.

2. Any idea about using AppleScript/Automator intead of doing the manual finder search everytime?

3 Btw, what do you guys use to edit a plist file? Sometimes a plist file is associated with multiple softwares and you cannot simply delete it -- you need to edit it.

1. If you use one of the removal/uninstall applications and then also have to use the manual method, why not use the manual method only? It is less steps.
2. You could save the search and just change the search term.
3. I don't do that, thus I can't comment on it.

Anyway, also read the rest of the thread you got linked to, at least GGJstudios' posts, as he shows, that Finder found more items than the removal/uninstall applications.

 

[richard.mac]

i use an uninstaller app like App Cleaner (free) for the convenience and then if its an app where i think files would be left over, i find them in Spotlight with system files shown.

 

[pawelthegreat]

I use AppTrap which is basically an addon to System Prefs.

It comes up only when you put an app in the TRash asking of you would like to delete associated files.
It has never been a problem for me.

Any comments on this software??

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I use AppTrap which is basically an addon to System Prefs.

It comes up only when you put an app in the TRash asking of you would like to delete associated files.
It has never been a problem for me.

Any comments on this software??

This:

Bad idea! AppZapper, AppCleaner, CleanApp, TrashMe, and similar apps do not do a thorough job of removing all files/folders related to deleted apps. I tested several of these, using Skype as the app to be removed. Of 17 items to be removed:

AppZapper missed 13 items
AppCleaner missed 11 items
AppDelete missed 8 items
Hazel missed 9 items​

I also tested AppTrap, CleanMyMac and a few others, but don't recall how many items they missed. All left files/folders behind. In most cases, they remove .plist files and a few others, but leave behind much larger files and folders. (you will find a discussion of these tests in the thread linked below)

One app that I would not recommend, based on the number of complaints that have been posted in this forum and elsewhere, is CleanMyMac. As an example: CleanMyMac cleaned too much

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

Best way to FULLY DELETE a program​

 

[ECUpirate44]

In short, the best uninstaller is the user.

 

[GGJstudios]

However, I'd like to consider GGJstudios' manual solution the last resolve.

Why? It's already been proven that none of the removal apps are completely effective. The bottom line is this: Do you want something convenient? If so, simply drag the app to the Trash and be done with it. Do you want something that completely removes the app and all its files/folders? Use the manual method. The removal apps are a poor compromise between those two.

1. Will that be a good strategy to use the combination of TrashMe (or alike) and a manual search? -- If we know what kind of files/locations are mostly missed by TrashMe we can use TrashMe for a "preliminary deletion" then we append a manual search to clean up the residues. The purpose of doing so is to reduce the manual work as much as possible.

No, because TrashMe is like the other apps. It removes some, but not all, of the files/folders associated with the apps. If you have to use the manual method to clean up after TrashMe, why use TrashMe at all?

2. Any idea about using AppleScript/Automator intead of doing the manual finder search everytime?

No, because not every app names the associated files/folders the same way. Also, you have to ask yourself how often you plan on removing apps. This shouldn't be something you're having to do on a regular basis.

3 Btw, what do you guys use to edit a plist file? Sometimes a plist file is associated with multiple softwares and you cannot simply delete it -- you need to edit it.

Give an example where you would need to edit a .plist file that is used by multiple apps.

In short, the best uninstaller is the user.

True.