Moving an app to the Trash removes the app itself. Many apps also leave support files, caches, and preferences in your Library folder. To remove an app more fully, move it to the Trash first, then check your Library folder for files that match the app’s name. No method can guarantee zero leftover files, so review each match before you move it.
Quick steps
- Quit the app.
- Move the app to the Trash.
- Open your Library folder and search for the app’s name.
- Move only the files that clearly belong to the app to the Trash.
- Turn off the app’s login items in System Settings.
Step 1: Move the app to the Trash
- Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar.
- Select the app and press Command and Delete together.
- Enter your password if macOS asks for it.
If the app is inside a folder, such as one named after a company, open the folder first.
One-time purchase. Works on macOS 15 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Step 2: Check your Library folder
Your Library folder is hidden by default. Open it this way:
- In Finder, press Shift, Command, and G together.
- Type
~/Libraryand press Return. - Type the app’s name in the search box at the top right.
- Check each match before you move it.
Common places apps store files include:
- Application Support: saved data and project files
- Caches: temporary files the app rebuilds
- Preferences: settings files, usually ending in
.plist - Containers: data for some App Store and sandboxed apps
- Logs: records of what the app did
Warning: Never change files in /System or /Library. macOS needs those files to run. Warning: Some files hold your work, saved games, or settings you want to keep. Move a file to the Trash only if you are sure, and keep a backup first.
Step 3: Turn off login items
Some apps start in the background when you log in. Turn these off so they stop running after you remove the app:
- Open System Settings.
- Click General, then Login Items & Extensions.
- Turn off the app’s entries.
What to expect after a full uninstall
After you finish, the app should be gone from Applications and from Launchpad. You may still see a few small folders in your Library. Those are usually harmless, and you can leave them alone if you are not sure about them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I undo this?
Yes, as long as you have not emptied the Trash. Open the Trash, right-click the app, and choose Put Back. Files you moved from your Library folder can be put back the same way.
Will this remove every file the app made?
Not always. Some files are hard to match to an app by name. A complete removal is hard to guarantee, so check each match yourself.
Does Uninstallzy remove leftover files?
No. Uninstallzy moves the app itself to the Trash. After an uninstall, it can show you where some leftover folders are in Finder, but it does not delete them. You decide what to remove.
Want one simple step instead?
Uninstallzy shows every app with its size. Pick the app, confirm once, and it goes to the Trash.
One-time purchase. Works on macOS 15 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.