How to remove app leftovers on Mac

Find and remove app leftovers on a Mac safely. Check your Library folder carefully, review each match, and keep anything that holds your work.

Edited by the Uninstallzy teamUpdated 29 October 2026For macOS 15 or later

App leftovers are files an app leaves behind after you move it to the Trash. They are usually in your Library folder. You can find them by searching for the app’s name, then check each match before you remove it. Keep anything that holds your work.

What leftovers look like

Leftovers are usually named after the app or its company. Common types include:

  • Support files: saved data, usually in Application Support
  • Caches: temporary files, usually in Caches
  • Preferences: settings files ending in .plist
  • Containers: data for some App Store and sandboxed apps
  • Logs: records of what the app did

Quick steps

  1. Move the app to the Trash.
  2. Open your Library folder.
  3. Search for the app’s name.
  4. Check each match.
  5. Move only the files that belong to the app to the Trash.

Step 1: Open your Library folder

  1. In Finder, press Shift, Command, and G together.
  2. Type ~/Library and press Return.

Step 2: Search for the app

  1. Click the search box in the top right of the Finder window.
  2. Type the app’s name, then the company name.
  3. Look at the folder names that match.

Buy and download

One-time purchase. Works on macOS 15 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

Step 3: Check each match

Open the folder before you move anything. Some folders hold your work, saved games, or settings you still need. If you cannot tell what a file is for, leave it where it is.

Warning: Do not move a file if you are not sure which app it belongs to. Warning: Keep a backup before you remove anything from your Library folder.

Step 4: Move confirmed leftovers to the Trash

Select the files you are sure about, then press Command and Delete. Wait a day or two before you empty the Trash, in case an app needs one of them.

Frequently asked questions

Are app leftovers harmful?

Usually not. They take up some space, and they are harmless for most apps. Remove them only if you want a clean result or need the space.

Does Uninstallzy remove leftovers?

No. Uninstallzy moves the app to the Trash. After an uninstall, it can show you where some leftover folders are, but it does not delete them.

Where can I learn about each type of leftover?

Read the guides on support files, caches, preferences, containers, and logs. Each one explains the folder it covers.

Want one simple step instead?

Uninstallzy shows every app with its size. Pick the app, confirm once, and it goes to the Trash.

Buy and download

One-time purchase. Works on macOS 15 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

More guides

All Mac uninstall guides