App preferences are small files that store an app’s settings, such as window layout or account options. They sit in the Preferences folder in your Library. Remove them only for apps you have already uninstalled, because deleting them resets the app’s settings.
Quick steps
- Move the app to the Trash.
- Open
~/Library/Preferencesin Finder. - Find files named after the app or its company.
- Move the matching files to the Trash.
Step 1: Move the app to the Trash
Remove the app first. Preference files for an app you still use are best left alone.
Step 2: Open the Preferences folder
- In Finder, press Shift, Command, and G.
- Type
~/Library/Preferencesand press Return.
One-time purchase. Works on macOS 15 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Step 3: Find the app’s files
Preference files often use a name like com.company.appname.plist. Search for the company name first, then the app name. Some apps use several preference files, so check each match.
Warning: Do not open or edit preference files by hand. A wrong change can stop an app from opening. Warning: Do not delete preference files for an app you still use. The app will reset its settings.
Step 4: Move the files to the Trash
Select each matching file and press Command and Delete. If you need the settings again, open the Trash and choose Put Back.
Frequently asked questions
Will this remove my documents?
No. Preference files hold settings only. Your documents are stored in other places.
Can I restore preferences after I delete them?
If you have not emptied the Trash, you can put the file back. Otherwise, you may need a Time Machine backup.
Why would I remove preferences at all?
Usually you do not need to. Remove them only when you are cleaning up after an app you no longer use, or when an app will not open because of its settings.
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.