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How to Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac to Remove Leftover Files Permanently
You dragged an app to the Trash, emptied it, but your Mac still says "Storage Full"? This is a common frustration for MacBook users who believe deleting an app automatically frees up disk space.
In reality, macOS apps often leave hidden files behind that continue occupying valuable storage. In this guide, you will learn how to completely uninstall apps on Mac, remove leftover files, and finally reclaim space safely and effectively.
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Part 1. Why Your Mac Still Has No Space Even After Deleting Apps
To completely uninstall an app on Mac, you must remove not only the app itself, but also all its associated data files. Dragging an app to the Trash only deletes the main application bundle. Configuration files, caches, logs, and support data often remain stored in system folders.
These leftovers continue to take up space and can accumulate over time, especially if you frequently install and remove software. In other words, uninstalling apps on Mac completely requires deleting both visible and hidden components.
Why Your Mac Still Has No Space Even After Deleting Apps
Many users are surprised to see storage barely change after deleting multiple applications. This happens for several reasons:
- App leftover files remain in system folders. See: How to remove app leftover files.
- Cached data continues to grow even after app removal
- Background services or login items are still active
- Apps downloaded outside the App Store scatter files across macOS
- Trash is emptied, but system data still retains related files
Without proper cleanup, your Mac keeps accumulating junk data even though the apps appear to be gone.
Related topic:
Common App Leftover File Locations on Mac
When you uninstall apps on Mac completely, these are the most common locations where leftover files hide:
- ~/Library/Application Support/
- ~/Library/Caches/
- ~/Library/Preferences/
- ~/Library/Logs/
- ~/Library/Containers/
Manually tracking all these locations is time-consuming and error-prone, which is why many users struggle with storage issues long after deleting apps.
Part 2. Best One-Click Way to Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac in Bulk with Leftover Removal
Deleting apps one by one and hunting for leftovers manually is inefficient, especially if your Mac is already low on space. This is where a dedicated Mac app uninstaller makes a significant difference. A professional tool can detect both installed apps and their hidden files automatically, ensuring nothing important is left behind.
Tenorshare Cleamio includes a built-in App Uninstaller designed to help you uninstall apps on Mac completely. It scans your system for installed applications, identifies associated leftover files, and removes everything in one process. This approach prevents storage bloat and eliminates the risk of missing hidden files.
How to Fully Uninstall Apps on Mac Using Tenorshare Cleamio
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Download and install Tenorshare Cleamio on your Mac. Launch the app and select "App Management" from the main interface, and click "Start.
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Wait for Cleamio to scan all installed applications and their related data, then select "App Uninstallation" and select the apps you want to uninstall.
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Review your selection and click "Uninstall" to delete the app and all associated files. After a while, the selected apps with their all leftover files will be deleted fully.
This method is especially effective if you want to remove multiple apps at once or free up space quickly without going through system folders.
Part 3. How to Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac [4 Common & Quick Ways]
There are some built-in ways of uninstalling apps on your Mac that are explained below:
Method 1. Uninstall Apps on Mac Using Finder (Basic Way)
Finder is the most familiar way for most users to uninstall apps on Mac. It is built into every Mac and requires no additional software. However, while this method removes the main application, it does not automatically clean up leftover files. This approach works best for basic removal, but understanding its limitations helps explain why storage issues persist.
Open "Finder" and click "Applications" in the sidebar.
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Locate the app you want to remove and drag the app to "Trash" or right-click and choose "Move to Trash".
Right-click "Trash" from the dock and click "Empty Trash".
This method deletes the app bundle but does not fully uninstall the app from the Mac.
Related topic:
Method 2. Completely Uninstall Apps on Mac via Launchpad
Launchpad provides a visually simple way to remove App Store applications. It is designed for convenience rather than deep cleanup. Apps installed from the Mac App Store integrate well with Launchpad, but this method still leaves certain data behind.
It is useful when you want to quickly remove visible apps, but it is not suitable for reclaiming large amounts of storage. However, it may work on the older versions and not on macOS Tahoe since it does not have the Launchpad. Instead, there is the "Apps" icon that does not support this functionality. Here is how to remove installed apps from a Mac with Launchpad:
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Open Launchpad and press and hold the "Option" button until icons start to jiggle.
Click the "X" button on the app and confirm deletion.
Note that this only works for apps downloaded from the App Store and does not remove leftover files.
Method 3. Completely Remove Apps on Mac Manually (Recommended)
Manual removal gives you full control over the uninstall process. It is effective when you want to ensure that all app-related files are removed. However, it requires careful attention to avoid deleting unrelated system files.
This method to completely uninstall an app on Mac is commonly used when uninstalling stubborn apps or software that leaves large support folders behind.
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Delete the app from "Applications" in Finder, and then click "Go" from the top, then choose "Go to Folder".
Visit each leftover location one by one:
- a. ~/Library/Application Support/
- b. ~/Library/Caches/
- c. ~/Library/Preferences/
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Search for folders matching the app name or developer name to move matching files to Trash, and then empty Trash.
This is one of the most effective ways to completely uninstall an app on a Mac, but it is time-consuming.
Related topic:
Method 4. Completely Uninstall Application in Mac Terminal
Terminal offers advanced control over file removal and is often used by experienced users. It allows you to delete apps and leftover files using command-line instructions. While powerful, it must be used cautiously. This method is useful when apps refuse to delete through Finder or Launchpad.
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Open "Terminal" from "Launchpad or Apps" and run the following command to remove the app: "sudo rm -rf /Applications/name.app". Replace "name" with the name of your app.
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After the uninstallation, manually locate and delete leftover folders using the command: "rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Name" by replacing the name of the app again, and enter your administrator password when prompted.
Incorrect commands can delete critical system files, so double-check before pressing Enter.
Part 4. How to Delete Apps on Mac That Won't Delete
Sometimes apps simply refuse to be removed, no matter how many times you try. This usually happens due to background processes, permission issues, or corrupted installations. Understanding why this happens makes it easier to fix.
Reasons Apps Can't Be Removed
- The app is currently running in the background
- The app launches at startup
- You don't have sufficient permissions
- The app icon is stuck in Launchpad
- Internet-downloaded apps install background services
Fixes to Remove Undeletable Apps
Below are simple fixes you can try to remove the undeletable apps:
1. Quit the App Completely
If the app processes are running, you cannot delete it, so you need to first quit it completely.
Open Activity Monitor or from the Dock, select the app.
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Force quit related processes by selecting them and pressing "X" on top.
2. Boot into Safe Mode
Some apps cannot be deleted in normal mode, but safe mode allows deleting them without affecting the system.
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Restart Mac and hold "Shift" then select "Continue in Safe Mode".
Delete the app in Safe Mode.
3. Remove Login Items
Apps in login items may prevent deletion, and removing them will help.
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Go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions
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Remove the app from startup by selecting it and clicking "-".
4. Change Permissions
Sometimes changing the app permissions allows you to delete the app.
Right-click the app > Get Info
Uncheck the "Locked" option
Set permissions to Read & Write
These fixes resolve most cases where apps won't delete.
People Also Ask about Uninstalling Apps on Mac Completely
Q1: How to completely delete app data on Mac after uninstalling?
You must remove leftover files from the Library folders or use an app uninstaller that detects hidden data automatically.
Q2: Why do some apps get deleted from Launchpad?
You must remove leftover files from the Library folders or use an app uninstaller that detects hidden data automatically.
Q3: How to uninstall apps on Mac downloaded from the Internet?
Delete the app from Applications and remove associated files from Library folders, or use a complete uninstaller.
Conclusion
If your Mac still feels full after deleting apps, the problem is almost always leftover files. Learning how to completely uninstall apps on Mac is the key to truly freeing up space and restoring performance.
While manual methods work, they are time-consuming and easy to get wrong. Tenorshare Cleamio simplifies the entire process by removing apps and their hidden data in one step, helping you reclaim storage safely and efficiently.
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By Jenefey Aaron
2026-01-09 / Mac Cleanup