Sometimes deleting an app can be more complex than installing it on your Mac. You can try some basic methods like restarting the system or using in-built software to delete them. But some of the apps still deny uninstalling due to several reasons. This might slow down your system, run out the storage space, and occupy space for no reason.

So, here I will talk about how to delete apps on Mac that won’t delete. This article will cover other aspects and provide step-by-step method solutions for a broader understanding.

Why You Can Not Delete Apps

There could be several reasons for failure to uninstall an app from your device. In normal conditions, you are installing and deleting an app quickly on the device. But if you are unable to do, one of the following reasons is responsible-

The App Is Active While Deleting Process

This can be a simple reason for the failure of an app uninstallation. If you are trying to delete an app but forgot to close or exit it before launching the delete command, it might not get deleted. Due to the background activities of the app, your system will not be able to delete it permanently.

It Is A Pre-Installed App

Another primary reason is that the app is already pre-installed or a default system. According to Apple company, these apps are necessary for your devices, and you do not need to remove them. In such cases, you cannot remove them by using Mac’s default app uninstallation method.

The App Is Designed In Such Way

You cannot delete them because some of the installed apps are designed like that by the developers. Such apps may contain viruses and keep popping alert notifications. No matter how much you try, the app won’t be deleted.

However, there are few alternatives for deleting such apps. You can try any one of the following to get the same results.

Method 1: How To Delete Apps By Using Launchpad

One of the standard applications for this purpose you can think of is the Launchpad. It helps in starting, arranging, and managing apps on Mac. The latest version of the Launchpad icon has nine small squares to form a big square. It quickly deletes the installed apps from Mac. To delete the unwanted app, follow these easy steps-

Process

Step 1: Open the launchpad icon. You will find it at the bottom of the screen. You can also open it from the Application folder.

Step 2: Now, select the app you need to uninstall from the device. If it is not present on the screen, search the app name on the search bar at the top of the screen.

Step 3: Click and long-press that app. It will start shaking. A cross sign will appear on the corner of that app. Now click the “x” sign to get rid of it.

Step 4: A delete confirmation will pop on the screen. Confirm it, yes. Your app will be uninstalled.

Step 5: Finally, you need to right-click on the Trash icon. It is located in the Dock. Choose the Empty Trash option key to remove the deleted app permanently from the system.

Method 2: How To Delete Apps By Using Finder

Another default application for uninstallation purposes is Finder. It helps in managing the apps on your Mac. The icon’s shape is square and has a smiley face. You will find it in the Dock of the screen. It involves easy steps and a few clicks to uninstall any app. Just follow these steps-

Process

Step 1: Open the Finder icon. You will find it at the bottom of the screen. You can also open Finder from the Application folder.

Step 2: A list of all apps installed on your device will pop up on the screen. Choose the app that you want to delete. Sometimes, these apps might be inside of a folder. To open it, double-click on it and select the app.

Step 3: You need to enter passwords to unlock password-protected apps. Either drag the app to the Trash bin icon or right-click on the app, select the Move to Trash option. You can also click on the app icon and press the Delete key. The app will be removed.

Step 4: At last, go to the Finder menu at the top. Select the Empty Trash option to delete the app permanently from the trash bin.

Method 3: How To Delete Apps By Using MacClean

There are times that after using all the traditional methods, the stubborn app will not be deleted. So, it would help if you relied upon the third-party app uninstaller. One such app is MacClean. It is popularly used for the app uninstallation process for Mac.

By using it, you can delete the app and its associated files. Thus, it provides a better storage cleaning. It can delete all the cache files and junk files of that app from Mac. You can use it in macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina. For deleting the app by using MacClean, follow these steps-

Process

1. Download the MacClean application on your device.
2. Click on the Cleanup Tools option on the left side of the screen.
3. Now select the App Uninstaller option on the right side of the screen.
4. A box containing the installed app names will pop up. On the left side, select the app that you want to delete. And select all options on the right side of the box.
5. Now click on the Clean option button. The selected app will be removed.

Method 4: How To Delete Apps By Using Force Quit Applications

You have already come across some common reasons that hamper the uninstallation process. In such cases, you can try to uninstall them by using the Force Quit application. Instead of using pre-installed software in the Mac, you need to use the keyboard for this purpose. Just follow these simple steps-

Process

Step 1: You do not need to select or open the app you want to uninstall. Instead, you need to press the Command + Option + Esc keys together on your keyboard.

Step 2: A Force Quit Applications box will open after giving the Command. It will contain all apps of the device. Now, choose the app that you wish to delete from the box.

Step 3: After selecting the app, press the Force Quit button. The app will be closed.

Step 4: Now go to the Launchpad. Long press the selected app. A cross sign will appear on the top corner of the app icon. Click on that.

Step 5: Finally, you need to right-click on the Trash icon. It is located in the Dock. Choose the Empty Trash option to remove the deleted app permanently from the system.

Method 5: How To Delete Apps By Using Terminal

The Terminal is a command-line system based on a few commands used to delete an app permanently. Once you delete an app using it, you cannot undo it. You have to reinstall the macOS to reinstall those apps.

To delete an app by Terminal, follow these steps-

Step 1: To open the Terminal Option, click on Launchpad or Finder. Search Terminal option. And click it to open.

Step 2: Now, you have to type the command- cd /Applications/. It will modify the Applications directory.

Step 3: You need to write the app’s name to delete while typing the command option. The typing command will be sudo rm -rf (app name).app/.

Method 6: How To Delete Apps By Using TunesBro CleanGeeker

TunesBro CleanGeeker is also a third-party app remover application. It is a practical application that can delete apps, files, and software from Mac. Moreover, it can scan and delete multiple files at one go. It can trace junk and cache files also. While clearing any app file will not harm the device’s software. It makes your Mac work faster.

Process

1. Download the CleanGeeker application on your device. Then enter the license code to get started.
2. Open the application. Click on the Uninstaller option from the mid-left sidebar. It will start to scan your entire computer data.
3. Now a box containing all the apps that have been installed in the system will pop up. Select the app for uninstallation.
4. Now click the delete button to delete permanently.

Method 7: How To Delete Apps from App Store Without Actually Removing It

You can also delete an app permanently by uninstalling it from the App Store. After doing it, you cannot recover or download it from there. However, if that app is linked to the iTunes account, it will remain active. You can redownload it from iTunes. So, by using the following steps, you can delete an app from the App Store without actually removing it-

1. Click on the Launchpad icon.
2. A box will open. Select an app to delete.
3. Click and long-press on the app icon. The app will start shaking, and a small cross will appear in the top corner.
4. Click on the cross mark. A confirmation notification will pop up. Confirm it by clicking on the Delete option. The app will be removed.

We hope that you find this article helpful and informative. Let us know your methods for deleting such apps in the comment section.

Last Updated on February 28, 2022 by Sabira Fatimi