Learn how to completely uninstall apps on your Mac that won’t delete from Launchpad. Use Terminal and other methods for full app removal and cleanup.
When using macOS, many users expect to simply drag and drop apps to the Trash via Launchpad, but sometimes an app won’t delete as expected. You may click the app, see it wiggle, and try to remove it, but no delete icon appears. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you need to free up disk space or get rid of unwanted programs.
What is Launchpad on Mac?
Launchpad is a built-in application management feature on macOS that provides users with an easy way to access, organize, and manage their applications. It offers a similar experience to the Home screen on iOS, providing a grid layout of app icons that you can click on to open or manage. If you’ve ever used an iPhone or iPad, you’ll find the concept of Launchpad very familiar.
Launchpad was introduced in OS X Lion (10.7) and has since become a key component of macOS. It allows users to access all their installed applications in one place without having to navigate through Finder or the Applications folder.
Why Some Mac Apps Won’t Delete
Before we jump into the various ways to delete apps on Mac, it’s important to understand why some apps won’t delete in the first place. Several factors can contribute to this issue:
System-Protected Apps
macOS is designed to keep critical system applications secure and protected. Applications like Safari, Mail, Maps, and others that come preinstalled with the macOS operating system are system-critical. These apps cannot be deleted by default to maintain system integrity. Apple locks these apps down to prevent accidental removal, which could lead to system instability.
Built-in Applications: These apps are part of the macOS ecosystem and are essential for the system to function correctly.
How to handle: You can’t delete these apps without making changes to the system’s settings, which is not recommended for casual users. However, you can remove these apps from the dock or restrict their use via parental controls.
Apps Running in the Background
Sometimes, an app won’t delete simply because it’s still running in the background. Certain apps or processes may continue to run even if you close their main interface.
How to resolve: Quit the application completely and check if there are any helper processes running. If the app is active in the background, macOS will prevent its removal.
Solution: Use Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities) to terminate the app’s background processes before attempting to delete the app.
Third-Party Apps Installed Outside the App Store
Apps that are downloaded from sources outside the App Store may not have the option to be deleted from Launchpad in the same way that App Store apps do. These apps typically don’t have an “X” button in Launchpad and must be deleted manually through Finder or other methods.
How to remove: These apps must be deleted by locating their installation files in the Applications folder or using uninstaller tools.
Corrupted Application Bundles
In some cases, the app bundle itself can become corrupted, preventing macOS from properly recognizing or deleting it. This can result from incomplete installations, outdated software, or file system issues.
Solution: Use methods such as Finder or Terminal to manually remove the app. Sometimes, you may need to clear up corrupted cache files to remove an app completely.
Insufficient Permissions
If you don’t have administrator permissions on your Mac, you may not be able to delete certain applications. macOS requires administrator access to modify system files and settings, including app removal.
How to address: Make sure you have admin rights on your Mac, or use the admin credentials to approve the deletion process when prompted.
How To Delete Apps on Mac that Won’t Delete
Standard Methods to Delete Apps on Mac
For most users, standard methods like Launchpad or Finder are sufficient to delete apps. Let’s look at the steps for these approaches.
Deleting Apps via Launchpad
Launchpad is macOS’s built-in app manager, and it’s the easiest way to uninstall applications that were downloaded from the Mac App Store. Here’s how to delete apps from Launchpad:
Steps to Delete Apps Using Launchpad
- Quit the App
Ensure the app is not running. If the app is active, it won’t be deleted. Use Command + Q to close it or right-click on the app icon in the dock and choose Quit. - Open Launchpad
- Click on the Launchpad icon in the Dock or access it via Finder > Applications.
- Alternatively, use the pinch gesture on your trackpad to bring up Launchpad.
- Enter Jiggle Mode
Once Launchpad is open, click and hold any app icon until they all start jiggling. The apps that can be deleted will have an X appear in the upper-left corner of their icons. - Delete the App
Click the X button on the app you want to delete. A confirmation message will appear. Click Delete to remove the app. - App Not Deleting?
If there’s no X, the app wasn’t installed from the App Store and can’t be deleted via Launchpad.
Pro Tip: If you don’t see the X, it likely means the app wasn’t installed from the App Store. In this case, move on to using Finder or Terminal for manual removal.
Deleting Apps via Finder
For apps that don’t show up in Launchpad, you’ll need to use Finder to manually delete them. This works for both App Store and non-App Store applications.
Steps to Delete Apps Using Finder
- Quit the App: Again, make sure the app is completely closed. Open Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities) if you need to end any background processes.
- Open the Applications Folder: Go to Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Alternatively, you can open Spotlight (Command + Space), type Applications, and press Enter.
- Move to Trash: Locate the app you want to delete. Drag the app to the Trash in the Dock or right-click the app and select Move to Trash.
- Empty the Trash: After moving the app to the Trash, right-click the Trash icon in the dock and select Empty Trash to permanently delete the app from your Mac.
Note: If you’re prompted for a password, this means the app is protected, and you’ll need to enter your administrator credentials to proceed.
Advanced Methods to Force Delete Mac Apps
If you’ve tried the above methods and the app still won’t delete, you can use more advanced techniques such as Terminal or third-party tools like Avast Cleanup to force-delete stubborn apps and their residual files.
Force Deleting Apps Using Terminal
Terminal provides more control for deleting apps that won’t remove through normal means.
Steps to Delete an App Using Terminal
- Quit the App: Use Command + Q to quit the app or use Activity Monitor to force quit any associated processes.
- Open Terminal: Go to Applications > Utilities and open Terminal.
- Navigate to the Applications Folder: Type the following command to navigate to the Applications folder:
cd /Applications - Delete the App Using Sudo Command
To remove the app, type the following command: bashCopyEditsudo rm -rf "AppName.app"- Replace
"AppName.app"with the name of the app you want to delete. - Enter your administrator password when prompted.
- Replace
- Remove Residual Files
After deleting the app, you should manually remove any leftover service files by searching the following directories:- ~/Library/Application Support
- ~/Library/Caches
- ~/Library/Preferences
- ~/Library/Logs
Caution: Be careful when using Terminal. The wrong command could delete essential system files.
Using Avast Cleanup to Delete Apps
Avast Cleanup is a third-party tool designed to streamline app removal on macOS. This tool not only helps you delete apps but also clears out any associated service files, caches, and logs that often remain after deletion. Here’s how to use Avast Cleanup to delete stubborn apps:
Steps to Delete Apps Using Avast Cleanup
- Download and Install Avast Cleanup: Visit the Avast website and download Avast Cleanup for Mac. Open the downloaded file, drag the application into the Applications folder, and launch it.
- Grant Permissions: Avast will ask for certain system permissions. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and grant full disk access for Avast Cleanup.
- Run a System Scan: Open Avast Cleanup and click on the Scan button to scan for leftover files, large files, and unused apps.
- Choose the Apps to Remove: Avast will categorize the apps based on usage. Select the apps you want to uninstall, and Avast Cleanup will automatically remove the apps and all their associated files.
- Confirm Deletion: Click Uninstall and provide administrator credentials if prompted. Avast will take care of the rest.
Removing Residual Files After Deleting an App
Even after deleting an app, traces of it can remain on your Mac. These residual files can accumulate over time and take up valuable disk space. Here’s how to manually find and delete these leftover files:
Key Folders to Check for Residual Files
~/Library/Application Support: This folder contains files related to app data and configuration.
~/Library/Caches: Temporary files that apps create while running.
~/Library/Preferences: App preferences are stored here in .plist files.
~/Library/Logs: App logs and crash reports are stored here.
How to Remove Residual Files
- Access the Library Folder: Open Finder, click Go in the menu, and select Go to Folder. Type
~/Libraryand press Enter. - Search for App Files: Look for folders or files associated with the app you deleted. Delete any found files related to the app by dragging them to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash: Don’t forget to empty the Trash to fully remove these files.
Useful Resources for Managing Apps on Mac
To help streamline app management and ensure your Mac remains free from unnecessary files, here are some helpful resources:
Apple’s Official Guide to Deleting Apps: Learn about the different methods for deleting apps and managing system settings directly from Apple.
Avast Cleanup for Mac: An all-in-one tool for optimizing your Mac, removing unwanted apps, and cleaning residual files.
Activity Monitor Guide: A powerful utility for tracking background processes and terminating apps that refuse to close.
Conclusion
Deleting apps on Mac is usually simple, but sometimes, you’ll encounter stubborn apps that refuse to delete. By understanding the causes behind this issue and using the right tools and methods, you can ensure that your Mac stays clean and clutter-free. Whether you use Launchpad, Finder, Terminal, or tools like Avast Cleanup, there’s a solution to suit every situation.
By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can delete apps that won’t delete through normal means and remove leftover files, reclaiming valuable storage space and keeping your Mac in top condition.
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