Use Launchpad to delete an app
Launchpad offers a convenient way to delete apps that were downloaded from the App Store.
- To open Launchpad, click it in the Dock or open it from your Applications folder. You can also pinch closed with your thumb and three fingers on your trackpad.
- If you don't see the app in Launchpad, type its name in the search field at the top of the screen. Or swipe right or left with two fingers on your trackpad to show the next or previous page.
- Press and hold the Option (⌥) key, or click and hold any app until the apps jiggle.
- Click next to the app that you want to delete, then click Delete to confirm. The app is deleted immediately. Apps that don't show either didn't come from the App Store or are required by your Mac. To delete an app that didn't come from the App Store, use the Finder instead.
Deleting an app doesn't cancel any subscription you may have purchased with that app. Learn how to cancel subscriptions for apps that were downloaded from the App Store.
If you absolutely must remove those files (say, if you want to reset an app to its default settings), you can use a handy app called AppCleaner to fully uninstall an app, along with all its extra files. Just launch AppCleaner, search for an application in its main window, and click on it, then click the “Remove” button in the popup window. Aug 29, 2017 After upgrading to a newer version of Mac OS X (Yosemite 10.10 and El Capitan 10.11) or macOS (Sierra 10.12 and High Sierra 10.13), you may end up getting an annoying new pop-up message whenever you start your computer. It says, “To use the java command-line tool, you need to install a JDK.”.
Use the Finder to delete an app
- Locate the app in the Finder. Most apps are in your Applications folder, which you can open by clicking Applications in the sidebar of any Finder window. Or use Spotlight to find the app, then press and hold the Command (⌘) key while double-clicking the app in Spotlight.
- Drag the app to the Trash, or select the app and choose File > Move to Trash.
- If you're asked for a user name and password, enter the name and password of an administrator account on your Mac. This is probably the name and password you use to log in to your Mac.
- To delete the app, choose Finder > Empty Trash.
Learn more
To use an app again after deleting it, either reinstall it or restore it from a backup.
- To reinstall apps that were installed as part of macOS, reinstall macOS. This applies to apps such as Safari, iTunes, Books, Messages, Mail, Calendar, Photos, and FaceTime.
- You can also redownload apps, music, movies, TV shows, and books that were installed from the App Store, iTunes Store, or Apple Books.
Learn how to delete apps on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Learn what to do if the Dock contains an icon with a question mark.
![Mac computer command shortcuts Mac computer command shortcuts](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126680170/194520329.gif)
The App Store offers a quick way to find and install applications on your Mac, but Apple does not have an interface for removing any of the programs you have added. While the App Store downloads applications, you must resort to methods other than the App Store program for removing your purchases.
The first approach for removing programs is the most intuitive and commonly used, which is to simply go to the Applications folder, drag the unwanted program to the Trash, and then empty the trash; however, this will only remove the application file and not any other resources it may set up.
To fully uninstall your App Store apps, you can use the “uninstall” command in the Terminal, which is a relatively undocumented program but will allow you to fully remove programs on several conditions:
- The programs must have been installed by the App Store
- You must run this command as an administrator
- You must be logged in to run this command (it invokes graphical interface elements)
![Remove app from computer command line mac create table Remove app from computer command line mac create table](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126680170/220321916.jpg)
- Type “sudo uninstall file://”
- Drag the desired application from the Applications folder to the Terminal window
When you perform these two steps, you should end up with a command that looks like the following (note there are three slashes in the file designation, with no space between them). In this case, removing the iAntivirus program from Symantec, which is out of date and for which Symantec has dropped support:
When you run this, the uninstall command will determine if the app can be uninstalled in this manner, and then show the progress of the uninstall before dropping you back at the command line. When finished, your app and all components of it should be fully removed from your system.
When run, the uninstall command will show a progress output as it removes the targeted App Store program.
Again this command is available as an option to use as an alternative to simply dragging programs to the trash to remove them. While for most intents and purposes the difference here is minimal, using the command guarantees a thorough uninstall.
Remove App From Computer Command Line Mac Download
UPDATE: It appears that with the OS X 10.10.1 update, Apple has removed the “uninstall” command line utility, so this option is no longer available. However, you can still remove applications by clicking and holding them in LaunchPad, and then clicking the small X next to the ones that are eligible for uninstall.