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How to uninstall an app completely

Strata ProStrata 1.0.25Updated About a minute per app

Dragging an app to the Trash leaves its preferences, caches and support files behind. Strata's Uninstaller finds them, shows how sure it is about each, and moves the app and its files to the Trash together.

The Uninstaller's list of leftovers for one app, grouped Certain, Very likely and Likely, with the sure ones ticked

What you need

  • Strata Pro or the trial. You can look at any app's leftovers for free.
  • Full Disk Access, so every Library folder can be searched.

Steps

  1. Quit the app

    An open app writes its preferences again as it quits, which brings them back after the uninstall. Strata warns you if the app is running.

  2. Open the Uninstaller and choose the app

    Under Tools in the sidebar. Type in Filter apps, or use the Unused or Large filter, and click the app. Strata searches 18 places in your Library for what belongs to it.

  3. Check what will go

    The app and its Certain and Very likely leftovers are ticked. Read the Likely and Possible ones and tick those you recognise. Anything another installed app uses is never offered.

  4. Press Uninstall

    Uninstall… shows everything in one list. Confirm, and it all goes to the Trash, where Put Back can return it. If the app was in the Dock, its icon goes too, and comes back with it.

Several apps at once

Tick several apps in the list, or Command-click them. Under the Unused filter, Select All Unused ticks every app you have not opened for three months. Each app's leftovers are found in turn, and the apps appear as icons with their size and how many leftovers each has: click one to see its files. The button reads Uninstall 4 Apps…, for example.

If something goes wrong

  • The app itself shows a lock: an installer put it there, so only an administrator can move it. Press Show in Finder…, then Command Delete in Finder, which asks for your password. Strata still clears what the app left in your Library.
  • The app itself shows a puzzle piece: it has a system extension, which macOS removes only when Finder moves the app. Press Show in Finder on the app's row, then Command Delete in Finder. Strata still clears what the app left in your Library.
  • It is one of Apple's apps: it cannot be removed, by anyone. Strata can keep it closed instead.
  • The app came with its own uninstaller: run that first, then use Strata to find what it missed.

Where apps hide their files, and why dragging to the Trash is not enough, is in Dragging an app to the Trash does not uninstall it.