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How do you usually delete application leftovers on Mac? Find its icon in the Applications folder, drag it to the Trash folder, and then empty the Trash folder. If so, you are like lots of other people. But there’s a big problem with that way of getting rid of apps. Most apps make extra files and folders outside of the Applications folder, which is the problem. These stay on your Mac even after you delete the app.
These files and folders are called “leftovers,” and while a few of them might not seem like a big deal, they can add up over time. This can slow down your Mac over time. Over time, these leftover files will continue to take up space on your Mac, which could slow it down. When you move an app to the Trash, everything should go with it. Control-click on the Show Package Contents button if you want to see what you get when you download the app.
There will be a bunch of other folders that hold everything the app needs to work. So, pretty much everything. When you drag an app’s folder to the trash, you get rid of most of the app’s inner workings. But you probably have dozens of preference files and data from apps you haven’t used in a while lying around your Mac. You can also go to the official Mac support site to know more information.
Ways to delete application leftovers on Mac
Automate Clean-Up Task through a Clean Up Software
If the manual method above seems too time-consuming, you can use third-party software to clean up your Mac and get rid of all application leftovers with the click of a button. Here are the steps:
- Download & install the *trial version of Speedup Mac on your MacBook, iMac, or Mac mini.
- Launch the software and select Macintosh HD from the left pane.
- Press the Scan button to initiate the scanning process on the selected drive.
- Check the total size of Mac storage space occupied by the leftover files.
- Click the “SpeedUp Now” button to remove leftovers and other unwanted Mac files.
- Let the software perform the cleaning task on the Mac storage drive.
- Click OK on the “Process Completed” dialog box.
Clean Up Mac Leftover Files through Manual Process
On a Mac, all you have to do to uninstall an app is drag it to the Trash. Even though trashing works for most programmes, some come with their own uninstallers. Do the following to find and delete files left over after you uninstall an app on a Mac:
- Go to the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder, find leftover preference files of apps that you’ve already uninstalled, and delete them manually.
- Go to the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder, find any folders and components of removed apps, and delete them. Delete leftover Application Support folders too.
- Go to the /Library/StartupItems/ and /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folders one at a time, look for leftover start-up items, and remove them.
- Go to System Preferences > Accounts > Login Items and find the item in the list for the application you want to remove. Then click on the “–” button to delete it from the list.
- One by one, go to the /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ and /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/ folders, look for leftover start-up daemons or agents, and delete them.
- Go to the /Library/Receipts/ folder, find any files that have .pkg extension, and delete them. These files are used by macOS to determine installed apps.
- To find and remove any other leftover files, conduct a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term. Delete any resultant files that you find.
FAQ
Can I delete residual files?
By getting rid of these files, you can make more room on your device. The settings of the app are not changed. Important: If you use Files by Google to get rid of junk files or delete files, the data will be gone for good.
Why should I delete unused programs?
Getting rid of programmes you don’t use or don’t want can help your computer in many ways. By getting rid of these programmes, you’ll free up space on your hard drive. Increasing computer speed: If you get rid of programmes you don’t use, they won’t be able to run in the background. This will make your PC run faster.
How do I delete junk files on my macbook air?
Get rid of files that are in your Downloads folder. You can open this folder from the Dock or the Finder’s menu bar by choosing Go > Downloads. If you use the Mail app to check your email, go to the menu bar and choose Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail. Pick Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items as well.
Where are app files stored on Mac?
If the Applications folder doesn’t show up in the Finder sidebar, go to the menu bar and choose Finder > Settings (or Preferences in macOS Monterey and older versions). Then, click the Sidebar tab and make sure the box next to Applications is checked.