How To Uninstall App On Mac Via Terminal

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One of the most basic computer functions — deleting files and folders — is also one of the most essential. If you never get rid of anything, soon enough all those extra gigabytes will take a toll on your Mac’s processing power, RAM, and hard drive, not to mention your digital life will resemble a dreadful episode of Hoarders.

  1. How To Uninstall Files On Mac
  2. How To Uninstall Downloads On Mac
  3. How To Uninstall On A Mac
  4. How To Uninstall Software On Mac
  5. How To Uninstall App From Macbook
  6. How To Uninstall App On Mac Using Terminal

So deleting files is good and healthy. But how do you do that? Most people right-click on what they need gone and choose Move to Trash from the menu or use the File option in the menu bar. Others employ the ⌘ + Delete shortcut, which works across the system (even within dialog windows). Experts, however, often find themselves defaulting to the command line delete directory feature. Let’s see how and why you should learn it too.

How to remove directory with Terminal

Since macOS is a Unix-based system, nearly all system tasks you do every day with the help of its graphic interface can also be performed via the command line tool called Terminal.

And in using Terminal on your Mac, you will be able to have some advantages such as it is a quicker process is uninstalling some applications on your Mac. Though there are some commands that you would need to follow. So for you to uninstall your Safari browser on your Mac using Terminal, here is what you need to do. Go ahead and quit the Safari.

Why delete file command line feature is important

With regards to delete file or delete folder command line functionality, Terminal lets you:

  • Effortlessly erase one or multiple files, folders, and apps, bypassing any error messages you can get when you go the traditional route.
  • Remove files from Trash, including ones you can’t delete by simply emptying the trash.
  • Get rid of files that are invisible to you within Finder (usually system or root files, for example, .htaccess).
  • Delete files and folders in cases when Finder is unresponsive.

Note: The Mac command line delete file feature is final and irreversible. While it lets you avoid any error messages, it also removes the files completely, without any possibility of retrieving them later on.

Tip: Delete unneeded system files on Mac

  1. To uninstall Docker Toolbox from Mac, first simply download the following Docker Toolbox Uninstall Shell Script to your local machine. Use the Terminal application on your Mac (i.e. Press CMD + Space to open Spotlight Search and enter keyword 'Terminal') to change into the directory it was downloaded into (i.e. Cd /Downloads ), and then.
  2. To Uninstall the Time Doctor Silent App. The uninstall instructions can be found in the FAQ section of the Downloads page. Copy the uninstall command for macOS. Paste it into Terminal to uninstall. Note: If you’re asked for a password, enter the password for your computer.

How To Uninstall Files On Mac

Some files are hard to delete in a normal way because they sit deeply in system folders. These are such files as logs, broken downloads, caches, remains of old apps, etc. Still, deleting them could give your Mac an extra boost — that's because they are outdated and clutter your macOS.

To dig these files out, try a free version of CleanMyMac X. Among other things, this app has an impressive System Junk detector. When you download CleanMyMac X (this free version is notarized by Apple), you need to click on System Junk.
Just take a loot at the sheer amount of files it unearthed. To delete them, click on Clean.

How to use delete file command line feature

Removing files from your Mac forever using Terminal is deceptively simple: just use the rm command followed by the name of the file. Here’s how it works in practice:

  1. Launch Terminal from your Utilities folder in Applications.
  2. Check which directory you’re in by typing ls -la
  3. Then navigate down a directory with cd [directoryname] or up a directory with cd ./
  4. When you’re in the same directory as the file you want to delete, type rm [filename.extension]
  5. If you want to delete multiple files at once, list them all, but make sure there’s a space between each one.
  6. Press Enter to execute the command.

Now all the files you specified after rm are gone for good. Navigate directories in your Mac and repeat the process as many times as you want.

Surprised there was no confirmation before your files were deleted? /run-mac-apps-on-windows-8.html. Luckily there’s a way to add one as a safeguard for not deleting the wrong file by accident. Just use -i after the rm but before the first filename, like this: rm -i [filename.extension]. Terminal will then ask you whether you’re sure you want to delete the file. Reply y or yes followed by Enter and the file will be gone. This also works for multiple files, but you’ll have to confirm the removal of each one separately.

How to make command line delete directory

Surprisingly, you can’t delete a folder using the rm command because it has its own: rmdir.

Otherwise, rmdir works exactly the same as rm:

  1. Navigate to the appropriate directory using Terminal.
  2. Type rmdir [directoryname]
  3. Hit Enter.

Sadly, you can’t use the -i hack when you’re deleting folders, so be extra careful!

Another thing to keep in mind is that rmdir only deletes the directory, but can’t delete any files or folders located within that directory.

To delete a folder with everything in it, you need to use rm -r followed by the folder’s name. Using -i to create a warning here is possible and done like this: rm -ir [foldername].

How To Uninstall Downloads On Mac

When it’s too difficult to find a folder or file via Terminal, but you can detect them in Finder, simply drag and drop the file onto the Terminal window to generate its path.


Delete large and old folders using CleanMyMac X

As it happens with folders, they are easy to mess up and lose track of. That's why many apps provide an alternative interface for searching and deleting files which is more flexible than the Finder. For example, using CleanMyMac X (the app we've mentioned above) you can find massive folders that might have been evading you. You also can filter them by file type and other criteria.
The latest released version of this tool looks like this:

This app by developer MacPaw is available for a free download here. Using this app, files are removed for good, and as far as we know, it's irreversible.

Other ways to delete files and folders on Mac

The shortcut combination

We are sure you know how to drag to your files to the Trash. But here is an alternative way which deletes files at once, bypassing the Trash. There’s one less step involved (you don’t have to empty the bin). And you cannot reverse this action.
Select a file, and press [Option + ⌘ + Delete]

Delete hidden folders on Mac

Some folders on your Mac are made invisible to protect them from accidental deletion. They are system and support files you would ignore most of the time. But what if a folder seems empty but still takes up space? You can apply another shortcut combination to highlight these unseen objects. Then, you can delete them at your own risk.
To highlight hidden folders: [Press Shift + ⌘ + . dot key]
This best works if you open some system folder, like Library

Again, delete these folders only if you are sure what they are.

That was how to remove files and folders on your Mac, shown in multiple ways. Want to know more? Explore our blog for a whole universe of Mac tips!

Use Launchpad to delete an app

How To Uninstall On A Mac

Launchpad offers a convenient way to delete apps that were downloaded from the App Store.

How To Uninstall Software On Mac

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Press and hold the Option (⌥) key, or click and hold any app until the apps jiggle.
  4. 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.

Use the Finder to delete an app

  1. 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.
  2. Drag the app to the Trash, or select the app and choose File > Move to Trash.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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