Removing apps is a great way to free up space on your MacBook and keep things running smoothly. Whether you're making room for updates or simply reorganising, there are multiple ways to uninstall apps depending on how they were installed. We’ll walk you through each method.
There are several ways to remove apps from your Mac, iMac, or MacBook. This way, you can free up space for new apps or macOS Sequoia, for example. You can uninstall apps using Launchpad, Finder, the App Store, or directly from the Dock. Here’s how each method works.
Launchpad is ideal for removing apps downloaded from the App Store:
If no X appears, the app wasn’t downloaded from the App Store.
This method works best for apps installed outside the App Store:
Apps downloaded from the AppStore can also be removed from here:
You might not be able to delete certain apps because they’re built into macOS. Examples include Mail, Safari, and Music. You also can’t remove an app while it’s running. Quit the app or restart your Mac in Safe Mode before trying again.
macOS hides some system apps and files to prevent accidental deletion. To view them:
Be cautious: don’t delete system files unless you know what they do.
The process is nearly identical across all Mac devices, including iMacs and Mac Minis. Use Launchpad, Finder, or the Dock depending on how the app was installed.
Uninstalling apps is an easy way to optimise your Mac’s performance. Choose the method that matches where the app came from (App Store or otherwise). Be cautious with essential apps and system files and use Terminal only when needed.
