Best way to FULLY DELETE a program?

[jayeskreezy]

I have a trial of the Adobe Suite on my computer that I want to fully delete. I know Adobe leaves residuals in your library and system files sometimes even after you go and delete it. Is there a Mac app that fully deletes programs?

[DaveAmbler]

I personally use http://appzapper.com/ and it works great!

[GGJstudios]

You can use apps like AppCleaner and AppZapper, but even they don't delete everything. They mostly only delete the .plist files that contain your user preferences for the apps, in case you ever want to reinstall them. These are very small text files and don't eat up much space anyway. What those apps leave behind are frequently much bigger files, typically located in the following folders:

/Users/username/Library/Application Support/
/Users/username/Library/Caches/
/Users/username/Library/Logs/
etc.

There is no app that removes everything. Even an app's uninstaller will leave things behind. If you want it all gone, manual deletion is the only way.

[munkery]

There is a new app called TrashMe that works like AppCleaner but has better detection rates.

http://trashme.jibapps.com/

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by munkery

There is a new app called TrashMe that works like AppCleaner but has better detection rates.

http://trashme.jibapps.com/

It's Snow Leopard only. Won't run on Leopard, so I can't test it. I'd be interested to see someone test to see if it detects things left by other apps, as described in my previous post.

[jon08]

I still recommend AppDelete as a more effective app than AppZapper or AppCleaner, but as GGJStudios suggested: if you really want every single bit of an app gone, your best bet is manually deleting it.

For that I suggest you download EasyFind, which will help you track all the files you want to look for...

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11076/easyfind

[GGJstudios]

I just tested a few of these, using Skype.app as the file to be deleted.

AppZapper found 4 items
AppCleaner found 6 items
AppDelete found 9 items
EasyFind found 16 items
Finder found 17 items

[munkery]

Just for those interested, I compared AppDelete to TrashMe. They almost always found the same related items. The only exception was TrashMe found 1 more item related to NeoOffice.

How do you find so many items with Finder? Do you manually navigate various folders looking for files? Do you do a specific kind of search? I am unable to find that many using finder.

I do agree using finder is the most thorough way.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by munkery

How do you find so many items with Finder? Do you manually navigate various folders looking for files? Do you do a specific kind of search? I am unable to find that many using finder.

I do agree using finder is the most thorough way.

Like this:

[munkery]

Perfect. Awesome. Thank you!

[jon08]

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

Like this:

Attachment 247911

Well, I tried the method you proposed and both Finder and EasyFind found 15 files related to Skype...

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by jon08

Well, I tried the method you proposed and both Finder and EasyFind found 15 files related to Skype...

It won't always be the same number of files for all users. Some users have crash reports or logs or other components that other users don't have.

[jon08]

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

It won't always be the same number of files for all users. Some users have crash reports or logs or other components that other users don't have.

I know.. the point I was trying to make is that apparently both will find the same amount of files.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by jon08

I know.. the point I was trying to make is that apparently both will find the same amount of files.

... on some systems. They didn't find the same number on mine, but they were close enough. EasyFind works fine for those who don't want to use the built-in Finder functions.

[circularforward]

Originally Posted by munkery

Just for those interested, I compared AppDelete to TrashMe. They almost always found the same related items. The only exception was TrashMe found 1 more item related to NeoOffice.

Thanks, I'll look into TrashMe now as it seems that it and AppDelete are better than AppZapper, which I had been using.

[GGJstudios]

While this thread is a few months old, I'll add this for those who might find it in a search:


To manually remove an application and all associated files:

1. Launch Activity Monitor and change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes", then make sure the app you want to remove is not running. If it is, quit the process before proceeding.
   
   
2. Launch Finder (see image below) and search your entire hard drive for the app name (hopefully unique, such as Skype)
   
   
3. In Finder, select View > "as List", if you haven't already done so. Do not use "as Icons" for this procedure.
   
   
4. You can narrow the search to specific folders or search your whole Mac, which is preferred
   
   
5. In Snow Leopard and earlier, click "File Name" instead of "Contents" for better results.
   In Lion and later, click the + button below the search term, then select "Name" "Contains" and enter the app name. (see image)

   

6. Click the + button below the search term to add criteria, then click the search criteria drop-down and select "Other...", then "System files"
   
   
7. Click the "aren't included" and change to "are included"
   
   
8. Sort by name, kind, date, etc. to identify components of the app, such as folders, .plist files, cache files. etc.
   
   
9. Delete all files and folders related to the app.
   
   
10. Don't empty your Trash until you've determined that everything is working OK, in case you need to restore something you deleted by accident.
    
    
11. A reboot might be necessary to completely remove some apps.

Click here to see a video demonstration of this procedure, created by simsaladimbamba.

Edit: In some rare instances, an app may create hidden files or folders. In such instances, follow steps 6 and 7, then repeat those steps to add another criteria, this time choosing "File visibility" > "Visible or Invisible". Then proceed with the remainder of the steps.

[MasterHowl]

http://www.freemacsoft.net/AppCleaner/

I use this application called App Cleaner... works like a dream!

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by MasterHowl

http://www.freemacsoft.net/AppCleaner/

I use this application called App Cleaner... works like a dream!

You didn't read the thread, did you? AppCleaner is not very effective.

[-aggie-]

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

You didn't read the thread, did you? AppCleaner is not very effective.

Have you ever tried AppTrap?

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by -aggie-

Have you ever tried AppTrap?

I just tried it. What a pain! First, it leaves behind cache folders and other files, like the others, so it's not very thorough. Also, it doesn't list the files and locations first, so you can choose what to delete. It just moves the files it finds to the Trash. On Leopard, there's no way to know where the files came from, so if you change your mind, you can't easily put them back where they came from.

[-aggie-]

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

I just tried it. What a pain! First, it leaves behind cache folders and other files, like the others, so it's not very thorough. Also, it doesn't list the files and locations first, so you can choose what to delete. It just moves the files it finds to the Trash. On Leopard, there's no way to know where the files came from, so if you change your mind, you can't easily put them back where they came from.

I didn't think anything of it when I first installed it. After seeing this thread, I may want to delete that app and not use any of the app cleaners.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by -aggie-

I didn't think anything of it when I first installed it. After seeing this thread, I may want to delete that app and not use any of the app cleaners.

That's what I've done. I've tested most of them and have come to the conclusion that the manual method (post #16) is most effective.

[Cool Runnings]

What about the uninstaller that comes bundled with the software? Most bigger companies software like Adobe CS and MS Office comes with an uninstaller. Even smaller programs have this sometimes.

Check in the .dmg of the program or install-cd/dvd.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by Cool Runnings

What about the uninstaller that comes bundled with the software? Most bigger companies software like Adobe CS and MS Office comes with an uninstaller. Even smaller programs have this sometimes.

Check in the .dmg of the program or install-cd/dvd.

Many times those uninstall apps leave behind .plist files and cache files. Their reasoning is that if you later decide to reinstall the app, your preferences will still be there. Manual deletion still has an advantage over uninstall apps, as long as you can identify all the files/folders that were installed.

[Ifti]

Originally Posted by GGJstudios

While this thread is a few months old, I'll add this for those who might find it in a search:


To manually remove an application and all associated files:

1. Launch Finder and search for the app name (hopefully unique, such as Skype)
2. You can narrow the search to specific folders or search your whole Mac
3. Searching "File Name" vs "Contents" usually provides better results.
4. Click the + button below the search term to add criteria
5. Click the "Album" drop-down and select "System files"
6. Click the "Don't include" and change to "include"
7. Sort by name, kind, date, etc. to identify components of the app, such as folders, .plist files, cache files. etc.
8. Delete all files and folders related to the app.
9. Don't empty your Trash until you've determined that everything is working OK, in case you need to restore something you deleted by accident.
10. A reboot might be necessary to completely remove some apps.

Thank you very much for this.
Ive been using AppDelete and thinking Ive been doing a good job in keeping my system clean!

Is there any way to search for orphaned files etc from apps I may have previously removed with AppDelete?