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AppCleaner or AppZapper?
- Thread starter bobright
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I've never used AppZapper, but I do use AppCleaner and have had no issues. When you delete an app it also shows you the related files that will also be deleted. I've never had an instance where AppCleaner chose a file it shouldn't have, but I still do make sure to verify before I delete.
Neither app will necessarily completely delete everything associated with an app. GGJstudios will probably be along with his informational post on manual deletion.
Neither app will necessarily completely delete everything associated with an app. GGJstudios will probably be along with his informational post on manual deletion.
I think that depends on how many applications you have. I have bazillions, and although I usually just delete by dragging to trash it's often the case that that leaves stuff. App Zapper, which I got part of bundle, actually finds more stuff than I do. I wish every application provided an uninstaller, but they don't. And Apple doesn't spotlight index your Libraries, so you're on your own, or using EasyFind or Terminal to get stuff.
And it's true that usually leftover prefs and caches don't do any harm, but sometimes stuff left behind does create problems.
I suppose things like App Zapper just search for instances of the application's name, but it sure works faster than EasyFind.
So YMMV.
I use AppZapper and it does everything just fine. I think I one time compared the two and they both do exactly the same thing and picked up on the same files (that I can recall), just a preference on the look of the app. I continued with AppZapper because I got a free code for it somehow, and I also like the look better so that's another plus.
edit: although I still am wondering if these kinds of things are absolutely needed.. Obviously I don't want stuff I don't need sitting around but to have a 3rd party app do this basic stuff kind of sucks...
edit: although I still am wondering if these kinds of things are absolutely needed.. Obviously I don't want stuff I don't need sitting around but to have a 3rd party app do this basic stuff kind of sucks...
I have AppCleaner, but always follow up using this method to make sure nothing is left behind.
Actually, skipping the AppCleaner step, and going directly to the linked method is more effective.
Actually, skipping the AppCleaner step, and going directly to the linked method is more effective.
The app cleaner type stuff can easily remove something you don't want removed and then you can be up the creek.
AppCleaner
I've used both and for reasons I cannot remember I dropped AppZapper back in the 10.7 days and went to AppCleaner and haven't looked back.
I've used both and for reasons I cannot remember I dropped AppZapper back in the 10.7 days and went to AppCleaner and haven't looked back.
That's why you always do a once-over of everything that is being deleted to make sure nothing of importance goes with an application when deleting. Though, I'm curious as to what situation you or someone else has been in where AppCleaner deleted something essential?
appCleaner is dead simple. just drag and drop the app. It automatically detects all file dependencies and deletes them as well.
Yes, but with AppCleaner it's faster and easier.
I'll give you that, but what happens if it misses stuff, you'll have to end up searching and removing stuff by hand anyways
I prefer AppZapper, but they're both great. AppZapper has a trial, so if you don't like it, you can always remove it with AppCleaner.
I've used and quite like AppCleaner. It was free and does a better job than just dragging a program to the trash.
Thank you. I've never seen that post. I'll start trying that.
I went into my actual "library" the other day and found all kinds of folders and scripts from old applications that I thought had died long ago....
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But that can be a very long and involved process if the program has files scattered across your system. Is this really the method you use?
Thank you. I've never seen that post. I'll start trying that.
I went into my actual "library" the other day and found all kinds of folders and scripts from old applications that I thought had died long ago....
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But that can be a very long and involved process if the program has files scattered across your system. Is this really the method you use?
You're welcome. Credit goes to GGJstudios, from whom I stole the link.
The method I suggested will find all the files scattered around the entire system. Granted, it may be a bit time consuming if you are deleting a very large number of files, but it gets them all, leaving nothing behind
Not really. Just use spotlight and also look here:
/Library (rarely)
~/Library
/Applications