Do apps modify system files during installation?

[Yoms]

Hi,

Thanks to MacRumors blog, I came across this nice freeware to uninstall app: AppCleaner. It looks for all files related to an app and delete them. But I'm wondering if it's enough.

During the installation of a new app on macOS, are existing system files modified or are only new files copied to the disk?

Thanks!

 

[chabig]

Only new files are added. System files don’t get modified.

 

[Yoms]

Only new files are added. System files don’t get modified.

Thank you for your input. So if I can remove all files installed by the app, I literally go back to the state I was in before installing it.

 

[chabig]

Yes. That is exactly right. Generally, all you need to do for most apps is drag the application file itself to the trash. If you want to search for more you might find some small preference type stuff in your home library (normally hidden) but leaving them there causes no harm. Those are the types of things app cleaners go find.

 

[Yoms]

Yes. That is exactly right. Generally, all you need to do for most apps is drag the application file itself to the trash. If you want to search for more you might find some small preference type stuff in your home library (normally hidden) but leaving them there causes no harm. Those are the types of things app cleaners go find.

Thanks again!

 

[Ulenspiegel]

AppCleaner is an effective application. I have been using it for years. Nevertheless, in some cases even with AppCleaner there are leftovers. To find and delete them you might want to use EasyFind (free).