Does anyone use uninstallers?

[ricede]

Some applications leave little residue - just the app + a plist file or two.

Others install a forest of files and, in general, these come with an uninstaller. ( However even then, when their uninstaller is used, they often leave 'debris' lying around . Photoshop & Microsoft spring to mind )

When uninstalling an app on my mac - i normally put the app name into a free app called 'Easyfind' which i find is much more thorough than Spotlight in finding related files. It can be set to look for hidden files as well. The problem arises when the 'debris' has a different name to the app name. However with a little detective work ( incl googling app name ) one can normally find those out.

I have also been using Appzapper for more than 10 years to do a quick removal of apps. I only tend to use it when i know there is not much 'debris' ( which i find is the majority of cases ). There are cases however where it is completely useless.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

...When uninstalling an app on my mac - i normally put the app name into a free app called 'Easyfind' which i find is much more thorough than Spotlight in finding related files. It can be set to look for hidden files as well. The problem arises when the 'debris' has a different name to the app name. However with a little detective work ( incl googling app name ) one can normally find those out.

+1. I use the same method to find the leftovers with EasyFind. As you have pointed out sometimes it does not reveal all the files as their names are different (company's, dev's name etc.), but with a little experience they can be hunted down.

 

[posguy99]

No, I have not. Those only affect the Spotlight part that is invoked by CMD+SPACE.

Except that they don't, of course, but it's not at all worth arguing about.

 

[GGJstudios]

Except that they don't, of course, but it's not at all worth arguing about.

Unchecking items in Spotlight preferences only affects search results when using Spotlight search (Command-Shift). Unchecking such items does not affect searches in Finder, which is what is being discussed here.

 

[Wheelie4]

I used AppCleaner to begin with which usually finds most associated files if not all (this app has improved at finding associated files within the last year or so). Then I follow it up with a search using "EasyFind" to remove anything left over that AppCleaner missed. At least 6 out of 10 times AppCleaner gets it all. EasyFind finishes the job.

I've been using EasyFind for a few years now to help remove apps and associated files. It's really good. And it works better than the technique mentioned previously using search in Finder.