Is there any definitive way to delete all traces from an app?

[Silly John Fatty]

To delete an application, Apple suggests to use the X features to delete it from Launchpad, or to move the App from the applications folder to the trash.

I just did this with an app and found plenty of files it left over.

And I probably only found these, because they contain the name of the app. Who knows how many other files it may have created, that don't contain its name and that I'll probably never find?

So I'm trying to think of a way how to figure out how to delete all system files and such things an app has created.

I know that there's apps that do this, but that's exactly what I don't want: Have another app installed on my computer. I want to keep it completely clean from third party software.

Is there a way to track all files an application has created? Is there like a terminal command or something that you could run and find all traces it has left?

There surely must be such a thing.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Here is the app many of us here use for such things.

AppCleaner

 

[Silly John Fatty]

Here is the app many of us here use for such things.

AppCleaner

I was sure there would be such an app, but I don't know man. Surely it looks small and familiar, it's probably one guy who made it and it's all nice and trustworthy.

But the problem is, that's one more app I didn't want to install. Is this even open source? Who knows what this app does. Nobody does, actually.

And where's their privacy statement and all that stuff? I have sympathy for these kinds of liberty nerd projects, but they don't solve my problem.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I was sure there would be such an app, but I don't know man. Surely it looks small and familiar, it's probably one guy who made it and it's all nice and trustworthy.

But the problem is, that's one more app I didn't want to install. Is this even open source? Who knows what this app does. Nobody does, actually.

And where's their privacy statement and all that stuff? I have sympathy for these kinds of liberty nerd projects, but they don't solve my problem.

If you don't want to use an app, then learn how to manually delete all the individual files apps can leave behind. The following will be of help although it may not remove 100% of the left over files every time.

1. Open a Finder window and press Shift + Command + G to open the Go to Folder window.
2. Copy and paste the file paths into the box, one at a time, and press the Return key on your keyboard.
   • ~/Library/Caches
   • ~/Library/Logs
   • ~/Library/Containers
   • ~/Library/Application Support
   • ~/Library/Cookies
   • /Library/Address Book Plug-Ins
   • /Library/Application Support
   • /Library/Application Support/CrashReporter
   • /Library/Preferences
   • /Library/Saved Application State
   • /private/var/db/BootCaches

 

[Silly John Fatty]

If you don't want to use an app, then learn how to manually delete all the individual files apps can leave behind. The following will be of help although it may not remove 100% of the left over files every time.

1. Open a Finder window and press Shift + Command + G to open the Go to Folder window.
2. Copy and paste the file paths into the box, one at a time, and press the Return key on your keyboard.
   • ~/Library/Caches
   • ~/Library/Logs
   • ~/Library/Containers
   • ~/Library/Application Support
   • ~/Library/Cookies
   • /Library/Address Book Plug-Ins
   • /Library/Application Support
   • /Library/Application Support/CrashReporter
   • /Library/Preferences
   • /Library/Saved Application State
   • /private/var/db/BootCaches

Thanks, that's what I am actually doing, but like you say, it's not 100% guaranteed you'll know/recognise every file it created.

If I knew how to program an application, I'd make one that you run when installing another applications, and it would track every file that installer has created.

I wonder if this is hard to do or if that's just two lines of code for someone who knows.

 

[Nermal]

In theory, Apple could do it. Any file created by a particular app could be tagged as "created by this app". You could then get a list of all files on the system with that tag. For apps that create documents (such as a word processor) you'd need to distinguish between "app files" and "document files" though.

The underlying idea has probably been in my head for more than a decade at this point and I don't understand why no mainstream OS has implemented it.

 

[russell_314]

To delete an application, Apple suggests to use the X features to delete it from Launchpad, or to move the App from the applications folder to the trash.

I just did this with an app and found plenty of files it left over.

And I probably only found these, because they contain the name of the app. Who knows how many other files it may have created, that don't contain its name and that I'll probably never find?

So I'm trying to think of a way how to figure out how to delete all system files and such things an app has created.

I know that there's apps that do this, but that's exactly what I don't want: Have another app installed on my computer. I want to keep it completely clean from third party software.

Is there a way to track all files an application has created? Is there like a terminal command or something that you could run and find all traces it has left?

There surely must be such a thing.

The only sure way would be to completely reinstall macOS. I realize this sounds extreme but if you’re worried about this, it might be worth it. Also some apps store data on iCloud so there’s that.

 

[Gregg2]

Some claim that "cleaner" apps to an adequate job, but do not remove everything associated with the deleted app. They say the best method is what is described in post #1 which is to search and delete manually. They also claim that the stuff you find this way, the stuff left behind by the "cleaner" app, doesn't amount to much, that is, does not consume much space on your drive. There was one member here who used to post more definitive information about this than I've summarized here. That's my "source".

 

[Silly John Fatty]

The only sure way would be to completely reinstall macOS. I realize this sounds extreme but if you’re worried about this, it might be worth it. Also some apps store data on iCloud so there’s that.

I might do it at some point, but for now I'm good I think. I just like it to be clean. What are the apps that store data on iCloud?

Some claim that "cleaner" apps to an adequate job, but do not remove everything associated with the deleted app. They say the best method is what is described in post #1 which is to search and delete manually. They also claim that the stuff you find this way, the stuff left behind by the "cleaner" app, doesn't amount to much, that is, does not consume much space on your drive. There was one member here who used to post more definitive information about this than I've summarized here. That's my "source".

They may not take space, but you don't know what they're doing. It's better to not have them I think.

In theory, Apple could do it. Any file created by a particular app could be tagged as "created by this app". You could then get a list of all files on the system with that tag. For apps that create documents (such as a word processor) you'd need to distinguish between "app files" and "document files" though.

The underlying idea has probably been in my head for more than a decade at this point and I don't understand why no mainstream OS has implemented it.

That would be amazing if Apple did that. A lot of apps claim to do this (there's more choice on Windows, though), but you'd have to trust these again.

I read that you could do this with terminal also. You'd have to ask Terminal to display a list of all files before installation, repeat after installation, and then compare. This wouldn't include modified files I believe.

I think all those interesting in this feature should send this as a feedback to Apple: https://www.apple.com/feedback/

They've continuously increased security on Macs, so I can imagine they'd implement that if enough people asked for it. And that feature could categorize created files by function for example, for easier usability ("this is crucial for this app to work", "this isn't", etc.).

And of course, when deleting an application, it could really delete it, with everything that came with it, and maybe even restoring modifications it did to other files.

Like you, I am surprised Apple hasn't done this yet. It's nasty right now. That's why I haven't installed anything, except things like Word or Excel, or Logic Pro.

Apple, we need condoms for our Macs!

 

[gilby101]

They may not take space, but you don't know what they're doing.

That is not true. All the app-cleaner apps (that I have used) tell you which files they are going to delete and allow you to pick and choose which will be deleted.

Unless, of course, you don't trust them to tell the truth - but then, how could you bring yourself to install any apps?!?!

That's why I haven't installed anything, except things like Word or Excel, or Logic Pro.

Oh, I see you don't trust most apps and their developers. But you do trust Microsoft and Apple!

It's better to not have them I think.

I completely disagree. The ones I have used all make a good job of getting rid of unwanted files and services. So much easier than finding the files for yourself, then needing to delete and disable services.

Apple, we need condoms for our Macs!

Apple provides services, like XProtect, which do just that. And you can always add other anti-malware apps, though you probably would not trust them.

At some point you have to have trust, otherwise you would never leave home and only eat food after someone else has tasted it.

 

[Hopscotcher]

Use the AppCleaner app suggested here to delete most of what you want to get rid of. Then use Find Any File to delete the rest by typing the name of the app and deleting all traces of it. That's what I do.