I need a program that deletes configuration files and traces of programs not currently installed. After years of different macs and backups I probably have traces of a lot of junk and don't wish to go through every little folder and delete them manually. Is there a program that scans what you have in your applications folder or otherwise and detects what you have installed, what's not and deletes the orphaned configs and application support files?
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Need a cleanup program for removed applications
- Thread starter neccoloup
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I'm curious why you care? Unless disk space is an issue, they don't do anything other than take disk space.
Like yellow said, it's manual. All you're going to do is delete .plist files for the most part, which take up very little space.
As long as there have been filesystems and apps stored within, there has—and always will be—bits of data detritus floating about. Your drives (once occupied with the toys and tools one ultimately grows weary of) will forever be a bit dirty, like your bedroom.
Neither AppZapper nor AppCleaner will remove all components of apps. They mostly only delete the .app file and the .plist files. They do not remove any components in the Library folders.
There is no automated method of removing all application components, unless an app has its own uninstall app. Even then, it might not remove everything. If you want it done right, it's a manual process.
which files would i be deleting manually other than .app file and the .plist files when removing an application?
Also, I just typed up .plist file from the search box, and gave me a list of all the .plist files currently on file. Are these okay to delete (even though I'm not removing them)? Thank you
You absolutely don't want to delete all of your .plist files. You would lose all of your preferences for virtually every application on your computer. This is not something you want to do indiscriminately!
What you want to do is delete the ones for applications you no longer have on your system (and that only if you're paranoid/fastidious). It's not really necessary, but you'll gain back a few bytes.
jW
This MacWorld article will answer your questions and explain why there is no easy solution that gets rid of every piece.
Each application is different, which is why automated removal apps are less than 100% effective. Some apps put files in the /Library folder, some in the /Users/yourusername/Library folder, some in other locations.
As already stated, you don't want to delete all .plist files. Here's a good rule to follow: if you don't know for sure what a file or folder is used for, don't delete it! If you delete things without knowing what you're doing, you could hose your system.
This is what I used to clean my mac it is called cleanmymac! don't know if this is what you want
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/cleanmymac.html
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/cleanmymac.html
Like AppCleaner and AppZapper, it only removes the .app and the .plist files. It won't remove anything installed in the Library folders.
Hazel does a pretty darn good job of cleaning up the random bits scattered about your system after you drag an app into the trash. It's not perfect, but it's as good as most one-trick-pony uninstaller apps, and Hazel can do a lot more (completely awesome automation) things.
It's one of my favorite apps (well, technically, it's a preference pane, but whatever).
It's one of my favorite apps (well, technically, it's a preference pane, but whatever).