Use This Free App to Remove Leftover App Files on Your Mac
Apple tends to make it easy to uninstall an app: once an app is gone from your iPhone, for example, you expect it to be gone forever. But on a Mac, you can sometimes see leftover software even after uninstalling it. You may see random files associated with an app when you search with Spotlight, or you may receive notifications and warnings from an app when you know you ‘ve removed it from your computer.
Unlike Windows, macOS doesn’t use uninstallers when you remove apps from your computer. Instead, you either hold the app on the launcher and press (X) to delete it, or move the app to the trash and delete it from there. Either method simplifies the process and treats deleting an application like deleting a file (at least at first glance). In many cases, this action is enough to make you feel like you have completely uninstalled the application.
If you feel like the app is still haunting your Mac, it’s because the app’s files aren’t necessarily attached to the app itself. When you uninstall an application, some of its files may still exist somewhere on your system, trying to run tasks even if the main application itself is not there. This leads to situations like this : A user has uninstalled Microsoft Edge from their Mac, but will still be notified that Edge is adding items that might be running in the background.
Ironically, in order to completely remove these apps and their files, you need to download another app. One of the most popular options in this area, AppCleaner is a free app that helps you remove all traces of an app from your Mac. Just open AppCleaner and then drag the app onto the window. AppCleaner will then search your Mac for any app files and remove them along with the app, leaving you with the satisfaction of knowing the app is finally at rest.