Uninstall an app and what it left behind
Remove an app together with its caches, settings and support files, and find leftovers from apps already gone.
- Time
- 3 minutes
- Steps
- 7
What you need
- l/Activity open.
Steps
Step 1. Choose the app
Press ⇧⌘U for Apps. In Uninstall, select the app in the list. You can also drop an app onto the page, click Choose App…, or in Finder right-click an app and pick Services → Uninstall with lActivity.
AppsUninstall apps with their related data, find leftovers, and update Homebrew apps.UninstallLeftoversUpdatesSearch or jump to…⌘KFind an applicationLargest apps first12 apps · 12 cached sizesHHarbor2.84 GBVersion 4.31.0LLumen Edit2.41 GBVersion 11.2TTessel Design1.9 GBVersion 4.2.1FForge IDE1.62 GBVersion 2026.1.3KKite Browser1.18 GBVersion 128.0.1PPixelroom964 MBVersion 7.4RRoundtable712 MBVersion 6.3.1AAtlas Maps486 MBVersion 3.9BBrightline Mail352 MBVersion 12.1TTempo Player268 MBVersion 5.8.2NNorthwind Sync214 MBVersion 24.10QQuill Notes96.4 MBVersion 2.7.4Add Shown Apps to BatchBundles onlySelected appVersion 4.2.1Tessel Designcom.tessel.design/Applications/Tessel Design.appRevealRelated files found5 · 1.25 GBInstalled viaUnknownTT3 selected for removalof 3.15 GB found3.14GBon diskApp bundle1.9 GBSelected related data2 items · 1.24 GBChoose what to remove3 of 6 selectedOnly the app is selected initially. Related files are optional and can include documents, saved state, settings, and sign-in data.Select AllDeselect AllSelect All includes this app and only the related files listed below. You will review the exact paths before anything is removed.Tessel Design.app1.9 GB/Applications/Tessel Design.appApplication bundle and its contentsInstallation and componentsApplication bundle · installation origin unknownl/Activity can review this app bundle and selected related files. Embedded components leave with the app bundle; external registrations and shared data are not automatically removed.
3 embedded componentsThese exact-name and verified-metadata matches are suggestions, not proof of exclusive ownership. Related data is optional; containers may hold documents. Shared group containers, vendor folders, login services, system-wide support files, receipts, and installed drivers are not removed.You review the exact paths next. Nothing is removed before that.Add to BatchReview Uninstall…Move to Trash is the default. Delete Permanently is optional and cannot be undone. Shared app-group data, other users’ data, system components, and privileged helpers are not automatically removed. Apps with drivers, security extensions, or services may require their vendor’s uninstaller.Step 01 Step 2. Quit it first if it is running
A running app cannot be uninstalled. If the banner says "Quit this app before uninstalling it.", quit the app and it clears.
Step 3. Decide what goes with it
The card Choose what to remove starts with only the app itself ticked. Below it are the related files l/Activity found: Application Support, Caches, Preferences, Saved State, Logs and others. Each row shows its path, its size and the evidence that ties it to this app, such as Exact bundle identifier.
Tick the ones you want removed, or Select All. Related files can include documents and sign-in data, which is why the choice is yours.
AppsUninstall apps with their related data, find leftovers, and update Homebrew apps.UninstallLeftoversUpdatesSearch or jump to…⌘KFind an applicationLargest apps first12 apps · 12 cached sizesHHarbor2.84 GBVersion 4.31.0LLumen Edit2.41 GBVersion 11.2TTessel Design1.9 GBVersion 4.2.1FForge IDE1.62 GBVersion 2026.1.3KKite Browser1.18 GBVersion 128.0.1PPixelroom964 MBVersion 7.4RRoundtable712 MBVersion 6.3.1AAtlas Maps486 MBVersion 3.9BBrightline Mail352 MBVersion 12.1TTempo Player268 MBVersion 5.8.2NNorthwind Sync214 MBVersion 24.10QQuill Notes96.4 MBVersion 2.7.4Add Shown Apps to BatchBundles onlySelected appVersion 4.2.1Tessel Designcom.tessel.design/Applications/Tessel Design.appRevealRelated files found5 · 1.25 GBInstalled viaUnknownTT3 selected for removalof 3.15 GB found3.14GBon diskApp bundle1.9 GBSelected related data2 items · 1.24 GBChoose what to remove3 of 6 selectedOnly the app is selected initially. Related files are optional and can include documents, saved state, settings, and sign-in data.Select AllDeselect AllSelect All includes this app and only the related files listed below. You will review the exact paths before anything is removed.Tessel Design.app1.9 GB/Applications/Tessel Design.appApplication bundle and its contentsInstallation and componentsApplication bundle · installation origin unknownl/Activity can review this app bundle and selected related files. Embedded components leave with the app bundle; external registrations and shared data are not automatically removed.
3 embedded componentsThese exact-name and verified-metadata matches are suggestions, not proof of exclusive ownership. Related data is optional; containers may hold documents. Shared group containers, vendor folders, login services, system-wide support files, receipts, and installed drivers are not removed.You review the exact paths next. Nothing is removed before that.Add to BatchReview Uninstall…Move to Trash is the default. Delete Permanently is optional and cannot be undone. Shared app-group data, other users’ data, system components, and privileged helpers are not automatically removed. Apps with drivers, security extensions, or services may require their vendor’s uninstaller.Step 03 Step 4. Review
Click Review Uninstall…. The same review as every other tool lists the exact paths. Nothing has been removed yet.
AppsUninstall apps with their related data, find leftovers, and update Homebrew apps.UninstallLeftoversUpdatesSearch or jump to…⌘KFind an applicationLargest apps first12 apps · 12 cached sizesHHarbor2.84 GBVersion 4.31.0LLumen Edit2.41 GBVersion 11.2TTessel Design1.9 GBVersion 4.2.1FForge IDE1.62 GBVersion 2026.1.3KKite Browser1.18 GBVersion 128.0.1PPixelroom964 MBVersion 7.4RRoundtable712 MBVersion 6.3.1AAtlas Maps486 MBVersion 3.9BBrightline Mail352 MBVersion 12.1TTempo Player268 MBVersion 5.8.2NNorthwind Sync214 MBVersion 24.10QQuill Notes96.4 MBVersion 2.7.4Add Shown Apps to BatchBundles onlySelected appVersion 4.2.1Tessel Designcom.tessel.design/Applications/Tessel Design.appRevealRelated files found5 · 1.25 GBInstalled viaUnknownTT3 selected for removalof 3.15 GB found3.14GBon diskApp bundle1.9 GBSelected related data2 items · 1.24 GBChoose what to remove3 of 6 selectedOnly the app is selected initially. Related files are optional and can include documents, saved state, settings, and sign-in data.Select AllDeselect AllSelect All includes this app and only the related files listed below. You will review the exact paths before anything is removed.Tessel Design.app1.9 GB/Applications/Tessel Design.appApplication bundle and its contentsInstallation and componentsApplication bundle · installation origin unknownl/Activity can review this app bundle and selected related files. Embedded components leave with the app bundle; external registrations and shared data are not automatically removed.
3 embedded componentsThese exact-name and verified-metadata matches are suggestions, not proof of exclusive ownership. Related data is optional; containers may hold documents. Shared group containers, vendor folders, login services, system-wide support files, receipts, and installed drivers are not removed.You review the exact paths next. Nothing is removed before that.Add to BatchReview Uninstall…Move to Trash is the default. Delete Permanently is optional and cannot be undone. Shared app-group data, other users’ data, system components, and privileged helpers are not automatically removed. Apps with drivers, security extensions, or services may require their vendor’s uninstaller.Step 04 Step 5. Move it to the Trash
Click Move to Trash. Finder may ask for an administrator password for apps installed for all users. Afterwards the app and what you ticked are in the Trash, where you can still put them back.
AppsUninstall apps with their related data, find leftovers, and update Homebrew apps.UninstallLeftoversUpdatesSearch or jump to…⌘KFind an applicationLargest apps first12 apps · 12 cached sizesHHarbor2.84 GBVersion 4.31.0LLumen Edit2.41 GBVersion 11.2TTessel Design1.9 GBVersion 4.2.1FForge IDE1.62 GBVersion 2026.1.3KKite Browser1.18 GBVersion 128.0.1PPixelroom964 MBVersion 7.4RRoundtable712 MBVersion 6.3.1AAtlas Maps486 MBVersion 3.9BBrightline Mail352 MBVersion 12.1TTempo Player268 MBVersion 5.8.2NNorthwind Sync214 MBVersion 24.10QQuill Notes96.4 MBVersion 2.7.4Add Shown Apps to BatchBundles onlySelected appVersion 4.2.1Tessel Designcom.tessel.design/Applications/Tessel Design.appRevealRelated files found5 · 1.25 GBInstalled viaUnknownTT3 selected for removalof 3.15 GB found3.14GBon diskApp bundle1.9 GBSelected related data2 items · 1.24 GBChoose what to remove3 of 6 selectedOnly the app is selected initially. Related files are optional and can include documents, saved state, settings, and sign-in data.Select AllDeselect AllSelect All includes this app and only the related files listed below. You will review the exact paths before anything is removed.Tessel Design.app1.9 GB/Applications/Tessel Design.appApplication bundle and its contentsInstallation and componentsApplication bundle · installation origin unknownl/Activity can review this app bundle and selected related files. Embedded components leave with the app bundle; external registrations and shared data are not automatically removed.
3 embedded componentsThese exact-name and verified-metadata matches are suggestions, not proof of exclusive ownership. Related data is optional; containers may hold documents. Shared group containers, vendor folders, login services, system-wide support files, receipts, and installed drivers are not removed.You review the exact paths next. Nothing is removed before that.Add to BatchReview Uninstall…Move to Trash is the default. Delete Permanently is optional and cannot be undone. Shared app-group data, other users’ data, system components, and privileged helpers are not automatically removed. Apps with drivers, security extensions, or services may require their vendor’s uninstaller.Review 1 App Selections3 selected pathsExport List…CancelReview these exact paths, including everything inside selected folders or apps. Choose Move to Trash to keep them recoverable, or Delete Permanently to remove them immediately.
Exact pathTessel Design.app/Applications/Tessel Design.appcom.tessel.design/Users/sam/Library/Application Support/com.tessel.designcom.tessel.design/Users/sam/Library/Caches/com.tessel.design3 items readyDelete Permanently skips Trash and cannot be undone.Delete PermanentlyMove to TrashTrash can request administrator authorization. Permanent deletion uses your current permissions.Cleanup Permissions…Step 05 Step 6. Hunt for leftovers from apps you removed long ago
Open Leftovers in the title bar and click Find Possible Leftovers. l/Activity looks for support files whose app is no longer installed. Each result shows its evidence. Tick only what you recognise, then Review Selected Files….
AppsUninstall apps with their related data, find leftovers, and update Homebrew apps.UninstallLeftoversUpdatesSearch or jump to…⌘KPossible leftovers use exact bundle identifiers in your Library. Installed apps, Apple data, shared groups and service identifiers are excluded. An app outside the checked folders or an unregistered app can still need these files; inspect every path before removal.
6 possible leftovers · No files are selected automaticallyFind an identifier or pathSelect All ShownDeselect All6 showncom.oldharbor.toolkitApplication SupportReveal/Users/sam/Library/Application Support/com.oldharbor.toolkitConventional path named exactly for com.oldharbor.toolkitcom.oldharbor.toolkitCachesReveal/Users/sam/Library/Caches/com.oldharbor.toolkitConventional path named exactly for com.oldharbor.toolkitcom.paperwren.scannerContainersReveal/Users/sam/Library/Containers/com.paperwren.scannerContainer metadata confirms this exact identifier. The container may contain documents.May contain documents and irreplaceable app data.com.paperwren.scannerSaved StateReveal/Users/sam/Library/Saved Application State/com.paperwren.scanner.savedStateConventional path named exactly for com.paperwren.scannerio.fernlight.sketchpadPreferencesReveal/Users/sam/Library/Preferences/io.fernlight.sketchpad.plistConventional path named exactly for io.fernlight.sketchpadorg.driftwood.readerLogsReveal/Users/sam/Library/Logs/org.driftwood.readerConventional path named exactly for org.driftwood.readerShow SelectedClear SelectionReview Selected Files…2 selected for reviewEvery selected file is shown above.Step 06 Step 7. Optional: update Homebrew apps
If you install apps with Homebrew, Updates → Check for Updates lists the casks with a newer version. Tick them, Review Updates…, and confirm. Nothing is checked or installed unless you ask.
AppsUninstall apps with their related data, find leftovers, and update Homebrew apps.UninstallLeftoversUpdatesSearch or jump to…⌘KAvailable updates3Select AllDeselect Allforge-ideHomebrew cask2026.1.32026.2.0kite-browserHomebrew cask128.0.1129.0tempo-playerHomebrew cask5.8.25.9.0Save your work and quit the apps you update. Homebrew replaces them using its cask sources and each vendor’s installer.2 selectedReview Updates…Step 07
02Good to know
The small print, in plain words
Note1 / 3
Why some files are not offered
l/Activity only offers files it can tie to the app by its exact identifier. Data shared between several apps, system extensions and background services are shown for information and left to the maker's own uninstaller.
Note2 / 3
Several apps at once
Add to Batch collects apps as you go. Review Batch… then reviews them together.
Note3 / 3
Protected apps
Apps that are part of macOS cannot be uninstalled here, and l/Activity says so instead of trying.
03Keep going
